Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

[Mississippian]

This regiment was also known as the 1st (Adams) Mississippi Cavalry and Wood's Confederate Regiment. Served in Kentucky in 1861 and fought at Shiloh, spent most of the rest of the war in various campaigns in Mississippi.

CSR of Capt. R. Muldrow, Co. E

Received Oct. 15th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

60 Cavalry Cartridge Boxes
64 Cavalry Waist Belts
60 Cap Boxes
25 Holsters
20 Saddles
20 Halter Bridles
64 Valises
64 Haversacks
68 pr Spurs
68 Surcingles
64 Forage Sacks
64 Powder Flasks
3 Navy Repeaters
30 Curry Combs
64 Breast Straps

Received Oct. 17th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

1 Savage Navy Repeater

Received Oct. 23rd 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

32 D.B. Shotguns
64 Horse Brushes
1 Bugle
1 D.B. Shotguns
1 Colts Navy Repeater
2 Savage Navy Repeater

Received Oct. 25th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

2 Savage Navy Repeaters

Received Oct. 28th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

1 Savage Navy Repeater

Received Nov. 12th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

43 Holsters

Received Nov. 14th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

60 Cruppers

Received Nov. 19th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

1 Maynard Rifle
3 D.B. Shotguns

Received Nov. 19th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

11 D.B. Shotguns
1 Navy Repeater

Received Nov. 20th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

1 Navy Repeater

Received Nov. 20th 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

1 Maynard Rifle

Received Nov. 21st 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

76 Shoe Pockets
76 Halters
1 Navy Pistol

Received Nov. 21st 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

8 Saddles
10 Bridles
15 Nose Bags
10 pr Spurs
12 Surcingles
13 Valises
7 Haversacks
13 Powder Flasks
30 Saddle Bags

Received Nov. 21st 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

1 Maynard Rifle
1 Navy Repeater
1 Cavalry Sword

Received Nov. 22nd 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

21 Shot Gun Slings

Received Nov. 22nd 1861 from Memphis Arsenal

55 Carbine Boots
55 Gun Slings
18 D.B. Shotguns
49 Maynard Rifles

Received Jan. 11th 1862

3 pr Boots @ $6.50

Received Jan. 15th 1862

10 Springfield Sabers & Belts

Received Jan. 15th 1862

4 pr Boots @ $6.50

Received Jan. 24th 1862

20 Blankets @ $5.40
5 Overcoats @ $8.00
9 Shirts @ $2.00
5 pr Drawers @ $0.80

Received Apr. 25th 1862 at Corinth MS

12 Cartridges Boxes
12 Cap Boxes
12 Waist Belts
1 pr Spurs
24 Curry Combs

Ordnance Stores turned over to Ordnance Officer, Vicksburg MS Jan. 1863

1 Maynard Rifle, Unserviceable
1 D.B. Shotgun, Unserviceable
1 Navy Pistol, Unserviceable

Received Jan. 23rd 1863 at Vicksburg MS

1 Maynard Rifle
2 Colts Navy Pistols

Received June 30th 1863

46 pr Pants
33 Jackets
12 pr Drawers
77 Shirts
12 pr Shoes
1 pr Pants

Will post more later....

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

CSR of Capt. M.J. Fagg, Co. "H"

Ordnance Stores issued May 7th 1862 at Corinth MS:

1 Box Buck Shot Cartridges
3000 Pistol Caps
1000 Gun Gaps
500 Pistol Cartridges

Will MacDonald

[Coatsy]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

Will, have you found any information on Wirt Adams' regiment from late 1863 to early 1864? I just finished Margie Bearss' book on the Meridian Campaign, and my eyes were opened to how busy/engaged this command was.

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

Herb,

I love that book. My girlfriend's family is from the Meridian area and her GGGG Grandfather's (James Wilson) plantation is mentioned on P. 193 when the 16th Corps passed by it on the march back.

