Mississippi 43rd Infantry Regiment

Historical Notes:
The Mississippi 43rd Infantry Regiment was formed during the summer of 1862 with eleven companies. Some of its members were Kemper and Noxubee Counties. After fighting at Iuka and Corinth, the unit was assigned to General L. Hebert's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and was captured at Vicksburg in July, 1863. Exchanged, it went on to serve under Generals J. Adams and Lowry, Army of Tennessee. The 43rd participated in various conflicts throughout the Atlanta Campaign, then saw action in Tennessee and North Carolina. It reported 13 killed, 56 wounded, and 156 missing at Corinth, had 483 effectives in February, 1863, and during the Vicksburg siege lost 25 killed and 33 wounded. In December, 1863, only 1 officer and 36 men were present. On April 26, 1865, it surrendered. Officers:
Colonels --William Hudson Moore, Richard Harrison.
Lieutenant -Colonels -- Richard W. Leigh, Richard Harrison, Columbus Sykes, James O. Banks.
Majors -- Richard Harrison, Columbus Sykes, James O. Banks.
Adjutant -- W. E. Sykes, mortally wounded at Decatur, Ala., 1864.
Inspector & Mustering Officers:
Lt. Patrick Henry
Captain Henry J.B. Lann (Co. L)
Lt. Col. Columbus Sykes (Co. A)

Regimental Surgeons:
Pvt. William B. Dale, Jr. Co.B)
Thomas B. Elkin
John P.Furniss
Pvt. David G. Howorth (Co. B)
John T. Lowe
Pvt. John R. Sims (Co. C)

Regimental Quartermasters:
Captain Joseph P. Billups (Co. B)
Orderly Sergeant George Miller (Co. B)

Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Pvt. Benjamin A. Fox (Co. F)
Orderly Sergeant George Miller (Co. B)
1st Corporal William H. Perkins (Co. B)

Regimental Ordinance Sergeant:
2nd Sergeant Clarence T. Gifford (Co. C)

Acting & Regimental Commissaries/Commissary Sergeants:
Pvt. W.F. Clark (Co. F)
Pvt. B.F. Curtis (Co. F)
Pvt. John F. Dunlap (Co. D)
Captain Wesley Mellard (Pvt. in Co. F)

Sergeants Major:
Charles D. Christian (Co. I)
Eugene Paul Sale (Co. C)

Color Sergeant:
1st Lieutenant Benjamin Lafayette Smith (Co. B)

Ensign:
1st Lieutenant Benjamin Lafayette Smith (Co. B)

Regimental Chaplains:
Pvt. Franklin Finney (Co. A)
Joseph B. Stone [never in a company; never assigned a rank]

Principal Musician:
Edward Whittington - never in a regular company

Regimental Band:
4th Sergeant John P. Beatty, Chief Bugler (Co. A)
Pvt. A.W. Collier (Co. B)
Pvt. Horatio B. Cushman (Co. B)
Pvt. Charles E. Dancy (Co. B)
4th Corporal Robert A. Harkey (Co. A)
Pvt. Alexander G. Hogan (Co. B)
Pvt. Ward Kniffin (Co. B)
Pvt. Thomas F. Lyon (never served in a regular company)
Pvt. John W. Page (Co. I)
4th Sergeant J.T.H. Ramage (Co. C)
Pvt. Charles Stoelker (Co. C)
5th Sergeant William Summerfield Sykes (Co. B)
Pvt. Francis W. Vesey (Co. C)
Pvt. Leroy N. White (Co. B)
Pvt. Felix Wood (Co. B)

Regimental Sutler:
Pvt. Stephen W. Bennett (Co. D)

Regimental Hospital Stewards:
Myer Gattman (no rank -- never in a regular company)
Pvt. Marshall Johnson (Co. H)

Servants of Field & Staff:
Butler C. Cox
Old Man (or "Uncle") Perry
Wesley Sykes
Assignments:
General L. Hebert's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
Gen. M. E. Green's Brigade of Hebert's Division of the army of General Price
Brigade of Gen. John Adams (formerly Tilghman’s), Loring's Division, Army of the Mississippi, Lieut.-Gen. Leonidas Polk commanding.
A. P. Stewart's Corps, Army of Tennessee
Battles:
Corinth
Iuka
Vicksburg
Chickamauga
The Atlanta Campaign
Spring Hill
Nashville
The Carolina’s Campaign
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2501 men.

Company A -- Frank Rodgers Rifles (raised in Monroe County, MS)
Company B -- Lowndes Rifleman (raised in Lowndes County, MS)
Company C -- Whitfield Guards (raised in Monroe County, MS)
Company D -- Capt. Thompson’s Company (raised in Webster County, MS)
Company E -- Capt. Smith’s Company (raised in Pontotoc [now Union] County, MS)
Company F -- Capt. Hampton’s Company (raised in Lowndes County, MS)
Company G -- Capt. Wiinter’s Company (raised in Monroe County, MS)
Company H -- Itawamba Tigers (raised in Itawamba County, MS)
Company I -- Capt. Banks’ Company [formerly Company A, 5th Battalion Infantry] (raised in Lowndes County, MS)
Company K -- Kemper Fencibles (raised in Kemper County, MS)
Company L -- Gholson’s Rebels, aka Gholson’s Pioneers, & aka Lann’s Pioneers(raised in Monroe County, MS)
Bibliography for Research: