The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Corps, Army of the Potomac

Colonel R Griffith, 12th Mississippi Infantry

Colonel R Griffith, 12th Mississippi Infantry

Twelfth Mississippi Infantry

Mustered in Confederate service for one year 23 May, 1861. Five companies arrived at Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, 22 July, 1861. Did not participate in the first battle of Manassas

COLONEL R GRIFFITH
Brigadier General R Griffith, Fourth Brigade, Army of Mississippi, was appointed colonel, 12th Mississippi Infantry, at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 23 May, 1861.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL W H TAYLOR
Captain W H Taylor, Raymond Fencibles, was appointed lieutenant colonel, 12th Mississippi Infantry, at Camp Clark, south of the Charleston & Memphis Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 16 May, 1861.

MAJOR J R DICKENS
Captain J R Dickens, Sardis Blues, was appointed lieutenant colonel, 12th Mississippi Infantry, at Camp Clark, south of the Charleston & Memphis Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 20 May, 1861.

Company A Charlie Clark Rifles: CAPT. J J McLane
The company was accepted in state service at Union Church, Jefferson County, Mississippi, on 26 January, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year by Major & Quartermaster W H McCardle, Army of Mississippi, on 11 March, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 5 May, 1861.
Company B Natchez Fencibles: CAPT. E M BLACKBURN
The company was accepted in state service at Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi, on 27 February, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year by Captain W S Lovell, Quitman Light Artillery, on 5 March, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 5 May, 1861.
Company C Raymond Fencibles: CAPT. S B Thomas
The company was accepted in state service at Raymond, Hinds County, Mississippi, on 11 February, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year, under the command of Captain W H Taylor, by Brigadier General R Griffith, Fourth Brigade, Army of Mississippi, on 13 March, 1861. Captain W H Taylor, Raymond Fencibles, was appointed lieutenant colonel, 12th Alabama Infantry, on 16 May, 1861, and Private S B Thomas, Raymond Fencibles, was captain, 12th Mississippi Infantry, Company C, on 18 May, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 30 April, 1861.
Company D Pettus Relief/ Rifles: CAPT. M B harris
The company was mustered in state service for one year at Hazelhurst, Copiah County, Mississippi, by Colonel & Adjutant General W H Brown, Army of Mississippi, on 9 March, 1861, and was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Charleston & Memphis Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 12 May, 1861.
Company E Sardis Blues: CAPT. R W Crump
The company was accepted in state service at Sardis, Panola County, Mississippi, 4 March, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year, under the command of Captain J R Dickens, on 20 April, 1861. Captain J R Dickens, Sardis Blues, was appointed major, 12th Mississippi Infantry, at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 20 May, 1861, and First Lieutenant R W Crump, Sardis Blues, captain, 12th Mississippi Infantry, Company E, on 22 May, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 8 May, 1861.
Company F Durant Rifles: CAPT. J A Cason
The company was accepted in state service at Durant, Holmes County, Mississippi, on 9 March, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year on 16 March, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 9 May, 1861.
Company G Vicksburg Sharpshooters: CAPT. H H MILLER
The company was accepted in state service at Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, on 13 March, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year on 24 April, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 11 May, 1861.
Company H Claiborne Guards: CAPT. H Hughes
The company was accepted in state service at Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi, on 14 March, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year by First Lieutenant N F Hawkins, Mississippi Rifles, 6th Mississippi Militia, on 23 March, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Charleston & Memphis Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 10 May, 1861.
Company I Satartia Rifles: CAPT. E R Gale
The company was accepted in state service at Satartia, Yazoo County, Mississippi, on 16 March, 161, and was mustered in state service for one year on 24 April, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Charleston & Memphis Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, om 23 May, 1861, dated 12 May, 1861.
Company K Lawrence Rifles: CAPT. R J Bowen
The company was accepted in state service at Brookhaven, Lawrence County, Mississippi, on 20 March, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year by Captain J R Davis, Madison Rifles, 6th Mississippi Militia, on 30 March, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 12 May, 1861.

