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This is a photo of Sgt. Henry G Land (left) with two unidentified companions of Co. C, Southern Guards, Jeff Davis Legion, ANV.
The Southern Guards was organized in Dec. 1860 in Kemper County Mississipi. IN march 1861 the complany was mustered into Miss. State service in Scooba (about 35 miles north of Meridian) and sent to Corinth for training. In August they were mustered into Confederate service at Iuka, Miss. and left for Virginia arriving by Sept 16th. Sgt. Land became acting 3rd Lieutenant about this time.
On Oct 11th The Southern Guards became Company C, 2nd Mississippi Cavalry Battalion later known as the Jeff Davis Legion, under Major William T Martin (later sent west to become a Brig, Gen'l under Wheeler). The "Little Jeff" was a storied unit fighting in all of the ANV campagins until being sent south to the Carolinas in early 1865. Their story is one of incredible hardship, deprivation, courage and tenacity fighting so far from home and well told in the book "The Little Jeff" by Donald A. Hopkins.
In early January 1862 the Jeff Davis Legion was busy building winter quarters (huts) near Centerville, Va. There was alot of sickness (pnuemonia and TB) in the camps with several men dieing. In addition, many of the commands horses were sick with distemper and a great many of them died too. About this time Land was elected permanent position of 3rd Lieutenent, Co. C.
Over the next 18 months The Little Jeff went through several sharp fights including Brandy Station in early June 1863. Just a couple of weeks later at the engagement at Upperville Va. the Legion did some of its hardest fighting of the war. In no less than five successful charges the Legion fought hand to hand- much of it with the saber but were finally driven out of the village. Several men were killed and wounded many more had very close calls. They also lost six horses killed and many more wounded. The next morning members of Company C went back into Upperville to search for the graves of three of their missing comrades including Lt. Land. They failed to find any sign of them. Henry Land was not heard from again and it is not known what happened to him.
ONe cannot be sure when or where this photo was taken but it is interesting to note the uniforms and weapons of the troopers. The weapons may be studio props or maybe not.
What do you think?
This photo was taken from a book entitled FOR DIXIE LAND I'LL TAKE MY STAND, SOMEBODY'S DARLING: IMAGES OF MISSISSIPPI CONFEDERATES, By H. Grady Howell, Jr. An outstanding "picture" book with some 200 images and wonderful accompanying research and individual "humanistic" stories. It has dozens of other very fine (never seen before) photos of soldiers (including cav) by an accomplished although largely obscure author. I recommend it highly as one of my favorites.
Ken R Knopp
The Southern Guards was organized in Dec. 1860 in Kemper County Mississipi. IN march 1861 the complany was mustered into Miss. State service in Scooba (about 35 miles north of Meridian) and sent to Corinth for training. In August they were mustered into Confederate service at Iuka, Miss. and left for Virginia arriving by Sept 16th. Sgt. Land became acting 3rd Lieutenant about this time.
On Oct 11th The Southern Guards became Company C, 2nd Mississippi Cavalry Battalion later known as the Jeff Davis Legion, under Major William T Martin (later sent west to become a Brig, Gen'l under Wheeler). The "Little Jeff" was a storied unit fighting in all of the ANV campagins until being sent south to the Carolinas in early 1865. Their story is one of incredible hardship, deprivation, courage and tenacity fighting so far from home and well told in the book "The Little Jeff" by Donald A. Hopkins.
In early January 1862 the Jeff Davis Legion was busy building winter quarters (huts) near Centerville, Va. There was alot of sickness (pnuemonia and TB) in the camps with several men dieing. In addition, many of the commands horses were sick with distemper and a great many of them died too. About this time Land was elected permanent position of 3rd Lieutenent, Co. C.
Over the next 18 months The Little Jeff went through several sharp fights including Brandy Station in early June 1863. Just a couple of weeks later at the engagement at Upperville Va. the Legion did some of its hardest fighting of the war. In no less than five successful charges the Legion fought hand to hand- much of it with the saber but were finally driven out of the village. Several men were killed and wounded many more had very close calls. They also lost six horses killed and many more wounded. The next morning members of Company C went back into Upperville to search for the graves of three of their missing comrades including Lt. Land. They failed to find any sign of them. Henry Land was not heard from again and it is not known what happened to him.
ONe cannot be sure when or where this photo was taken but it is interesting to note the uniforms and weapons of the troopers. The weapons may be studio props or maybe not.
What do you think?
This photo was taken from a book entitled FOR DIXIE LAND I'LL TAKE MY STAND, SOMEBODY'S DARLING: IMAGES OF MISSISSIPPI CONFEDERATES, By H. Grady Howell, Jr. An outstanding "picture" book with some 200 images and wonderful accompanying research and individual "humanistic" stories. It has dozens of other very fine (never seen before) photos of soldiers (including cav) by an accomplished although largely obscure author. I recommend it highly as one of my favorites.
Ken R Knopp
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