The Companies were in camp three months at Corinth as State troops, before being called into the Confederate States service. June 17, 1861, is given as the date of organization of the regiment. Captain Carnot Posey, formerly a Lieutenant in Col. Jefferson Davis' Mexican War Regiment, was elected Colonel. His commission was dated from June 4th. July 24, General Polk, at Memphis, commanding the Confederate Army on the Mississippi River,btelegraphed the Secretary of War, "I have had a conference with Governor Harris as to your call for six regiments. He says he can spare only five. As your call is pressing, I send you the Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry from Corinth." Gen. Charles Clark telegraphed that the Sixteenth, under Col. Posey, 900 strong, left for Richmond July 26th. It was detained at Lynchburg, its destination being Manassas, and was ordered there August 8, 1861.
In Northeastern Virginia the regiment was assigned to a brigade commanded by Gen. George B. Crittenden. They remained near Centerville through the winter, and in the spring fell back with the army behind the Rappahanock until ordered to join Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. They crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains to Luray Valley in May.
Under command of Col. Posey, and in Gen. Isaac Trimble's Brigade, of Ewell's Division, this regiment was the only Mississippi command that participated in the famous Valley campaign of Stonewall Jackson in May and June of 1862. They were at the Front Royal and Winchester battles and shared the forced marches of the army, but were not actiely engaged until Cross Keys and Port Republic, June 8-9, where the Sixteenth Regiment was one of the most closely engaged, they and Col. Posey winning the praise of General Ewell. General Trimble specially mentioned Capt. James Brown of Company A, who, with parts of his command had during the campaign killed twelve of the enemy and captured sixty-four men and twenty-five horses. The loss of the Regiment in this last fight of the campaign was 6 killed, and 27 men wounded.
At Cross Keyes five regiments of Blenker's Germans were sent forward to the attack. Their onslaught was directed against the Confederate right, and here, within the woods, Trimble had posted his brigade in a most advantageous position. The pickets soon gave way and crossing the meadow found cover in the thickets, where Trimble's three regiments lay concealed. The long wave of bayonets following close upon their tracks was within the sixty paces of the covert when the thickets suddenly stirred with sound and movement. The Southern Riflemen rose quickly to their feet. A sheet of fire ran along their line, followed by a crash that resounded through the woods, and the German regiments, after a vigorous effort to hold their ground, fell back in disorder across the clearing. Later, sending one of his regiments to attack on the flank, Trimble, reinforced by six regiments from Ewell, threw Blenker's whole line of eleven regiments back to the shelter of Fremont's line of guns. From the Valley the Sixteenth Regiment started June 18 with Jackson for the flank movement against McClellan's army before Richmond.
In the Seven Days Campaign Trimble's Brigade marched from Ashland June 26, past the battle of Mechanicsville, and on the 27th approached the Federal position at Cold Harbor, where the battle was already on and many Confederate commands were falling back declaring the day was lost. The Sixteenth was particularly distinguished in the gallant charge that followed and drove McClellan's troops from their supposedly impregnable position. Trimble said that, "the charge of the Sixteenth Mississippi and the Twenty-First North Carolina, sustained from the first movement without a falter, could not be surpassed for intrepid bravery and high resolve." He mentioned the conspicuous gallantry of Captain Brown, shot dead in front of his company cheering on his men. July 1 they were in battle at Malvern Hill. The loss in the two battles was 15 killed, 51 wounded, and 19 missing. After this campaign the regiment was transferred to Featherston's Mississippi Brigade of Wilcox's Division, Longstreet's Corps.
In the Second Manassas campaign, August, 1862, General Wilcox reported the gallant action of the 16th and 12th, near Kelly's Ford on the Rappahanock, August 21. The Companies of Captain's Feltus and Hardy, posted as pickets, were surrounded by Federal cavalry, who demanded their surrender, but Feltus gave the command to fire, and the cavalry drew off with considerable loss. A larger body of cavalry charged the line of the Twelfth Regiment, but Posey hurriedly supported them with the Sixteenth, and the volleys from the two regiments repulsed the enemy in confusion and with heavy loss. At the battle of 2nd Manassas, August 30, General Featherston was given command of the division and Col. Posey the command of the brigade, which behaved with great gallantry during the four hours' action. Their fighting was in the direction of the stone house. The loss of the brigade was 26 killed, and 142 wounded. After this Gen. R.H. Anderson was in command of the division.
Marching into Maryland in September, the Sixteenth waded the Potomac at Leesburg and after reaching Frederickstown were ordered to Harper's Ferry. Colonel Posey continued in command of the brigade through the capture of Harper's Ferry and the battle of Sharpsburg, September 17, 1862, and until November when Featherston returned. Captain A.M. Feltus, commanding the Sixteenth, made a report of the battle of Sharpsburg, which is one of the most remarkable in the annals of the war. They advanced about ten o'clock in the morning towards the Federal line, past a barn and a cornfield, under a heavy fire of artillery and firearms, until they came upon two Confederate brigades laying down in a road. The Mississippi Brigade passed over them and confronted the enemies line of battle. "A murderous fire of grape, cannister, shell, and small-arms played on us. Notwithstanding, this regiment gallantly held its position until ordered to retire, which it did in as good order as could be expected of its thinned ranks. When we retired as far as the road a scene of great confusion ensued from the mingling together of different brigades. We continued to fall back until we reached the barn, where the remnant of the regiment was rallied in its position on the left of the brigade. In this position we advanced again upon the enemy and met them in the cornfield beyond the barn. Here, after a desperate fight, we fell back under orders to our original position, on account of the terrific crossfire of the enemies batteries. We remained in this position, under a heavy fire of shell and solid shot, for about an hour, when the enemy advanced upon us in line of battle. This was about five o'clock in the afternoon. The remnant of the regiment, in its proper position in the brigade, moved forward and met the enemy in the orchard by the barn nd drove them back. After this, night ensued, and the battle ended. The number of men carried into action was 228, of them 144 were killed or wounded, leaving only 84 men." At Fredericksburg, in December, the Sixteenth was in line of battle three days and nights, under artillery fire, which caused them the loss of three killed and 17 wounded, among them Capt. G.H. Fulkerson. The Sixteenth and Second Battalion occupied an advanced and particularly exposed position. "A few days after the battle we were sent out on picket duty, just above Fredericksburg, on the river. While there, late one evening, our band was playing 'Dixie' and the Federals were playing 'Yankee Doodle.' When the bands finished the airs the Yankees struck up 'Home Sweet Home.' Our band took up the strain, and when the bands quit playing, as far as we could hear on both sides, all were singing "Home Sweet Home.'" Near Fredericksburg the brigade remained in camp, with the occaisional picket duty on the Rappahanock, until posted in February to guard the United States Ford.
Colonel Posey, promoted to Brigader-General, commanded the brigade inn the Chancellorsville campaign. Posey moved the brigade from the United States Ford at Chancellorsville, wen the Federal army had crossed the river at other points, and later Posey moved to the intersection of the Mine and Plank roads, where he intrenched. Advancing May 1 with Jackson's Corps, the brigade had a brisk battle during the day with the enemy on the Furnace road. May 2 the brigade skirmished throught the day on the same road. May 3 they advanced by the furnace, capturing many prisoners, until they reached a point in the rear of the Confederate batteries on the extreme right of the Federal line. Being ordered to advance again, all the regiments moved forward under a heavy fire of artillery through a dense wood and over a wide abatis and into the trenches of the enemy about Chancellorsville. The Sixteenth, under Colonel S.E. Baker, attacked the enemy 's works on their extreme right. The regimental colors were lost in this manner-- the color bearer was severely wounded and the flagstaff shot in two soon after the regiment was in the Federal trenches. Color Corporal W.M. Wadsworth took up the flagand, shortly afterward being wounded, passed it to Corpral W.J. Sweeny, who fell with severe wounds under a fire of grapeshot. The colors were born to the rear with him, and whether he took the flag to Richmond or it was wrapped around some soldier buried, was not known. All the Color Guard were wounded. Sgt. S.W. Damphier, Co. A, captured a stand of United States colors. The casualties of the regiment were 22 killed, 57 wounded, and 25 captured. Sgt. P.I. Stampley, Corp. P. Doran, Privates Alex Stampley, A.S. Jones, of Company G, were among the killed.
