The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-12-16


reproduce the following compilation
of the First Things" Mississippi has
done in advance of any state in the
Union and the splendid record she
! has made in the field and the forum
Mrs. Rose, the compiler, is entitled to
debt of gratitude from the people of
Mississippi for the excellent work she
great record of state achievement to
| the public. which should be carefully
preserved
Mississippi First.
First and only President of the
Southern Confederacy, Jefferson Da-
Wis OF Mississippi, 1876.
First to lay the cornerstone for "a
Confederate monument, Liberty. Miss,
November 26, 1866.
First to convert the home of a Con
federate chieftan into home for Con
federate soldiers "Beauvoir," home
of Jefferson Davis, established as the
Confederate Soldiers Home of Misss-
sippi, December TO- 1903.
First to admit the wives of Confed-
crate soldiers into the Home and care
for them equally with the veterans.
First Memorial Day in the United
States observed at Columbus. Miss,
April %, 1866.
First to inaugurate the custom of
decorating alike the graves of the
Confederate and Federal soldiers with
flowers: ladies of Columbus, Miss,
April -, 1866.
First TO inspire the writing of nov
ell poem, THE Blue and the Gray"
written by Judge F. Nj. Finch, of Ith-
AGA, n. Y. Published first in the At
lantic Monthly. commemorative this
noble act on the part of the ladies of
Columbus. Miss, on April -. 1866,
in placing flowers on the graves of
the Blue as well as the Gray.
First native Southern writer TO give
the negro dialect in poetry, bringing
out the unique relations between mas
ter and slave-Irwin Russell, native
Mississippi poet. born at Port Gibson,
Miss, June 3, 1853; died, December
%, 1879.
First 10 have a noted Indian chief
become a prominent and distinguish
ed citizen-Greenwood Leflore, great
chief of the Choctaw nation
First to win fame at Monterey and
Buena vista-Jefferson Davis of Mis-
sissippi.
First to use the famous 'V' forma-
ton. thereby winning the day at Bue-
ma Vista-Col Jefferson Davis in COM
mand of the First Mississippi volun-
teers. February %, 1877
First to receive commentator from
the Duke of Wellington, hero of Wa
terloo. who pronounced this "V' for
nation, introduced by Col. Jefferson
Davis at the battle of Buena Vista,
new and mastery
First in the Fortress of Chapulte-
pec-John A. Quitman of Mississippi
First on the walls of Mexico's CAPT
tal-John A. Quitman of Mississippi
First 20 raise the American flag
over the captured capital of Mexico
troops under General John
A. Quitman. September IA. 1S47.
First American Governor to hold
sway in the captured City of Mexico
John A. Quitman. of Mississippi |
First troops to receive honorab bic
on the field of Chalmette.
January s, 1915, from the hero of that
battle, Andrew Jacksonville Missis-
sippi Dragons commanded by Col |
Thomas Kinds of Mississippi.
First Southern state to have COM
pany of Minute Men'-The Ponto- |
tON Minute MVu, VI OiitotOC Guilty.
Mise.
First state troops to offer service in |
the secession moyement-The Ponto- !
toe Minute Men of Mississippi. as
soon as the passing of the secession !,
ordinance of Mississippi. January 9. |
1861. was announced This company |
became a part of the Sec |
ond Regiment Mississippi Volunteer
Infantry |
First TO have a flag representing |
state sovereignty Immediately after |
the passing of Mississippis secession |
ordinance. January 9. 1861. at Jack |
son, Miss. c. r. Dickson entered the |
hall bearing blue silk flag with a /
single star in the center made that |
morning by Mrs. H. H. Smythe, OF |
Jackson. The star representing state
sovereignty or states rights. which |
had Just been declared by Mississippi.
Harry Mccarthy. comedian, was pres