16th Mississippi Infantry

Lt. John B. Coleman 1.jpg

Lt. John B. Coleman of Co. G. (Source)

I couldn't find much info on him, other than that Coleman was killed in the second battle of Deep Bottom/Fussell's Mill, August 18, 1864.

Gen. N. H. Harris wrote in his diary:

"Remained quiet until the afternoon of the 18th when . . . General Harris advanced his own brigade, under command of Colonel Jayne . . . to feel the enemy. Advancing but a short distance through thick woods and driving in the enemy’s skirmishers, we encountered the enemy’s line of battle entrenched. Holding the position until dark, the brigade was withdrawn to its original position.
"The brigade in this affair met with some loss in killed and wounded. Among the killed was Lieutenant John B. Coleman of the Sixteenth Regiment. Though young in years, he was a veteran soldier and efficient officer. . . ."

- Movements of the Confederate Army in Virginia and the part taken by the Nineteenth Mississippi Regiment: From the Diary of General Nathaniel H. Harris.

In Pvt. David Holt's memoirs he says:

"Next we moved to another part of the battlefield and [were] thrown out as skirmishers and soon engaged the enemy which was another matter altogether, for somebody was getting hurt every once in a while. We were ordered to drive in the Yank skirmishers, which we did to our sorrow, for we ran into the Yankee battle line fortified with a strong abatis of scrub oaks. We went to the abatis, but it does not stand to reason that a line of skirmishers could take such a position, and we had to fall back with heavy loss. We laid down at the abatis not over a hundred feet from the Yankee breastworks and kept up such an accurate fire that every Yank who stuck his head up over the breastworks to shoot got it promptly knocked off. We should have had some support, but having none, we were ordered to fall back.
"As we retreated the Yanks were emboldened to shoot and poured a volley into our ranks. Our flagbearer was shot down, and the flag fell on the ground. Lieutenant Coleman turned back and picked it up but took only a few steps when he was killed, and the flag went down again. Ben Chisholm, a private in Company K, ran back and picked up the flag from the dead hand of Lieutenant Coleman and brought it out.
"We did not retreat far but stopped under the cover of the crest of the hill and continued to keep the heads of the Yanks down. Our guns were our best protection. Night came on and the fighting ceased as daylight vanished."

- A Mississippi Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia: The Civil War Memoirs of Private David Holt.

Coleman was buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Va.

Here's his Find A Grave page:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12463145/john-b_-coleman
 
The above-mentioned Luke Ward Conerly also served in the 16th Mississippi as a member of Co. E Quitman Guards.

More on him here: http://www.lukewardconerly.com/
Great thread and magnificent research !

I had a few relatives in Company E, The Quitman Guards.
Including Luke Conerly . . . who is also a distant relative.
 
View attachment 217917
Battle flag of the 16th Mississippi Infantry.

I've wanted to do a thread on the 16th Mississippi for the Regimental Histories forum for a while now, however I could not find a sufficient overview of their record online or elsewhere, so I decided to put together my own and have been working on the following. I know it is not perfect; I could not record every single camp and movement, but I have tried to present a general timeline of their service and give a short description of the regiment's actions in each battle and campaign.

Company A — Summit Rifles (Pike County)
Company B — Westville Guards (Simpson County)
Company C — Crystal Springs Southern Rights (Copiah County)
Company D — Adams Light Guard No. 2 (Adams County)
Company E — Quitman Guards (Pike County)
Company F — Jasper Grays (Jasper County)
Company G — Fairview Rifles, aka Claiborne Rangers (Claiborne County)
Company H — Defenders of Smith County
Company I — Adams Light Guard No. 1 (Adams County)
Company K — Wilkinson Rifles (Wilkinson County)
(For a list of officers see Here)

The 16th Mississippi Infantry Regiment completed its organization on June 17, 1861, at Corinth, Miss. Carnot Posey, a Mississippi native, attorney and veteran of the Mexican War (serving as an officer in Jeff Davis' 1st Mississippi Rifles), was elected colonel. The ten companies that comprised the regiment mainly hailed from the southwestern corner of the state.

The Sixteenth departed for Virginia on July 26, arriving in Lynchburg five days later. They would spend the winter of 1861-62 in camp at Centreville, Va.

Shenandoah Valley Campaign — As part of Brig. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble's brigade, Ewell's division, in May 1862 the Sixteenth joined Stonewall Jackson in his famous Valley Campaign—the only Mississippi regiment to participate. The regiment was heavily engaged in the battle of Cross Keys, June 8, 1862, Trimble's brigade surprising and decimating Brig. Gen. Julius Stahel's brigade, particularly the largely German 8th New York. The 16th Mississippi suffered a loss of 6 killed and 27 wounded.

Seven Days Battles — Engaged in the battle of Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862, the 16th Mississippi and 21st North Carolina made a charge across Boatswain's Creek that broke part of the Federal line and, in conjunction with other simultaneous breakthroughs along the line, led to Gen. Porter's retreat. Trimble reported that he had ordered the men "to make a charge with the bayonet and not stop one moment to fire or reload . . . and that the quicker the charge was made, the less would be our loss." Trimble's brigade was present at Malvern Hill, July 1, and was under artillery fire but was not directly engaged. The Sixteenth lost 15 killed, 51 wounded and 19 missing during the Seven Days, mainly at Gaines' Mill.

After this campaign the regiment was transferred to Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Featherston's Mississippi brigade—consisting of the 12th, 16th, 19th Miss. Regts. and 2nd Miss. Btn. (later the 48th Miss. Regt.)—in Wilcox's division, Longstreet's wing.

Second Manassas — In a skirmish with Federal cavalry at Kelly's Ford, August 21, 1862. In the battle of Second Manassas the Sixteenth was engaged August 30 in tandem with Longstreet's attack on Pope's flank. The loss of the brigade was 26 killed and 142 wounded.

Maryland Campaign — Was at Harpers Ferry. Engaged at Antietam/Sharpsburg, September 17. Featherston's brigade (then commanded by Col. Carnot Posey) marched in support of D.H. Hill's line at the Sunken Road. Attempting a counterattack, the brigade charged over the heads of the troops in the road, fighting over open ground. That cost the 16th Mississippi dearly. Col. Bennett of the 14th NC wrote that the Mississippians "flowed over and out of the road and many of them were killed in this overflow. The 16th Mississippi disappeared as if it had gone into the earth."

Capt. Abram M. Feltus, acting commander, reported that "During this time, the losses in the regiment were heavy. A murderous fire of grape, canister, shell, and small arms played on us. Notwithstanding, this regiment gallantly held its position until ordered to retire, which it did in as good order as could be expected from its thinned ranks. When we retired as far as the road a scene of great confusion ensued from the mingling together of different brigades. We continued to fall back until we reached the [Piper] barn, where the remnant of the regiment was rallied in its position on the left of the brigade." The regiment made another advance into the Piper cornfield, eventually falling back and later repulsing a Federal advance in the Piper orchard.

According to Capt. Feltus, of the 228 men carried into action 144 of them were killed or wounded. In a letter to his father, Pvt. Jefferson J. Wilson of Co. C wrote, "Our regiment suffered more than it ever did before. There was twenty-six killed, ninety-nine wounded, nineteen missing. We supposed that they are killed or wounded. . . . We were under the hottest fires that we ever was before. We went in with thirty-seven men [in our company] and twenty of them were killed and wounded."

And in a letter to his brother, Jefferson says of the battle, "It was the hottest place I ever was in or ever want to be again soon. I have got my fill of fighting and am willing to let them alone if they will go home and let us alone. I thought the battle at Richmond was a bloody battle, but that was not a circumstance compared to the battle in Maryland. We had to fall back and leave our dead and wounded in the hands of the Yankees."

Fredericksburg — Camped at Fredericksburg through late 1862. Under artillery fire during the battle, December 13, while positioned on Marye's Heights but not directly engaged. The Sixteenth lost 3 killed and 17 wounded. Remained in camp at Fredericksburg throughout the winter. Occasional picket duty on the Rappahannock.

Gen. Featherston having been transferred to the Western Theater, Colonel Carnot Posey was promoted to brigadier general on January 18, 1863, in command of the brigade. Samuel E. Baker assumed command of the Sixteenth as colonel, with Abram M. Feltus promoted to lieutenant colonel and Edward C. Councill major.

Chancellorsville — Advanced up the Orange Plank Road on the first day, May 1. Skirmished throughout the day on May 2. Advanced on Hooker's line at Fairview Heights and the Chancellorsville Crossroads on May 3, charging and overrunning a line of works with abatis and capturing many prisoners. Lightly engaged on May 4. The regiment suffered a loss of 22 killed, 57 wounded and 25 captured.

Every member of the color guard was killed or wounded in the battle and the colors were also lost, but not to the enemy. Cpl. William J. Sweeny, last man to take up the flag, was wounded and sent to the rear with it. With him it vanished, though Col. Baker believed that a man who died at the field hospital might've been buried with it. (For more info, see Flags of the 16th Mississippi below)

Posey's brigade part of Richard H. Anderson's division, his division was transferred to the newly formed Third Corps in June 1863. Returned to camp near Fredericksburg until marching north in the later part of June.

Gettysburg — Arrived on the field July 1 but were not engaged. Posey's brigade was posted on Seminary Ridge on the morning of July 2, Company C of the Sixteenth being sent out as skirmishers. That afternoon the 19th and 48th Missississippi were sent forward, joining the skirmish line west of the Bliss farm. The rest of the 16th Mississippi was later advanced in support of Wright's Brigade's charge on Cemetery Ridge, but arriving too late, it did not advance past the Emmitsburg Road. Col. Baker ordered the regiment to lie down and sent companies A, F and H forward as skirmishers, holding their position until relieved by the 12th Mississippi that night. Skirmished throughout the day on July 3, five companies being deployed at skirmishers. Remaining on Seminary Ridge throughout July 4, Posey's brigade withdrew on the morning of July 5. (See @Tom Elmore excellent thread on the 16th Mississippi at Gettysburg)

Camped in the vicinity of Orange C.H., Va., after the retreat.

Lightly engaged in the battle of Bristoe Station, October 14. Gen. Posey is wounded in the left thigh by a shell fragment. The wound becoming infected, he later died at Charlottesville, Va., November 13. Col. Baker assumed command of the brigade until senior officer, Col. Nathaniel H. Harris of the 19th Mississippi returned from sick leave in November. Promoted to brigadier general January 20, 1864, Harris commanded the Mississippi brigade until war's end.

Remained in camp near Orange C.H. through winter of 1863-64.

I have a relative in Company C., Crystal Springs Southern Rights
He was killed at Gaines Mill, June 27, 1862, during the Seven Days.
5th Sgt., 20 years old, unmarried.
 
570743296_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.jpg

Pvt. Jesse Alfred Lamb, Company B, 16th Mississippi Infantry. Lamb enlisted in Corinth on 29 May 1861. He was given a medical discharge, due to health issues, on 22 July 1862.

750568960_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.jpg

Sgt. James Norval Bishop, Company B, 16th Mississippi Infantry. Bishop enlisted on 29 May 1861 in Corinth, Mississippi as a Private, later being promoted to Sergeant. He was wounded sometime in 1864, but his records do not note where he was wounded nor the nature of his wound. He was captured on 2 April 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia [in the Petersburg Breakthrough, quite possibly at Fort Gregg], ending the war for him.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mississ...33/photos/?tab=album&album_id=313154462711360
 
View attachment 250383
Lt. John B. Coleman of Co. G. (Source)

I couldn't find much info on him, other than that Coleman was killed in the second battle of Deep Bottom/Fussell's Mill, August 18, 1864.

Gen. N. H. Harris wrote in his diary:

"Remained quiet until the afternoon of the 18th when . . . General Harris advanced his own brigade, under command of Colonel Jayne . . . to feel the enemy. Advancing but a short distance through thick woods and driving in the enemy’s skirmishers, we encountered the enemy’s line of battle entrenched. Holding the position until dark, the brigade was withdrawn to its original position.
"The brigade in this affair met with some loss in killed and wounded. Among the killed was Lieutenant John B. Coleman of the Sixteenth Regiment. Though young in years, he was a veteran soldier and efficient officer. . . ."

- Movements of the Confederate Army in Virginia and the part taken by the Nineteenth Mississippi Regiment: From the Diary of General Nathaniel H. Harris.