Sources

"On yesterday a requisition was made for the following companies to rendezvous immediately at Corinth in addition to the two regiments heretofore ordered to that point. We presume their destination is further North. The companies are ordered out according to priority of enrollment: Pettus Relief, M. B. Harris, Capt., Copiah. Sardis Blues, J. R. Dickens, Capt., Panola. Coast Rangers, J. B. Avart, Capt., Harrison. Alamutcha Infantry, P. H. Bozman, Capt., Lauderdale. Winston Guards, J.M. Bradley, Capt., Winston. Wayne Rifles, W. J. Eckford, Capt., Wayne. Durant Rifles, John A. Cason, Capt., Holmes. Vicksburg Sharpshooters, H. H. Miller, Capt., Warren. Claiborne Guards, Henry Hughes, Capt., Claiborne. Minute Men of Attala, L. D. Fletcher, Capt., Attala. Satartia Rifles, E. R. Gale, Capt., Yazoo. Newton Rifles. M. Carlton, Capt., Newton. Kemper Legion, J. W. Carter, Capt., Kemper. Lauderdale Zouaves, K. McElroy, Capt., Lauderdale. Pettus Guards, S. J. Randall, Capt., Lauderdale. Secessionists, R. D. McIntosh, Capt., Clark."

Eastern Clarion (Paulding, Jasper County, Mississippi), 10 May, 1861 - Another requisition

"We (that is the 'Sardis Blues') have been here just two weeks. Upon our arrival we found five other companies. Since then two full regiments have been organised, and today here are six or seven companies of the last requisition encamped here, and several others expected today. The 13th regiment, Colonel Barksdale, left here yesterday for Union City, and ours (the 12th) will probably follow tomorrow."

Memphis Daily Appeal (Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee), 30 May, 1861 - Letter from Corinth

"A letter to the Mobile Tribune, dated Camp barksdale, near Union City, Tenn., 29 May, says: We received orders last Friday to come to this place to repel a threatened invasion of Tennessee; but as yet no invasion has been attempted. We reached here about 12 o'clock, M., on Sunday last, and went immediately to work clearing up ground for our camp. We are stationed about three and a half miles from the Tennessee and Kentucky line, and forty-five miles from cairo. There are three regiments here at present - the 12th and 13th Mississippi regiments, and the Jackson (Tenn.) regiment, 950 strong, armed with Minie rifles."

Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana), 6 June, 1861 - From Camp Barksdale

Books/ Manuscripts

Supplement to the Official Records: Part II, Record of Events, Volume 33, Serial No.45: Record of events for Twelfth Mississippi Infantry, March 1861-December 1864, edited by James B Hewett

"The first half of the regiment, including both of our companies, reached Manassas Junction on the morning of July 22, 1861, after the battle was over."

Concerning the Twelfth Mississippi: The Confederate Veteran, Volume X, Nashville, Tenn., January-December, 1902, pp355-6

"The Twelfth Mississippi reached the Manassas battlefield just in time to go quickly into the fight."

The late Col. William M. Inge, his remarkable military career - Confederate: The Confederate Veteran, Volume IX, January-December, 1901, p20

Featherstone-Posey-Harris Mississippi Brigade: Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume XXXII: January-December, 1904, pp329-337, by Captain E Howard McCaleb, of New Orleans, Orleans parish, Louisiana

Roster and sketches of the several military companies which were in regular service of the Confederate States during the civil war from Yazoo County, Mississippi

Military History of Mississippi, 1803-1898, taken from the official and statistical register of the State of Mississippi, 1908, by Dunbar Rowland

Notes

The 12th Mississippi Infantry was ordered to rendezvous at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 1 May, 1861, and was accepted in state service for one year on 20 May, 1861.

State Service, Fort Hill, Company G, 10 January, 1861

The Vicksburg Sharpshooters was ordered to Fort Hill, one mile north of Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, on 10 January, 1861, and was accompanied by the Vicksburg Southrons, the Warren Guards, and a detachment of the Quitman Light Artillery. The company set up a fort at the bluffs on the east side of the Mississippi River, west of Fort Hill, one mile north of Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, on 10 January, 1861 (See the 21st Mississippi Infantry).

