Mississippi 3rd Infantry Battalion Minute Men ~ Burgin's
Historical Notes:
The Minute Men were organized in May 1862 under the order of Maj.-Gen. T. C. Tupper from militia companies in each county. The enlistment term was for six months. Although not mustered into the Confederate States services, they were still subject to orders of Confederate officers.
Beyond a few brief facts, little is known of Robards' Company and the 3rd Battalion Mississippi Infantry, State Troops, Minute Men. From Rowland: "The battalion was enlisted for an indefinite period, picked men from the militia companies in the various counties, for defense of the State, under orders of the Confederate army officers, and went into camp at Okolona in September, 1862. The field officers were elected September 25. Early in October, they were ordered to Columbus. Gen. John Adams, commanding the Fourth District, reported January 1, 1863, Third Battalion, aggregate, 399. 'They were sent to Vicksburg by order of General Pemberton November 28, 1862, and are now there in the actual service of the Confederate States. These troops never were mustered into the service of the Confederate States, but have been and still are performing guard and other duties at this post. The State troops are styled by the Governor Minute Men, have arrived at a certain degree of proficiency and will compare favorably with Confederate States troops of the same length of service.' Colonel Burgin, who left Columbus in command of the battalion, was stationed at Snyder's Bluff, in command of a brigade. This battalion was the only organization of State troops listed in Gen. M. L. Smith's statement of January, 1863. Captain Jeptha V. Harris, of the battalion, was promoted as Brigadier-General, commanding Minute Men at Columbus, September 2, 1862. M. P. Jones was his adjutant. January 19 [1863], Gen. Ruggles, commanding at Columbus, ordered Brig. Gen. Harris, commanding State troops, to remove his brigade, consisting of the Fifth Regiment and Third Battalion, to a suitable position about one and one-half miles north of this post on the Aberdeen Road. Return of Fourth Brigade, Brig. Gen. J.V. Harris, for February, 1863, Third Battalion, 246 present, 413 aggregate, stationed at Columbus. Gilleylin's Cavalry, 70 present, 86 aggregate, stationed at Cotton Gin, and Firth Regiment."
From another section of Rowland: "THIRD BATTALION. The troops of General Rubbles' command fought the battle of Palo Alto with Colonel Hatch, of Grierson's. Ruggles sent Cap. L. D. Sandidge, his Adjutant and Inspector-General, with two guns on platform cars, and Col. Thomas A. Burgin, with a part of the State troops at Columbus, to reconnoiter the railroad and to protect the bridges across the Tibbee and Noxubee and the public stores at Macon. Soon after this, Harris' Brigade was transferred to Vicksburg, arriving there before the campaign which resulted in the Siege. During the preliminary maneuvers and until after the Battle of Baker's Creek, the State troops on the Vicksburg line, about 600 in number, under the command of Gen. J. V. Harris, were with Moore's Brigade guarding the river front at Warrenton and the approaches from the lower ferries of the Big Black. The battalion, under command of Lieut. Col. T. A. Burgin, reported, on May 18, to Gen. W .E. Baldwin, whose brigade occupied a line of works to the north of the city, its right near Riddle's house, and on the 19th they went into the trenches. Later they were transferred to General Vaughn's Brigade, where they were on duty in the trenches until the end, suffering frequent losses in killed and wounded, of which, however, no official summaries are available. Vaughn's daily reports mention 1 killed, 8 wounded. After the surrender, July 4, 1863, they were paroled. August 26, Brig. Gen. Harris was ordered to have the State troops captured at Vicksburg forthwith assembled at Columbus, to be paid to the time of their paroles and mustered out of the service."
Officers:
Col. T. A. Burgin
Assignments:
Gen. W .E. Baldwin
General Vaughn's Brigade
Battles:
Baker's Creek
Vicksburg
Rosters:
The roster of this unit has the names of 1262 men.