In Pvt. David Holt's memoirs he says:

"Next we moved to another part of the battlefield and [were] thrown out as skirmishers and soon engaged the enemy which was another matter altogether, for somebody was getting hurt every once in a while. We were ordered to drive in the Yank skirmishers, which we did to our sorrow, for we ran into the Yankee battle line fortified with a strong abatis of scrub oaks. We went to the abatis, but it does not stand to reason that a line of skirmishers could take such a position, and we had to fall back with heavy loss. We laid down at the abatis not over a hundred feet from the Yankee breastworks and kept up such an accurate fire that every Yank who stuck his head up over the breastworks to shoot got it promptly knocked off. We should have had some support, but having none, we were ordered to fall back.
"As we retreated the Yanks were emboldened to shoot and poured a volley into our ranks. Our flagbearer was shot down, and the flag fell on the ground. Lieutenant Coleman turned back and picked it up but took only a few steps when he was killed, and the flag went down again. Ben Chisholm, a private in Company K, ran back and picked up the flag from the dead hand of Lieutenant Coleman and brought it out.
"We did not retreat far but stopped under the cover of the crest of the hill and continued to keep the heads of the Yanks down. Our guns were our best protection. Night came on and the fighting ceased as daylight vanished."

- A Mississippi Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia: The Civil War Memoirs of Private David Holt.

Coleman was buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Va.

Here's his Find A Grave page:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12463145/john-b_-coleman
I wonder about Second Deep Bottom / Fussell's Mill. That battle was fought north of the James River on August 14 -16, 1864 with a minor attack on the 18th and skirmishing lasting thru the 20th. Only one brigade of Mahone's, that of Victor Girardey, is listed in the Order of Battle. During the same time frame the remainder of Mahone's Division was engaged in the 2nd Battle of the Weldon Railroad (aka the Battle of Globe Tavern) which lasted from August 18 - 21. On the 21st the commander of the 16th Mississippi, Colonel Edward Councell, was mortally wounded and captured, dieing in Federal hand the following month.
 
I wonder about Second Deep Bottom / Fussell's Mill. That battle was fought north of the James River on August 14 -16, 1864 with a minor attack on the 18th and skirmishing lasting thru the 20th. Only one brigade of Mahone's, that of Victor Girardey, is listed in the Order of Battle. During the same time frame the remainder of Mahone's Division was engaged in the 2nd Battle of the Weldon Railroad (aka the Battle of Globe Tavern) which lasted from August 18 - 21. On the 21st the commander of the 16th Mississippi, Colonel Edward Councell, was mortally wounded and captured, dieing in Federal hand the following month.
In Gen. N. H. Harris' diary he says:

"August 16th . . . withdrew the brigade from the trenches in front of Petersburg and proceeded by train to Richmond, thence by steamer on the James River to Chafin’s Farm. Disembarking at daylight at that point, General Harris reported to General Lee and was ordered by him to report to Major General Fields near Fussell’s Mill on the Darbytown Road. Reporting to General Fields as directed, General Harris, in addition to his own [brigade], was placed in command of [Sanders] and Girardey, these brigades having already arrived from the south side and formed line of battle. . . ."

Following the skirmishing on the 18th mentioned in that post, his brigade was then moved back to Petersburg the following day, taking part in that attack at Weldon Railroad on the 21st.
 
Looking forward to reading all in your amazing thread about the 16th. Very interested in Co H, Smith County. My gg grf took the trains out of Corinth at the very beginning, was wounded at Weldon RR on the 18th August 1864, moved to Richmond, died in hospital there on the 21st. He was laid to rest at Oakwood, but none of the family knew until 2013. Family lore says he lost a leg in battle.
His elder brother, John Quincy, was a sergeant in Co H. I have searched high and low for clues on what happened to him.
 
i read there was a lot of Irish in the Regiment.

In his diary, later published as
The Valiant Hours
, Cleveland’s Thomas F. Galwey, Co. B, 8 OVI, reported that after the battle of Fredericksburg both USA and CSA troops ceased-fire so the dead could be collected and buried. ”Jim Gallagher told us that he had met a man from the 16th
Mississippi Regiment (an Irish regiment, it seems). They all, Confederate and Federal parted on good terms and bade one another a sincere goodbye.”
 
Does anyone have a picture of the 16th Mississippi Infantrys Battle flag?...I had Ancestors fight and die with the 16th and want a battle flag made...Thank Ya'll
Scott
 
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