Battle of Williamsburg

Battle of Seven Pines

Supported by the 5th Alabama, charged under heavy fire through abatis and captured Federal rifle pits. General Rodes mentioned the gallantry of Colonel Taylor, Captain Hastings, and Sergeant Robert Hall. The regiment lost 41 killed and 152 wounded. Captain James Bell was wounded.

Gaines’ Mill or Cold Harbor

Commanded by Major W.H. Lilly, the regiment charged up a hill and through a forest to capture a Federal battery. Major Lilly was wounded, and Captain Thomas took over the regiment.

Glendale, or Frasier’s Farm

The regiment lost 34 men killed, 186 wounded and 5 missing in the fighting from the 27th to the 30th. Captains J. Dobbins and J.E. Vawter and Lieutenants T.W. Crump and W.B. Thomas were killed.

Second Manassas Campaign

Longstreet as senior major general was given the command of several divisions in the army, so his own division was split up between its two senior brigadiers. The 12th Mississippi along with the rest of Featherston’s Brigade were assigned to Wilcox’s Division.

Kelly’s Ford

The regiment threw back a Federal cavalry charge at this ford across the Rappahannock. General Wilcox commended the regiment for its gallantry, along with the 16th Mississippi.

Second Battle of Manassas

The regiment fought near the stone house.

Maryland Campaign

The three brigades of Wilcox’s temporary division were assigned to Anderson’s Division.The division was part of Longstreet’s Command but was temporarily assigned to Jackson’s Command for the attack on Harper’s Ferry. It returned to Longstreet’s control when it reached Sharpsburg on the morning of the battle.

Capture of Harpers Ferry

Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The 12th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel William H. Taylor. It crossed the Potomac at daybreak and reached the field in mid-morning. Took position on the Piper farm south of the Sunken Road and supported D.H. Hill’s Division until forced to fall back to the protection of the stone walls along the Hagerstown Pike. The regiment lost 6 killed and 53 wounded.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment spent three days and nights in the line of battle under artilery fire, losing eight men wounded

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment took part in Jackson’s flank march and attack. The regiment served as skirmishers for the brigade in the attack. Lieutenant Colonel Merry B. Harris commanded the regiment and was badly wounded. Major Samuel B. Thomas then took over command. On May 2nd the regiment attacked near Catharine Furnace, and on May 3 it attacked and drove Union forces from their works around Chancellorsville. The loss for the regiment in the Chancellorsville fighting was 3 men killed, 38 wounded, and 23 missing.

Battle of Gettysburg

The 12th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel William H. Taylor, bringing 305 men to the field. It was in reserve throughout the battle and lost only lost 1 man killed and 6 wounded.

From the brigade monument on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 2. Arrived and took position here in the morning. Through some misunderstanding of orders instead of the Brigade advancing in compact ranks in support of the troops on its right in their assault on the Union lines the regiments were ordered forward at different times. Deployed as skirmishers and fighting in detachments they pushed back the Union outposts and drove some artillerists for awhile from their guns but did not join in the attack upon the Union position on Cemetery Ridge.

July 3. Was held in reserve here supporting artillery in its front.

Battle of Bristoe Station

General Posey was mortally wounded, and Colonel Harris of the 19th Mississippi took over the brigade.

Mine Run campaign

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment advanced from the Plank Road to protect the division’s flank, then defended their position

Po River bridge

The regiment lost 13 men killed, 32 wounded and 13 missing in the fighting since the beginning of the month.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment counterattacked at the Bloody Angle to regain the Confederate line inside the Muleshoe and held it all day until a relief line could be constructed in the rear. Lieutenant Bow was killed.

Battle of the North Anna

Battle of Cold Harbor

Captain Hannegan was mortally wounded by an artillery shell

Battle of Petersburg

Weldon Railroad

Colonel Merry B. Harris was shot in the head by a sharpshooter. He was permanently diabled and would die from complications of his wounds in August of 1865. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. Thomas took over command of the regiment and would be promoted to colonel.

Battle of the Crater

Battle of Darbytown Road (Deep Bottom)

Battle of Reams’ Station (Weldon Railroad)

The regiment took and occupied Federal earthworks but were counterattacked and overwhelmed by the Federal Iron Brigade, losing many captured. Colonel Samuel Thomas, Major Bell, Adjutant Howard McCaleb and Captain Joseph Johnson were wounded and captured.

Captain Sampson Bolters took command of the regiment as senior surviving officer. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas B. Manlove of the 48th Mississippi Infantry then took remporary command.

Battle of Hatcher’s Run

Fort Gregg

The survivors of the regiment were under the command of Lt. Colonel James H. Duncan of the 19th Mississippi. They were ordered to leave the Swift Run line and double timed to Petersburg to fill a gap in General Wilcox’s line, then placed in Battery Gregg to slow the Federal breakthrough. After a desperate defense that caused high Federal casualties the battery was taken and its entire garrison killed or captured.

Appomattox Court House

Only one Assistant-Surgeon and 53 enlsted men remained of the 12th Mississippi Infantry Regiment to surrender under Sergeant William Brown of Company K.