Company A - (Monroe Minute Men) - raised in Monroe County
Company B - (Capt. Thompson’s Company) - raised in Monroe County
Company C - (Noxubee Minute Men, aka Mississippi Rebels) - raised in Noxubee County
Company D - (Lowndes County Minute Men) - raised in Lowndes County
Company E - (Oktibbeha Minute Men) - raised in Oktibbeha County
Company F - (Capt. Harrington’s Company) - raised in Chickasaw County
Company G - (Capt. Robards’ Company) - raised in Hancock County
Company H - (Capt. Brantley’s Company, aka "Greene and Perry Squad") - raised in Greene County and Perry County
Beyond a few brief facts, little is known of Robards' Company and the 3rd Battalion Mississippi Infantry, State Troops, Minute Men. From Rowland: "The battalion was enlisted for an indefinite period, picked men from the militia companies in the various counties, for defense of the State, under orders of the Confederate army officers, and went into camp at Okolona in September, 1862. The field officers were elected September 25. Early in October, they were ordered to Columbus. Gen. John Adams, commanding the Fourth District, reported January 1, 1863, Third Battalion, aggregate, 399. 'They were sent to Vicksburg by order of General Pemberton November 28, 1862, and are now there in the actual service of the Confederate States. These troops never were mustered into the service of the Confederate States, but have been and still are performing guard and other duties at this post. The State troops are styled by the Governor Minute Men, have arrived at a certain degree of proficiency and will compare favorably with Confederate States troops of the same length of service.' Colonel Burgin, who left Columbus in command of the battalion, was stationed at Snyder's Bluff, in command of a brigade. This battalion was the only organization of State troops listed in Gen. M. L. Smith's statement of January, 1863. Captain Jeptha V. Harris, of the battalion, was promoted as Brigadier-General, commanding Minute Men at Columbus, September 2, 1862. M. P. Jones was his adjutant. January 19 [1863], Gen. Ruggles, commanding at Columbus, ordered Brig. Gen. Harris, commanding State troops, to remove his brigade, consisting of the Fifth Regiment and Third Battalion, to a suitable position about one and one-half miles north of this post on the Aberdeen Road. Return of Fourth Brigade, Brig. Gen. J.V. Harris, for February, 1863, Third Battalion, 246 present, 413 aggregate, stationed at Columbus. Gilleylin's Cavalry, 70 present, 86 aggregate, stationed at Cotton Gin, and Firth Regiment."
From another section of Rowland: "THIRD BATTALION. The troops of General Rubbles' command fought the battle of Palo Alto with Colonel Hatch, of Grierson's. Ruggles sent Cap. L. D. Sandidge, his Adjutant and Inspector-General, with two guns on platform cars, and Col. Thomas A. Burgin, with a part of the State troops at Columbus, to reconnoiter the railroad and to protect the bridges across the Tibbee and Noxubee and the public stores at Macon. Soon after this, Harris' Brigade was transferred to Vicksburg, arriving there before the campaign which resulted in the Siege. During the preliminary maneuvers and until after the Battle of Baker's Creek, the State troops on the Vicksburg line, about 600 in number, under the command of Gen. J. V. Harris, were with Moore's Brigade guarding the river front at Warrenton and the approaches from the lower ferries of the Big Black. The battalion, under command of Lieut. Col. T. A. Burgin, reported, on May 18, to Gen. W .E. Baldwin, whose brigade occupied a line of works to the north of the city, its right near Riddle's house, and on the 19th they went into the trenches. Later they were transferred to General Vaughn's Brigade, where they were on duty in the trenches until the end, suffering frequent losses in killed and wounded, of which, however, no official summaries are available. Vaughn's daily reports mention 1 killed, 8 wounded. After the surrender, July 4, 1863, they were paroled. August 26, Brig. Gen. Harris was ordered to have the State troops captured at Vicksburg forthwith assembled at Columbus, to be paid to the time of their paroles and mustered out of the service."
General Vaughn's Brigade
Vicksburg
Company A - (Monroe Minute Men) - raised in Monroe County
Company B - (Capt. Thompson’s Company) - raised in Monroe County
Company C - (Noxubee Minute Men, aka Mississippi Rebels) - raised in Noxubee County
Company D - (Lowndes County Minute Men) - raised in Lowndes County
Company E - (Oktibbeha Minute Men) - raised in Oktibbeha County
Company F - (Capt. Harrington’s Company) - raised in Chickasaw County
Company G - (Capt. Robards’ Company) - raised in Hancock County
Source:
Bibliography for Research: