Pontotoc Minute Men Spring Muster and General Information

[Cameron]

Company G will be having their Spring Muster, May 13,14, & 15 at Carnton Plantation, in Franklin, TN. Please let me know if you are planning on attending. I have already received several responses regarding this, so keep them coming.

Also, if you have not registered for Manassas please get this done.

Anyone interested in serving with the Pontotoc Minute Men, Company G, please shoot me a pm, we would like to hear from you.

[Pious Jeems]

Re: Pontotoc Minute Men Spring Muster and General Information

Fixed my ole black slouch stitched up for a tri corn! Now for the shirt and fancy civ. stuff.

[Cameron]

Re: Pontotoc Minute Men Spring Muster and General Information

I was gonna save this until I had finished transcribing, but I will post what I have thus far.

The following is Capt. Hugh Miller's account of the battle. He submitted this to The Pontotoc Examiner after Lt. Fontaine had submitted his version of events. Apparently, Miller took some umbrage with Fontaine and most certainly did not agree with his account. I wanted to post both accounts but have not found time to transcribe both. You will notice on occasion he alludes to what Fontaine has recollected and will say something like, "I want to set the record straight" etc. He is referrring to the differences in how he and Fontaine apparently viewed the battle.

This mentiions the O'connor Rifles and the Cherry Creek Rifles heavily.
The account also serves as a great example of just how disorganized and chaotic this battle was.

Please enjoy and I will post the last part soon. Both accounts can been obtained via the Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History.