Troops ordered to Fort Hill, one mile north of Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, 10 January, 1861: Vicksburg Sharpshooters, Captain H H Miller; Vicksburg Southrons, Captain L Moore; Warren Guards, Captain Brown; Quitman Light Artillery (16), detachment, Captain J F Kent

Note: The Durant Rifles, under the command of Major General C Clark, Army of Mississippi, and Brigadier General C H Mott, Third Brigade, Army of Mississippi, was stationed at Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, on 6 April, 1861.

Rendezvous at Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Companies D, E, F, G, H, & I, 7 May, 1861: The Pettus Relief/ Rifles, the Sardis Blues, the Durant Rifles, the Vicksburg Sharpshooters, the Claiborne Guards, and the Satartia Rifles, were ordered to rendezvous at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 7 May, 1861.

Natchez, Adams County, & Union Church, Jefferson County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Companies A & B, 26/28-30 April, 1861, 1861: The Natchez Fencibles and the Charlie Clark Rifles arrived by the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad at Jackson, Hinds, County, Mississippi, in the morning on 26/28 April, 1861, and were ordered to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, in the morning on 30 April, 1861. The Natchez Fencibles and the Charlie Clark Rifles arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, the same day.

Raymond, Hinds County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Company C, 29-30 April, 1861: The Raymond Fencibles was ordered to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 29 April, 1861, and arrived by the Southern Mississippi Railroad at Jackson, Hinds, County, Mississippi, the same day. The company was ordered to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, in the evening on 29 April, 1861, and arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 30 April, 1861.

Sardis, Panola County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Company E, 8 May, 1861: The Sardis Blues arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 8 May, 1861.

Durant, Holmes County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Company F, 9 May, 1861: The Durant Rifles arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 9 May, 1861.

Port Gibson, Claiborne County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Company H, 10 May, 1861: The Claiborne Guards was ordered to Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, on 16 April, 1861, and arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 10 May, 1861.

Vicksburg, Warren County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Company G, 9-11 May, 1861: The Vicksburg Sharpshooters arrived by the Southern Railroad at Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, at 5 PM on 9 May, 1861, and was ordered to proceed by the Mississippi Central Railroad to Canton, Madison County, Mississippi, at 7 PM the same day. The company arrived at Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi, at 8 AM on 10 May, 1861, and was ordered to Grand Junction, Hardeman and Fayette Counties, Tennessee, in the evening on 10 May, 1861. The Vicksburg Sharpshooters arrived at Grand Junction, Hardeman and Fayette Counties, Tennessee, at 9 PM on 10 May, 1861, and by the Memphis & Charleston Railroad at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, at 11.30 AM on 11 May, 1861.

Hazelhurst, Copiah County; Satartia, Yazoo County; & Brookhaven, Lawrence County, to Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, Companies D, I & K, 12 May, 1861: The Pettus Relief/ Rifles, the Satartia Rifles and the Lawrence Rifles arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 12 May, 1861.

Arrival at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, 30 April-12 May, 1861: The Natchez Fencibles, the Raymond Fencibles, and the Charlie Clark Rifles arrived at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, on 30 April, 1861; the Sardis Blues on 8 May, 1861; the Durant Rifles on 9 May, 1861; the Claiborne Guards on 10 May, 1861; the Vicksburg Sharpshooters on 11 May, 1861; and the Pettus Relief/ Rifles, the Satartia Rifles and the Lawrence Rifles on 12 May, 1861.

Mustered for one year, Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, 23 May, 1861: The 12th Mississippi Infantry, Company C, was mustered in Confederate service for one year at Camp Clark, south of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, by Captain W S Walker, infantry, Confederate States Army, on 23 May, 1861, dated 30 April, 1861; Companies A and B on 23 May, 1861, dated 5 May, 1861; Company E on 23 May, 1861, dated 8 May, 1861; Company F on 23 May, 1861, dated 9 May, 1861; Companies G and H on 23 May, 1861, dated 10 May, 1861; and Companies D, I, and K on 23 May, 1861, dated 12 May, 1861.

Note: Major General C Clark, Army of Mississippi, was ordered to send the 12th Mississippi Infantry and 13th Mississippi Infantry to Union City, Obion County, Tennessee, on 22 May, 1861 (See the 13th Mississippi Infantry).

Stationed at Union City, 28 May-18 July, 1861

The 12th Mississippi Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Mobile & Ohio Railroad to Union City, Obion County, Tennessee, on 28 May, 1861, and was stationed at Camp Miller, one mile north of Union City, Obion County, Tennessee, between 28 May and 18 July, 1861.