In the reorganization that followed Anderson's Division was assigned to A.P. Hill's Corps, and was on duty at Fredericksburg in the prescence of Hooker's army when Lee was beginnig his northward march. The marched from their camp near Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, July 1, toward Gettysburg, and on July 2, the regiment was posted with the rest of Posey's brigade in an open field in the rear of Major Pegram's battery of artillery. Part of the brigade took part in the battle against the south wing of the Federal line, but the Sixteenth was held in reserve until quite late in the evening, when it was well up in front, but had little opportunity before being recalled behind Pegram's batteries, where the brigade was held under fire during the battle of July 3. The Sixteeth lost 2 killed and 17 wounded. Col. Samuel E. Baker was in command. Surgeon G. Alston Groves, left with the brigade wounded at Gettysburg, died there July 5, 1863. Retiring with the army to Hagerstown, the brigade was in line of batle and entrenched its position from the 5th to the 13th, after which it moved across the Potomac and took a two months' rest at Orange Courthouse.
In October they crossed the Rappahanock with Hill's Corps to strike the right and rear of Meade's army. At the battle of Bristoe Station, October 14, 1863, General Posey was severely wounded in the left thigh by a fragment of a shell. He died at Charlottesville November 13. Col. S.E. Baker had command of the brigade until the return of Col. N.H. Harris, the senior officer, in November. The brigade went into camp near Brandy Station, turned out November 17th to guard the Rappahanock bridge when the garrison there was captured, and later in the month marched to Mine Run and entrenched in line of battle. The winter quarters of the Sixteenth were near the mill on the Rapidan below the railroad crossing, whence they marched May 5, 1864 to the battle of the Wilderness.
After several changes of position on or near the Plank Road, the brigade encountered and defeated a Federal force marching against the flank and rear of of the brigades of Davis, Perry, and Law, and with these brigadesthey held their position against repeated assaults on the 6th. On May 12, the officers and men of the Sixteenth among the foremost gallant recoverers and defenders of the "Bloody Angle" at Spotsylvania. The loss was heavy. Among the gallant officers killed Col. Baker, Lt. Col. Feltus, Adjutant Lowe, Ensign Mixon, and 1st Sgt. S.W. Dampier, Co. B. Major E.C. Councill, promoted to Colonel, was mentioned for conspicuous bravery, also Capt. Harry Smith and Private Edward Perrault. The casualties of the regiment May 6-12 were 36 killed, 84 wounded, and 31 missing. Richard S. Ewell, the Sixteenth's old division commander, promoted to Lt. General, and command of the Second Corps, wrote to Gen. Harris, Decemebr 27, 1864, that he had delayed acknowledging the servies of the brigade on May 12 because because he wished his thanks "to rest on the solid foundation of official reports. The manner in which your brigade charged over the hill to recapture of our works was witnessed by me with intense admiration for the men who could advance so calmly to what seemed and proved almost certain death. I have never seen troops under a hotter fire than was endured this day by your brigade and some others. Major-General Ed Johnson, since his exchange, has assured me that the whole strength of the enemy's army was poured inot the gap formed by the capture of his command. He estimates the force engaged at this place on their side at 40,000, besides Birney's perfectly fresh troops. Prisoners from all of their corps were taken by us. Two divisions of my Corps, your brigade and two others, one of which was scarcely engaged, confronted successfully this enormous host and not only won from them nearly all the ground, but so shattered their army that they were unable to make a serious attack until they received fresh troops. I have not forgotten the conduct of the Sixteenth Regiment while under my command from Front Royal to Malvern Hill. I am glad to see, from a trial more severe than any it experienced while in my division , that the regiment is in a brigade of which it may well be proud."
