Mississippi Rifles

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Excluding Jefferson Davis, did any veteran of the Mississippi Rifles (Mexican War) serve in the Confederate Army? Names and details of his service would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Stryker65]

I believe the 1st Mississippi Infantry, Colonel John M. Simonton, carried the lineage of the old Mississippi Rifles. No idea if any of its members had fought, I will look into this.

 

[Tom Elmore]

First Lieutenant Carnot Posey served in Col. Jefferson Davis' 1st Mississippi Rifles at the battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican War, where he received a disabling wound. He served as colonel of the 16th Mississippi at First and Second Manassas, the Valley campaign and the Seven Days' battles before being appointed as a brigadier general in November 1862. He led a brigade at Gettysburg and was mortally wounded at Bristoe Station in late 1863.

 

[Stryker65]

@Sowbelly and Hardtack Found eight.

1st Mississippi Rifles officers:
- Maj. Alexander B. Bradford, became Mississippi Legislator to the Provisional Confederate Congress during ACW
- Capt. Douglas H. Cooper (commander of Co. B), became Brig. Gen. and commander of Cherokee and Creek Indian cavalry during ACW
- Capt. James H. R. Taylor (commander of Co. I), became Capt. in 15th Tennessee Infantry during ACW
- Capt. William P. Rogers (commander of Co. K), became Lieut. Col. 2nd Texas Infantry during ACW, and was killed at Second Corinth
- Lieut. Carnot Posey, became Brig. Gen. of a Mississippi brigade during ACW
- Ordnance Sgt. Evander McNair (of Co. E), became Brig. Gen. of an Arkansas brigade during ACW
- Pvt. Elkanah S. Greer, became Brig. Gen. of a Texas brigade during ACW
- Pvt. Thomas Harrison, became Col. of 8th Texas Cavalry during ACW

 

[Stryker65]

Details:
- Cooper organized the 1st Choctaw/Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, and led a brigade against Opothleyahola at Round Mountain, Chusto-Talasah, and Chustenahlah. He then fought in Arkansas and Missouri at Pea Ridge, Newtonia, and Honey Springs before being promoted brigadier and placed in command of all Indian cavalry west of the Mississippi.
- Taylor I don't know much about, I remember finding him in an order of battle;
- Rogers died at Corinth, there's a lot of articles about his charge
- General Posey was already covered by @Tom Elmore above
- General McNair organized the Fourth Arkansas Infantry, and later led the brigade until Chattanooga, I believe, after which the brigade went to D. H. Reynolds and General McNair was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi to command the Consolidated Arkansas brigade.
- General Greer organized the 3rd Texas Cavalry (or South Kansas/Texas Cavalry) and fought at Pea Ridge, where he became embroiled in a command dispute with General Albert Pike after the deaths of Ben McCulloch and James McIntosh. He later was transferred back to Texas to command the Texas Reserve Corps, until he was relieved by Jerome B. Robertson
- Colonel Harrison commanded the famed 8th Texas Cavalry after the deaths of Colonels Terry and Lubbock. He was promoted to brigadier at war's end, and was wounded a month before Johnston's surrender.

 

[RedRover]

Second Lieutenant Richard Griffith of Company C, 1st Miss., of the 1840s served the Confederacy as colonel of the 12th Mississippi volunteers, and as a brigadier general commanding a brigade, was killed at Savage's Station in 1862.

1st Lt. Christopher H. Mott of Company I, 1st Miss. of the 1840s, served the Confederacy as a general of Mississippi State troops, and later colonel of the 19th Mississippi volunteers. He was killed in action at Williamsburg in May, 1862.

 

[Stryker65]

Colonel William L. Brandon (21st Miss.) was not part of the regiment itself, but assisted in forming it as a Major General of militia at the time.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

First Lieutenant Carnot Posey served in Col. Jefferson Davis' 1st Mississippi Rifles at the battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican War, where he received a disabling wound. He served as colonel of the 16th Mississippi at First and Second Manassas, the Valley campaign and the Seven Days' battles before being appointed as a brigadier general in November 1862. He led a brigade at Gettysburg and was mortally wounded at Bristoe Station in late 1863.

Thank you @Tom Elmore.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Second Lieutenant Richard Griffith of Company C, 1st Miss., of the 1840s served the Confederacy as colonel of the 12th Mississippi volunteers, and as a brigadier general commanding a brigade, was killed at Savage's Station in 1862.
View attachment 494524


1st Lt. Christopher H. Mott of Company I, 1st Miss. of the 1840s, served the Confederacy as a general of Mississippi State troops, and later colonel of the 19th Mississippi volunteers. He was killed in action at Williamsburg in May, 1862.

View attachment 494523

Thank you @RedRover.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Details:
- Cooper organized the 1st Choctaw/Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, and led a brigade against Opothleyahola at Round Mountain, Chusto-Talasah, and Chustenahlah. He then fought in Arkansas and Missouri at Pea Ridge, Newtonia, and Honey Springs before being promoted brigadier and placed in command of all Indian cavalry west of the Mississippi.
- Taylor I don't know much about, I remember finding him in an order of battle;
- Rogers died at Corinth, there's a lot of articles about his charge
- General Posey was already covered by @Tom Elmore above
- General McNair organized the Fourth Arkansas Infantry, and later led the brigade until Chattanooga, I believe, after which the brigade went to D. H. Reynolds and General McNair was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi to command the Consolidated Arkansas brigade.
- General Greer organized the 3rd Texas Cavalry (or South Kansas/Texas Cavalry) and fought at Pea Ridge, where he became embroiled in a command dispute with General Albert Pike after the deaths of Ben McCulloch and James McIntosh. He later was transferred back to Texas to command the Texas Reserve Corps, until he was relieved by Jerome B. Robertson
- Colonel Harrison commanded the famed 8th Texas Cavalry after the deaths of Colonels Terry and Lubbock. He was promoted to brigadier at war's end, and was wounded a month before Johnston's surrender.

Thank you @Stryker65.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

@Sowbelly and Hardtack Found eight.

1st Mississippi Rifles officers:
- Maj. Alexander B. Bradford, became Mississippi Legislator to the Provisional Confederate Congress during ACW
- Capt. Douglas H. Cooper (commander of Co. B), became Brig. Gen. and commander of Cherokee and Creek Indian cavalry during ACW
- Capt. James H. R. Taylor (commander of Co. I), became Capt. in 15th Tennessee Infantry during ACW
- Capt. William P. Rogers (commander of Co. K), became Lieut. Col. 2nd Texas Infantry during ACW, and was killed at Second Corinth
- Lieut. Carnot Posey, became Brig. Gen. of a Mississippi brigade during ACW
- Ordnance Sgt. Evander McNair (of Co. E), became Brig. Gen. of an Arkansas brigade during ACW
- Pvt. Elkanah S. Greer, became Brig. Gen. of a Texas brigade during ACW
- Pvt. Thomas Harrison, became Col. of 8th Texas Cavalry during ACW

Thank you @Stryker65.

 

[kgriff5166]

Second Lieutenant Richard Griffith of Company C, 1st Miss., of the 1840s served the Confederacy as colonel of the 12th Mississippi volunteers, and as a brigadier general commanding a brigade, was killed at Savage's Station in 1862.
View attachment 494524


1st Lt. Christopher H. Mott of Company I, 1st Miss. of the 1840s, served the Confederacy as a general of Mississippi State troops, and later colonel of the 19th Mississippi volunteers. He was killed in action at Williamsburg in May, 1862.

View attachment 494523

Richard Griffith is my 3rd Great Grandfather. Very proud to be one of his descendants.

 

[RedRover]

Richard Griffith is my 3rd Great Grandfather. Very proud to be one of his descendants.

Davis's 1st Mississippi regiment, the "Mississippi Rifles" in the war with Mexico set something the mode for the Southern fighting men of the 1860s.

Here's some interesting videos on the actions at Monterrey,

Battle of Monterrey, Youtube...

and at Buena Vista,

Battle of Buena Vista, Youtube...