Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-12-18


I'D happened, and requested that he
be authorized to demand their release
from the service. He had in the mean
time written to the governor asking
that he refuse to grant their petition.
Professor Lamar, whom we all know
as l.. @. C. Lamar, also councilled with
the students, and advised them in the
same way that the chancellor had
before. He said President Davis COM
pared it to the grinding of the seed
corn OF the Republic. But the govern
or disregarded the requests Of the
chancellor, and sent mastering Off
Ger to the University, and mustered
into the service then and there the
now historic and famous University
Greys.
AS | have mentioned before the
hancellor was dissatisfied with the
result, and sent the parents the above
mentioned letter. You may imagine
his CONSERVATION and surprise when
he received an answer from practical
ly every patron of the University say
ing that they commended heartily the
action of their sons had taken and that
they wished to congratulate them for
their patriotic action. Some few au-
thorized a discharge Of their sons, but
not on the ground urged by the chan
cellor. These men authorized the dis
charge on the ground that their sons
were too young to go into camp with
out the advice and guidance of some
older brother or friend and demanded
their release that they might come
home, and enter into home company.
The University Greys were at last
finally organized and became living
force that was to be reckoned with
many times before the end Of the war.
They wasted no time in perfecting
tkeir organization, and Immediately
own number, and member of the
Junior class as their captain. They
were then and Their incorporated into
the famous and celebrated Eleventh
Mississippi Regiment, and with flying
colors, and beating hearts, marched
away to the war, going Immediately to
the state Of Virginia, where they par
ticipated in the first battle of Ma
nassas.
From his memorable day until the
close of the Civil war the University
Greys, and finally the remnant of
them did valiant service in many
states of the Union. They were al
ways, in the foremost of every fight,
and bore the brunt of many battles.
The following memorandum will show
to some extent the record Of the Uni
versity Greys:
Whole number on roll during war 1876
Died of disease. ................
Killed or died of wounds. ....... 80
Discharged, retired, resigned. So
Transfer by promotion. ......... 10
Dropped ~
Missing ...... ...........
Losses from all causes. ......... Ill
Accounted for, March, 1865. "a
From this table it can be seen that
the University Greys did much more
than their share Of the fighting, and
tl.at they bore more than their de-
served losses. There were many Of
them who came back to the University
of Mississippi after the war was over.
Many of these were wounded and those
who before the war had been the sons
of the wealthiest planters in America
were now the sons of men who had lost
their all. They were not daunted, how
ever, for like the true soldiers, Uni
versity Greys that they were, they
entered into their work with the same
zeal, and with the same determine
ton to win what they had used for
the past four years; and it is interest
ing to note that all Of the really big
men of Mississippi for the next thirty
years, the majority of them could be
numbered as among those who went
out of the University in the year 1861.
It is to them that the University of
Mississippi is deeply indebted, and to
them and to those heroes of ours who
went into the service in the last great
war, will she forever bow her head in
the deepest reverence.
Kidney weakness, bladder troubles
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