Here is really good map as well: http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/serv...ced_Search.htm

As for ordnance, not really on this regiment yet, but I've found things for other regiments in Jackson's Division. I'll look later today and see what I can find for this regiment. I wonder how many Maynards they still had in service by this time?

Will MacDonald

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

I find the mention of "breast straps" interesting.

[Coatsy]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

Will, thanks for the map link. The book, plus you map are a great tool for following The Sherm on his way east and back.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

Herb, you note a mighty fine book. In particular the Meridian Campaign while rather obscure is notable for many aspects including Sherman's "practice" at burning and pillaging that he later thoroughly excelled in during the March to the Sea and,..... for some of the heroes the campaign produced. Of course one Wirt Adams himself. After Forrest there was no other Confederate cavalry leader that Sherman feared more than Wirt Adams. Sherman admits this. Sad there is not biography about him. After the war in 1885 or so, Adams was murdered in a street encounter with newspaper editor who had criticized him.
Another hero was Addison Harvey of Harvey's Scouts. A sadly unsung but tremendously effective group of Mississippians mostly recruited from the 1st Miss. Cav. Reg. Theirs is a great story that deserves to be more well know. I note a wonderful website below that tells their story. Its worth the visit. Harvey is particularly interesting in that while he was every bit a notable "man's-man" type figure akin to Mosby in his cunning and operations he too was viciously assassinated while trying to make his way home at the very end of the war. Great true story.

http://msgw.org/madison/harveyscouts/aharvey.htm

Ken R Knopp

[Coatsy]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

Ken, after doing research for Bummers. It seems that The Sherm's men let Middle Georgia off a little easier than the men under his command during the Meridian Campaign. The plunder and torching seems to be more on par with the Federal's advance through South Carolina. I was very surprised with the whole sale destruction of the rail stop towns along the railroad from Jackson to Meridian.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

Great point! Having lived and traveled in this area most of my life I can tell you that a ride along the route will find only a few surviving war time buildings (I can think of about four in Jackson and two others elsewhere though I am sure there are a few others) and no large dewellings (mansion homes) remaining anywhere from outside Vicksburg all the way to Meridian . This, in a state that was the home of many such homes and the wealthiest state per capita in the country "fo de wa". Fact is, Mississippi has yet to recover from the war and (so called) "Reconstruction".
Anyway, the campaign story is very sadly overlooked by historians and wantonly forgotten by Mississippians. Except for Wirt Adams cavalry and Harvey's Scouts in particularly, Sherman met almost no resistance the entire route. The lack of fortitude to initiate an engagement with Sherman on very good chosen ground near Chunky by the Army of the West under CS Gen. Polk is more than a missed opportunity. I think it was an act of incompetence and CYA self preservation that is very telling about the CS hierarchy in the west at the time. Anyway, I am sorry it is so easy to pass judgement from here- 150 years later but, I think it seemed the same to many contemporaries at the time too. Another reason it is so conveniently "forgotten".

Another interesting "what if" .....Grierson's Raid took place a year earlier through this area. He was dogged by Wirt Adams some of the way. If Adams had been given better and timely information Greirson might have met the same fate as the dual raid at the same time by Able Streight at the hands of Forrest in Ala. Or......if Forrest had pursued Grierson instead of Streight, well,....oh well, "what ifs" are useless but always interesting.

Folks should take the time to learn more about great CS cavalry leaders like Wirt Adams and Harvey's Scouts

Ken R KNopp

[Mark Choate]

Re: Ordnance and QM Records of Wirt Adams Mississippi Cavalry

This is some wonderful stuff. People overlook the destruction in that Mississippi corridor from Jackson to Meridian and it does not get the play that the "March to the Sea" does, but it was devastating.

I know we are not in the business of "what ifs" but the idea of Forrest pursuing Grierson is just too tantalizing not to hypothesize over. This is really good discussion and I thank you for taking down this road.

Mark