First Battle of Manassas, or Bull Run

The regiment was assigned to Longstreet’s Brigade but were under the tactcal control of Early’s Brigade near McLean’s Ford. The regiment marched across the rear of the battlefield and attacked the Federal right flank near the Chinn house. It regiment lost 6 men wounded.

Battle of Leesburg (Ball’s Bluff)

Captain Fletcher’s company was detached and fought at Ball’s Bluff while the nine remaining companies of the regiment held Edward’s Ferry against a Federal Crossing. The regiment lost 4 killed, 2 wounded and 1 missing.

Battle of Savage Station

Brigadier General Griffin was mortally wounded, and Colonel Barksdale took command of the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Carter took over the regiment.

Battle of Malvern Hill

The regiment took part in the charge in the early evening, advancing to an exposed position and holding it under intense artillery fire from batteries and gunboats. The regiment lost 28 killed and 107 wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Carter was wounded, and Major McElroy took command of the regiment.

Maryland Campaign

The regiment crossed the Potomac and camped outside Frederick, Maryland. McLaws’ Division was given the mission of attacking the Union strongpoint at Harpers Ferry from the north while defending the southern pass through South Mountain.

Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment moved to Sharpsburg, arriving on the field after the battle had begun. They were committed to the fighting around the Dunker Church. The regiment brought 202 men to the field and lost 6 killed, 54 wounded and 2 missing. Lieutenant Colonel McElroy was wounded but remained in command, and Major Bradley was wounded.

From the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield:

September 17, 1862.

Barksdale’s Brigade crossed the Potomac at Blackford’s Ford about daybreak of the 17th and halted in the western suburbs of Sharpsburg until nearly 9 A.M. It then advanced to the rising ground southwest of this point and formed line in the left center of McLaws’ Division, Kershaw on the right and Semmes on the left.

In the general advance of the Division it encountered the enemy’s line at the edge of the West Woods at this point and, supported by Ransom’s Brigade of Walker’s Division, forced it back through the woods to the fields beyond, where it was checked by the destructive fire of the Federal Artillery and compelled to retire to the protection of the hill and ledges of rock in this vicinity.

Later in the day the Brigade reoccupied a portion of the ground from which it had been driven and, with Ransom on the right and Early on the left, held the position until the night of the 18th when it recrossed the Potomac.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The 13th Mississippi was deployed on Carolina Street in the town in support of the 17th Mississippi along the river bank, sending ten sharpshooters to assist the 17th. After Federal forces crossed the river the regiment held Princess Anne Street for two hours. Captain G.L. Donald, who commanded several companied of the regiment, was commended by Colonel Carter. The regiment lost 7 men killed, 59 wounded and 14 captured. Captain J.L. Clark was killed by a solid shot ealy in te day, Captain T.W. Thurman was badly wounded and captured, and Lieutenant J.M. Stovall was missing and supposed dead.

Second Battle of Fredericksburg (Chancellorsville campaign)

While the majority of Lee’s army moved toward Chancellorsville to contest the Union advance, Barksdale’s brigade held out against overwhelming Federal forces in a three mile defensive line on the ridge at Fredericksburg, with the regiment on the right of the line. When the line was finally broken the 13th Mississippi was part of the rear guard that slowed and contained the Federal advance. The regiment lost 7 men killed and 43 wounded.

Battle of Gettysburg

Commanded by Colonel James W. Carter, the regiment brought 481 men to the field. It was in line between the 17th and 18th Mississippi during Barksdale’s stunning charge in the early evening that tore through Federal lines along Emmitsburg Road and Wheatfield Road north of the Peach Orchard, surged across the Trostle farm and was only stopped on the slopes of Cemetery Ridge, where General Barksdale was mortally wounded.

The regiment lost 28 killed and 137 wounded, of whom 86 were left behind in field hospitals to be captured when the army retreated on July 4. Colonel Carter was killed, Lieutenant Colonel McElroy was wounded, Major John M. Bradley was mortally wounded, and 2nd Lieutenant Abslom H. Farrar was wounded and captured. McElroy was promoted to colonel after the battle and the mortally wounded Major Bradley was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

From the brigade’s monument on the Gettysburg battlefield

July 2. Arrived about 3 P. M. and formed line here. Advanced at 5 P. M. and took part in the assault on the Peach Orchard and adjacent positions vigorously pursuing the Union forces as they retired. The 21st Regiment pushed on past the Trostle House and captured but were unable to bring off 9th Mass. Battery and I Battery 5th U. States. The other Regiments inclining more to the left pressed forward to Plum Run where they encountered fresh troops and a fierce conflict ensued in which Brig. Gen. Wm. Barksdale fell mortally wounded.

July 3. Supported artIllery on Peach Orchard Ridge. Withdrew from the front late in the afternoon.

July 4. In position near here all day. About midnight began the march to Hagerstown.

Present 1598, Killed 105, Wounded 550, Missing 92, Total 747

Battle of Chickamauga

Went into support of Hood’s Division, who broke the Union line, then fought at Snodgrass Hill. The regiment lost 1 killed and 7 wounded.

Assault on Fort Sanders

Colonel McElroy was killed at the head of the regiment during the charge on Fort Loudon. The attackers had to force their way under heavy fire through a tangled abatis, over telegraph wire strung to trip attackers, through a deep ditch and up an icy twelve foot parapet. The attack failed and Longstreet abandoned the siege, removing General McLaws from command. The division would be commanded by Joesph Kershaw until the end of the war.

Major George L. Donald took over the 13th Mississippi after the death of McElroy.

Battle of the Wilderness

Marched to rejoin the Army of Northern Virginia, which had fought off Union attacks on May 5 but was dangerously near collapse. Longstreet’s men arrived as the Confederate line was breaking and immediately launched a counterattack which held the line. The 13th Mississippi was commanded by Major Donald and lost 18 killed, 61 wounded and 12 missing, including Captain Currie and Lieutenants William Davis, and R.C. Kelly.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Battle of Cold Harbor

Battle of Cedar Creek

Appomattox Court House

The 13th Mississippi Infantry Regiment surrendered 4 officers and 81 enlisted men, commanded by Lieutenant W.H. Davis