IT was due to the friends of the "Pontotoc minute men" that I should give them some account of the part performed by us on the 21st of July in the battle of Manassas; but this duty is now rendered doubly incumbent, by certain grossly erroneous statements recently published in the Examiner, purporting to give an account of out conduct on that memorable day. Justice to the men, as well as to the officers, demands that those statements shall be corrected.
We were led into battle by General Bee early in the morning. We went upon the field with 68 men, rank and file, with all the commissioned and noncommissioned officers at their posts--a larger number than any other company in the regiment turned out that day.
As we approached the enemy's front, and neared the point where we were formed into line-of-battle Col. Faulkner was detached with three companies, (not seven) to wit; tire Tishomingo Rifles, Iuka Rifles and Town Creek Rifles, about two hundred yards from the other seven companies of the regiment. The object was to endeavor the silence, or force back a battery of the enemy with these three companies, and succeeding or failing in this, that they should unite with the body of the regiment.
The other seven companies, including our own, were led up by Gen. Bee and formed on the side of a fence inclosing a corn field in our front, though which the enemy were advancing. We were ordered by Gen. Bee, who posted us, to lie down behind the fence and to await the approach of the enemy-throwing down the fence so as not to obstruct our fire or advance, if it became advisable. The seven companies were thus posted-the 4th Alabama regiment being on our right, and about 300 yards in advance of our position, on the hill side, and in the open cornfield. After we had formed thus behind the fence, the O'Connor Rifles, Captain Buchanan, who were on our left, were ordered forward by General Bee as skirmishers. They deployed in the open field in our front, abreast with the line of the 4th Alabama regiment, and became immediately engaged in a brisk fire with the enemy, which they kept up, until compelled by overwhelming numbers, to rally upon the companies remaining at the fence, bringing one of their men badly wounded. They came down and formed on our right.
In the meantime an incessant fire had been kept up between the 4th Alabama and the enemy. From the time we had been posted at the fence, the enemy had be throwing shot and shell about 30 feet over our heads cutting trees and limbs that fell amongst us. Having discovered the error in their aim, they gradually lowered the range of their guns until their shot and shell passed immediately over our heads and about us. At last a shell fell about 20 paces in front of the left of our company, scattering fragments and dust in every direction. At this moment all the companies of our regiment, posted at the fence except the Pontotoc Minute Men and the Cherry Creek Rifles, (the O'Conner Rifles being still engaged in the skirmishing in our front) sprang to their feet and retreated across the woods in our rear. Three men on the left of my company rose to their feet, supposing from the movement of the other companies that there was an order to retreat. None of them "fled" or moved a pace. Seeing the movement of the others I instantly sprang to my feet and said, "Down men, stand to your posts, there is no order to retreat". I was instantly obeyed and those who had risen to their feet, every men remaining at his post; although, by this time the minnie balls as well as shot and shell from the artillery, rained thick around us. No other officer of my company gave any command whatever-none was necessary. What Lieut. Fontaine may have done by "calls" and "signals" to those of other companies who "fled", I know not -I heard nothing of it then, or since until I saw the publication in the Examiner. It is due to the Cherry Creek Rifles to say that they did not partake of the panic, and did not leave their post, but the few of them who had arisen to their feet promptly assumed their original position, Capt Herring expressing his concurrences with me that there had been given no order to retreat.
It is proper to remark that this was the first occasion on which my men had been subjected to the fire of the enemy, and nothing occurred during that terrible day, that inspired me with such a high degree of confidence in their firmness and bravery, and in their readiness to obey my commands in the midst of peril, as the promptness with which they obeyed my orders and remained at their posts. They did not fly, or need to be rallied; but remained at their post with unblanched cheeks, and until they were ordered to change position by the officer in command of them.
The 4th Alabama regiment, after withstanding a heavy fire for about half an hour was compelled to file to the right to avoid being outflanked by vastly superior numbers, and retreated in good order far to our right, leaving only our three companies to face an advancing column of from three to five thousand men supported by artillery. As they advanced over the hill we fired a few rounds and retired though the woods in our rear. Here, as at all times during the day it was the constant aim and effort to Lieut. Palmer and myself, as previously agreed upon I conference, to keep our company together- compact. And in retiring across the wood, they did preserve good order the O'Connor and Cherry Creek Rifles leaving us far in their rear. As we approached an open field in the rear of the wood, and after we were without the range of the enemy's shot, I commanded "halt-about face-right dress," all of which was promptly done; and to compose and reassure the men, as much as to secure good order when we advanced into the open field, I caused the company to tell off by twos. All this was done by my command, and not by the command of Lieut. Fontaine or anyone else. It was not necessary for me to "come up", I was all the time up, and immediately with the company, and so was my second in command, Lieut. Palmer.
We then filed by the right flank into the open field, passing down a hillside to a small creek or "run" as they are called here, until we came up with the O'Connor and Cherry Creek Rifles- We now discovered a large body of the enemy coming over the ridge in our rear and to the right of the line over which we had just passed. Our three companies immediately crossed the run and formed fronting the enemy. We could not retreat up the opposite hillside without being under the fire of the enemy for several hundred yards. The enemy had fired a few shots at us, and wounded one of Capt. Herring's men. After a moments conference with Capts. Buchanan and Herring, we determined to form our men in the channel of the creek, and if forced to do so to retreat down the channel. The command was immediately given, and the men sprang into the water-the banks affording a fine breastwork and protection.
We opened fire upon the enemy within good musket range, and the dead bodies found upon the hillside afterwards attest the effect of our shots. The enemy were advancing in column of division, and immediately in the rear of the regiment nearest to us, and other loomed up over the ridge with a flaunting flag of stars and stripes. They were in full United States uniform, and there was no reason whatever, from their appearance and position, no doubt that they were the enemy; ye a silly clamor was raised by some as to whether they were friends or enemies. This was silenced by the command to form in this creek and to fire upon them.
To our surprise and gratification on the regiment in advance, fell back under our fire up the hill out of the range of our guns, uniting with the regiment in their rear. This afforded us an opportunity to avoid being swallowed up by over whelming numbers, and we retired across the ridge in our rear. Here we became separated from the O'Connor and the Cherry Creek rifles and did not see the latter company again during the day.
We retired across the ridge and through a skirt of woods to the side of the Warrenton road, where we met with Gen. Bee, who inquired of me for the Col. Falkner, I replied that I had not seen , or been able to find him, or the regiment, since we were posted in the morning, and that I desired orders Gen. Bee immediately led us toward a house, known as the Robinson's—a free negro--and posted us on the hillside on the right of a Virginia regiment, and passed on to the house on the top of the hill. In a few moments he returned and appealed to us and the regiment on our left to move up to the house and aid in holding an important position that a few men had held for some time. We immediately sprang up and so did the men of the regiment on our left, but their colonel springing to their front ordered them to remain where they were, that he (Gen. Bee) was not their commander. Gen Bee expressed his indignation at this, and turning to us said "come on Mississippians," and led us up to the right of the house and formed us in the lane directly in front of the line of the enemy who were not yet within musket range.--The Cherry Creek rifles were not with us at this time at all, as stated in the publication in the Examiner. Archibald Clark, II. McPherson and Mr. Guillard of the Coonwah Rifles had come and joined us when the enemy left the fence where we were posted in the morning, and were the only persons with us, not of our own company.
The infantry of the Hampton's Legion were formed in the yard and about the house on our left. Gen. Bee succeeded in bringing up a few companies of a Virginia regiment who formed on our left in the lane. We had been posted here but a few minutes when we discovered a regiment of the enemy emerging from the woods upon an open ridge directly upon our right and within three hundred yards of us-- my company being on our right flank and nearest to them. Their appearance and position at once demonstrated that they were of the enemy. Capt. Herring was not there to make any suggestions nor did I think for a minute they were friends. The entire statement in the publication by Lieut. Fontaine on this part of the subject is a mass of error and confusion. If any signals were exchanged with the enemy here, I heard nothing and saw nothing of it. It was evident that they had come up to take us on the flank by a quick and unexpected attack. Col. Harper of the Va. regiment passed along the lane in our rear a short distance, and returning quickly remarked to me as he passed, "they are certainly the enemy and will be upon us immediately." His companies and I discovered immediately withdrew along the lane to the left of the house and I saw no more of them.

