Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-11-28

By CHARLES B. HovRy.


days in which he took part il i
fiinng that something more thar
a passing notice be given in ihs
memory OF one Of the most gal.
liant soldiers and one Of the besI
citizens ever given 10 the coun.
try bv Lafayette comfy.
Col. Phipps was the first honor
man IN the first class that evel
graduated ~ the University OF
Mississippi. That vas in 1856
and before my time. Bling then
in my childhood I did no; cone
to know Col. Phipps well uhrl
after the war between the states.
But knew his reputation ss
grew rp and became familiar
with the fact that he was regard
ed a. = very brilliant young man
and endowed with capacity OF
suck degree a. 10 justly eniitle
him 70 De called one Of the NOS;
inte!ie c;ual young men in the
community.
When the var came on Dick
Phipp=. "a he was fanillarly
called, responded almost at the
outset He vas elected a. 4 vol
unteer oficer and the company
to which he belonged became a
part Of the Nineteenth Mississippi
Infantry. Col. Mott OF Holly
Springs vas the first colonel OF
the regiment. L. .. c. Lamar
vas its first Northumberland.
Maj. Mullins, a graduate from
West Point and 4 half brother OF
James Harding from Clear Greek.
~as given a commission by Presi-
dent jefferson Davis because OF
MS peculiar qualifications for ois-
ciplne. The regiment vas en-
gagged in the principle battles in
Virginia and together with the
other Mississippi regiments prov
ed TO be among the most efficient
soldiers in the Army OF Northern
Virginia. Col. Mott, | think. vas
killed in battle whilst Col. Lamar
<as sent on a SPECIAL nissi n 70
Russia Many OF the mos. gall
ant ON ,ers and men Of the reei-
nent laid down their lives for the
cause in which they we're eagag-
ed Among those Oscar wilkins
EhOm / most remember a. g
ri-nd.
Col James Duncan greatly dis
linguished q uself :; the close u
the var with : part Of the Nine
tenth by his heroic defense Of
Fort Gregg which xss situate be-
tween the main line Of Lees az
NY and the Union army under
Grant. Il IS said tina. Gea- Lee
himself Witnessed the combat De-
tween the 30 Nississippians xho
held the fort and ten tines tha.
number OF Feis-zls vho sur
rounded the foruieaaon and tOox
Il over the dead bodies Of half the
men in the fort.
Col. Phipps commanded tie
Nineteenth IN many Of is blood
est engagements. Il xas said o!
hin that he was the coolest mar
under fire in the regiment He
xas much given - smoking and
would RISK MS life TO get match
by leaving the brezs,~1-ks 10 -
Immediately IN the r-.r Of th-
line to get something 10 hga, nj.
pipe. Ii Is also said ina. on one
occasion Gen. Lee ear the Nine.
teenth in command .. Col. Phipps
and with such sill we're tns
movements ordered and mad
that Gen. Lee Was struck With
admiration 50 gre a as 20 inquire
VINO the ofIcer II command OF the
regiment was. When told tia. i
was Col. Phipps. Of Mississippi. j,
- also said that Gen. Lee asked,
Why l. 10; that man q generzls'
For NY par. / had rather Gen
Lee would nave said that about
ne than to have been q general
Col. Phipps came hack 70 Or
ford al the close OF the var and
engaged in the practice Of Law
He also edited for a tine the OK.
ford Eagle. He took par. il
rescuring the State from the
aliens who undertook 70 govern
our people by the agencies Of the
sword. Needless 70 say that il
the stormy times succeeding the
Sar Phipps did his full duty as q
man and = citizen. He vas .
staunch Democrat and 20 the Close
Of his days believed II the princi-
pies OF Democracy. He was e.
sentiaIly a man Of the people and
without being self-seeker, ever
ready to volunteer TO serve tbs
interests of the people a, the right
time and in the right place.
As a member of the Legislature
and Of the Cons.itu tional Conyen.
ton he took an active part, but
with his military Office no lonce,
open because of the results OF the
war and al the close of his ser.
vices in framing a new constitu
ton and in legislating under it hi
public career came 70 an end
He was popular enough to havs
continued IN public life, but "a.
indifferent to further public ser.
vice and never again offered him
self as . candidate As q Iaxyel
he vas as free from guile anc
sharp practice as any man at the
bar OF q State noted for It's hon.
oracle nen ir the profession O