Note: The 9th Tennessee Infantry, under the command of Colonel H L Douglass, was stationed at Camp Brown, one mile north of Union City, Obion County, Tennessee, on 30 May, 1861.

Camp Barksdale, one mile north of Union City, Obion County, Tennessee, 13th Mississippi Infantry, 24 Ma-11 July, 1861: The 13th Mississippi Infantry was stationed at Camp Barksdale, one mile north of Union City, Obion County, Tennessee, between 24 May and 11 July, 1861, and at Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, between 13 and 14 July, 1861 (See the 13th Mississippi Infantry).

Note: Secretary of War L P Walker ordered Major General L Polk and Brigadier General C Clark, Confederate States Army, to send the 12th Mississippi Infantry and 13th Mississippi Infantry to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 9 July, 1861.

Union City to Manassas Junction, 18-22 July, 1861

The 12th Mississippi Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad to Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia, on 18 July, 1861, and arrived by the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad via Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, and Chattanooga, Hamilton County; Knoxville, Knox County; and Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee, on 21 July, 1861.

Lynchburg, Campbell County, to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, 21-22 July, 1861: The 12th Mississippi Infantry, Companies C and H, and three other companies were ordered to proceed by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 21 July, 1861, and arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, in the morning on 22 July, 1861.

Note: Five companies of the 12th Mississippi Infantry were assigned to guard the captured artillery stationed at and in the vicinity of the W J Weir's plantation, Liberia/ Brick House, three quarters of a mile north of Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 23 July, 1861 (See Lay's Squadron Cavalry).

Organisation of Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, 25 July, 1861: Brigadier General R S Ewell, Confederate States Army; 5th Alabama Infantry, Colonel R E Rodes; 6th Alabama Infantry, Colonel J J Siebels; 12th Alabama Infantry, Colonel R T Jones; 12th Mississippi Infantry, Colonel R T Griffith

Note: The 12th Mississippi Infantry was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, by Special Orders No.169, Paragraph I, Headquarters, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 25 July, 1861.

Sangster's/ W Elzey's Crossroads, 31 August, 1861

The 12th Mississippi Infantry was stationed at Camp Masked Battery, Sangster's/ W Elzey's Crossroads, two miles south of Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 31 August, 1861.

Picket duty at Springfield Station & Accotink Creek, on the old Braddock Road, two miles southwest of Annandale, Fairfax County, Virginia, 19-30 September, 1861: The 12th Mississippi Infantry was assigned to picket duty at Springfield Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, between 19 and 26 September, 1861, and at Accotink Creek, on the old Braddock Road, two miles southwest of Annandale, Fairfax County, Virginia, between 26 and 30 September, 1861.

Note: The 12th Mississippi Infantry was stationed at Camp Masked Battery, Sangster's/ W Elzey's Crossroads, two miles south of Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, between 30 September and 16 October, 1861.

Withdrawal to Union Mills (Station), 16 October, 1861

The 12th Mississippi Infantry was ordered to Union Mills (Station), Fairfax County, Virginia, in the morning on 16 October, 1861.

Surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Appomattox County, Virginia, 9 April, 1865: The 12th Mississippi Infantry surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Appomattox County, Virginia, on 9 April, 1865.

Brigadier General C Clark, Confederate States Army, 22 May, 1861: C Clark was appointed brigadier general, Army of Mississippi, on 23 January, 1861, and major general, Army of Mississippi, on 15 April, 1861. Major General C Clark, Army of Mississippi, was appointed brigadier general, Confederate States Army, on 22 May, 1861, and was assigned to command Camp Clark, south of the Charleston & Memphis Railroad, Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, between 28 May and 21 June, 1861. Brigadier General C Clark, Confederate States Army, was assigned to command Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.143, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 4 September, 1861, and was stationed at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, between 4 September and 14 October, 1861 (See the Garrison at Camp Pickens).

The 12th Mississippi Infantry was assigned to the Fourth Brigade, Third Division, Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia, under the command of Brigadier General R E Rodes, Confederate States Army, by General Orders No.15, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 22 October, 1861.