I pause here for a moment to correct a few immaterial errors. I did not order the men here or elsewhere during the day to cease firing. I was at no time bothered with doubts, which seemed to afflict others, as to the character of the troops around us. I did not fire my rifle here as stated. I did not have it with me at this time. I fired at the fence where we were first posted in the morning, and when the enemy were at least five hundred yards from us. Before doing so, I cautioned the men not to fire because I did, as the enemy were entirely beyond the range of their guns. I then elevated the sight and took aim at a man on horseback whose head and body I could just see over the ridge--the enemy's line being entirely out of view. I reloaded it and again, when we formed in the channel of the creek, as before stated, I then fired at the enemy again, when on the reloading and attempting to cock it I found it out of the order so that I couldn’t do so, and as we were led up to our position by Gen. Bee, in passing through the woods, I met a Georgia soldier, leading off another whom I took to be wounded and asking him merely what troops and regiment he belonged to, I requested him to take my gun to his camp as it was an useless encumbrance to me, which he readily agreed to do.--I delivered it to him and that is the last of it.
To return to the narrative of events, we were left alone in the lane, our men had fired a few ineffectual shots at the column of the enemy in our front, just before we discovered the regiment flanking us on our right. In a very few moments after this regiment first made its appearance, it advance upon us at the double-quick, firing. I immediately ordered a retreat, without hearing any suggestions from any one--it was a necessity obvious to everyone. The greater portion of the company jumped over the fence in our rear, and forming the enclosure on that side of the lane, retiring diagonally from the front of the approaching regiment. Some few passed directly from the enemy down the lane into the yard. Of this last number was John M. Ward, who was last seen standing in a broken panel of the yard paling loading and firing.--Here he received his mortal wound.--My men continued to halt and fire as they retreated through the orchard down the hill. William E. Wiley received his mortal wound about thirty paces from the fence we had just crossed, and where he must have halted and have been firing at the enemy, as the shot entered his face and came out at the back part of his head. Both he and Ward were killed instantly. As we retreated down the hill, in the orchard, and about fifty yards from where Ward stood, Spotswood Dandridge had his thigh broken, and appealing to me as I passed him with the rear of the company, not the leave him, I turned and called to two or three men to assist John G Wray who had already got to him and they carried him from the field. In the mean time Archibald Clark of Capt. Taylors company, and Berry M. Ellzy of my company, were wounded--Clark mortally. The advance of the enemy was retarded and our escape secured by the firing of a portion of my men, which was kept up longer perhaps then was prudent or consistent with their safety. When my attention was called by Dandridge to himself, I saw Ward and hallooed to him to come on, but the distance and noise were so great that he could not have heard me. He was then alone, and no one of our company was near him when he fell.--Nearly the entire company passed through the orchard, and down the bill having left the lane at the start, and did not form again until we had retreated about three hundred yards and without the range of the enemy's guns. Here I halted the company and reformed it the wounded being carried to the rear, except Ellzy who was wounded when none of his comrades were near him, and who was taken prisoner by the enemy, but afterwards abandoned by them from alarm, thereby affording him the means to escape.

[Pious Jeems]

Re: Pontotoc Minute Men Spring Muster and General Information

Great job, as I have stated before, the rift between Fontaine and Miller almost led to a duel. This never occurred but Miller was a man that stood his ground and took Fontaine's report derogatory.
Captain Miller was a great company officer and later Regimental commander.

[Cameron]

Re: Pontotoc Minute Men Spring Muster and General Information

I wanted to pass along that we will have a traveling sutler at Carnton. He will be there Saturday most of the day and maybe on Sunday.

He will be offering typical items offered in the field. Mostly, small comfort items and even some tasty foodstuffs.

[Pious Jeems]

Re: Pontotoc Minute Men Spring Muster and General Information

Wonderful time at Muster, great to see old faces and new one's. Great 1st Sgt. and 2nd Sgt elected. Wonderful nucleus for a solid company! Get your money in as you don't want to miss this one in July!

The Old Guard
Knew you the men of the Old Guard ? Men of the camp and trail;
Guard of the van when Time began in the land of grass and gale,
Of a sky-wide land they seized command where the mightiest prevail.

Who were the men of the Old Guard? Giants of strength and will,
Trained in the school of hard-luck rule and daring to die or kill;
Staking their lives, and their young, and wives, on the road up Fortune's hill.

Whence were the men of the Old Guard ? Heroes of ‘62;
From swamp and ledge and ocean's edge they came to see and do,
And they failed at first, and the land they cursed, but they stayed and struggled through.

Hope of the men of the Old Guard ? Little but hope was theirs;
With musket in hand they traveled the land and fought in heat and snares,
And home at night by the wood-fire light was answer to their prayers.

Joy of the men of the Old Guard ? The joy of the brave and true;
With joy they paced where Death grimaced and his icy vapours blew,
And with steady tread they bore their dead with the faith of the chosen few.

What of the men of the Old Guard ? Ask of the arching skies,
The grass that waves on their leafy graves is lisping their lullabies,
And the lives they spent are their monument and their title to Paradise.
Words slightly changed to fit time period.
This version is taken from Songs Of The Prairie by Robert J. C. Stead Published by Gay and Hancock Ltd, London 1912 Pages 79-81