Part of the brigade was in battle on the North Anna May 24, and the entire brigade served on the lines of Cold Harbor. A famous reconnaissance was made by picked men June 6, with heavy loss. From the 8th to the 12th there was a continuous fire from sharpshooters and artillery, the average loss of the brigade being 10 to 15 per day killed or wounded, among the former the gallant soldier and Christian gentleman, Capt. E. Slay, and brave Lt. Harry Lewis, both of the Sixteenth.
After June 18 the brigade was mainly on duty in the works around Petersburg, and they were also in battle out of these lines on June 22-23, on the Weldon Railroad May 24, under extraordinary fire in the battle of the Crater July 30, on the Darbytown RoadAugust 18, where Lt. John B. Coleman was killed, and on the Weldon Railroad August 21, where, after Finegan's brigade had been repulsed, Harris' brigade charged the entrenched Federal line. The alignment was such that the Twelfth and Sixteenth Regiments first reached the works, and many were killed, or wounded and captured. Col. E.C. Councill, a gallant and admirable officer, was mortally wounded. He died at Washington, D.C. Lt. Colonel S.M. Bain was also captured. The casualties of the regiment were reported as 6 killed, 29 wounded, and 59 missing. "The brigade suffered heavily in action on the Weldon Railroad on August 21, losing in killed, and wounded and missing 254 out of 450 carried into action. The cause of the small number carried into action was owing to the fact that 900 men were on picket duty on this side and the north side of the James River. The men were worn out, and there were a good many stragglers." The attack was against Bragg's brigade, which reported the capture of 21 officers, and 101 enlisted men, two flags and a number of wounded and a loss of 8 killed 38 wounded, and 144 missing. The commander of the Sixth Wisconsin lost a leg immediately after Col. Councill surrendered to him. The flag of the Sixteenth was taken by Corp. H.A. Ellis, of the Seventh Wisconsin.
For two months after this brigade occupied the Rives salient on the Petersburg line, in constant battle behind entrenchments. They were in line of battle at Hatcher's Run Octber 27. Returning to the trenches they remained until put in reserve November 12. February 6-7 they fought with Gordon's Corps at Burgess' Mill, displaying heroic valor and holding the line. At the time of Sheridan's raid they were on duty in Richmond.
Early on April 2, 1865 they were ordered to Petersburg from their position on the Swift Run line, and sent to the point on the Boydton Plank Road where the Confederate line had been broken. The Twelfth and Sixteenth Regiments, both numbering 150 muskets, according to Harris, were put into Battery Gregg, with McElroy's section of the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. This redoubt was assailed on all sides by troops of Gibbon's Corps. Finally the assailing hosts swarmed through the ditch, over the paarpet, and after a hand to hand fight of nearly half an hour, the survivors of the gallant defenders were compelled to surrender. The Federal Generals reported that 250 surrendered and 55 were found dead, and their own loss was 120 killed and 600 wounded. Considering the strengthj of the works that the Mississipians defended, as well as the vast numbers of Federal troops at hand, the heroism of the actual combatants, both the assailants and assailed, are deserving of a high place in America's record of heroic deeds. "In those nine memorable April days there was no episode more glorious to the Confederate arm the heroic self-immolation of the Mississippians in Fort Gregg to gain time for their comrades." wrote Francis Lawley, an English observer, in his "Dying Hours and Struggles of the Confederacy." But the Federal General, John Gibbon said more when he wrote that the assault of his men was one of the most desperate of the entire war, and succeeded only through obstinate courage at a fearful cost.
