(from Dunbar Rowland’s "Military History of Mississippi, 1803-1898"; company listing courtesy of H. Grady Howell’s "For Dixie Land, I’ll Take My Stand’)

[Note: Little information regarding MS State Troops survives. The information below is all that is to be found on these units in Rowland’s memorable survey of Mississippi’s Confederate heroes.]

STATE TROOPS. MAINLY TROOPS OF 1864.

In August, 1864, Governor Clark was authorized to call out every able-bodied man in the State to repel invasion, and all capable of bearing arms were called to assemble at Grenada, Okolona or Macon. In August also, the Legislature authorized General Forrest to order on military duty for thirty days boys and men between the ages of 16 and 55 years.

Col. J. J. Pettus, commissioned August 8, 1864, was put in command of rendezvous at Grenada, with P. S. Layton as his Adjutant. Col. John M. Simonton, commissioned August 13, was assigned to command of the rendezvous at Okolona. Col. Jeptha V. Harris, commissioned August 26, was in command at Macon. There was also a rendezvous at Brandon, under Colonel Thornton. Col. O. J. E. Stewart commanded District No. 5.

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FIRST REGIMENT CAVALRY (State Troops) (Foote’s)

Colonel -- H. W. Foote, July 6, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel -- W. P. Malone, August 13, 1864. Major -- George M. Moseley, August 23, 1864. Quartermaster -- Daniel McIntosh.

Company A -- Capt. Connor’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company B -- Capt. Kennedy’s Company (raised in Winston County, MS)

Company C -- Capt. Johnson’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company D -- Capt. Gully’s Company (raised in Kemper County, MS)

Company E -- Capt. Gilmer’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company F -- Capt. Allen’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company G -- Capt. Holmes’ Company (county of origin not specified)

Company H -- Capt. Riley’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company I -- Capt. Cannon’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company K -- Capt. Harden’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company L -- Capt. Dunn’s Company (county of origin not specified)

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SECOND REGIMENT CAVALRY (State Troops) (Hill’s)

Organized 13 September, 1864. Colonel -- J. L. J. Hill. Lieutenant-Cclonel -- Merriman Pounds. Major -- M. B. Parks. Adjutant --M ilton E. Bacon. Quartermaster--John T. Dyke. Chaplain -- O.F. Rogers. Surgeon -- B. L. Hatch.

No rolls or lists on file. This regiment was on duty at Corinth. Chalmers wrote, September 28, it had been withdrawn without his knowledge.

[No list of companies available.]

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THIRD REGIMENT CAVALRY (State Troops) (Easterling’s)

Colonel--W. K. Easterling.

The designation of this regiment appears to have changed from First to Third Cavalry. The regiment was organized by the election of Colonel Easterling August 30, 1864, at Brandon.

Company A -- Capt. Speer’s Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

Company B -- Capt. Thames’ Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

Company C -- Capt. Barr’s Company (raised in Hinds County, MS)

Company D -- Capt. Harper’s Company (raised in Scott County, MS)

Company E -- Capt. Butler’s Company (raised in Copiah County, MS)

Company F -- Capt. Martin’s Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

Company G -- Capt. Haneld’s Company (raised in Madison County, MS)

Company H -- Capt. Pierce’s Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

Company I -- Capt. Owen’s Company (raised in Scott County, MS)

Company K -- Capt. Vinzant’s Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

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FOURTH REGIMENT CAVALRY (State Troops) (Fisher’s)

Organized. September 6, 1864. Colonel -- E. S. Fisher. Lieutenant-Colonel -- A. S. Pass.

Major -- P. S. Alston.

Company A -- Capt. Barr’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company B -- Capt. Booth’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company C -- Capt. Wynn’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company D -- Capt. Dyer’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company E -- Capt. Davis’ Company (county of origin not specified)

Company F -- Capt. Smith’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company G -- Capt. Wilson’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company H -- Capt. Hudson’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company I -- Capt. Bridges’ Company (county of origin not specified)

Company K -- Capt. McCord’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company L -- Capt. Lewers’ Company (county of origin not specified)

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FIRST BATTALION CAVALRY (State Troops) (McNair’s)

Major--John E. McNair

The first four companies were enlisted at Brandon August 30 to September 1, and Captain McNair elected Captain of the battalion September 2, after which the last company joined, September 7.

Company A -- Capt. Lee’s Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

Company B -- Covington Farmers (raised in Covington County, MS)

Company C -- Capt. Lanier’s Company (raised in Copiah County, MS)

Company D -- Capt. Mortimer’s Company (raised in Copiah County, MS)

Company E -- Capt. McClellan’s Company (raised in Rankin County, MS)

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[Note: No mention has been found of a Second Battalion Cavalry (State Troops).]

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THIRD BATTALION CAVALRY (State Troops) (Peyton’s/Cooper’s)

Third Battalion State Cavalry, composed of four companies, was reported 76 present; total, 225, station near Dry Grove, October 29, 1864, Capt. D. G. Cooper commanding.

Company A -- Capt. Pierce’s Company (raised in Lawrence County, MS) and Capt. Cooper’s Company, aka Clark Rebels (raised in Rankin & Simpson Counties, MS)

Company B -- Capt. Little’s Company (raised in Copiah County, MS)

Company C -- Capt. Yerger’s Company (raised in Copiah County, MS)

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PETTUS' BATTALION CAVALRY (State Troops)

Major -- John Jones Pettus [first Confederate Governor of Mississippi]

Company A -- Capt. Dickens’ Company (county of origin not specified)

Company B -- Capt. Ruffin’s Company (raised in DeSoto County, MS)

Company C -- Capt. Merriwether’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Company D -- Capt. Locke’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Major Pettus was commissioned 7 September, 1864. This was a battalion of State Troops.

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UNATTACHED COMPANIES OF CAVALRY (State Troops)

Capt. W.A.J. Boon’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Capt. H.H. Gavin's Company (county of origin not specified)

Capt. W.G. Grace's Company (county of origin not specified)

Capt. F.M. Shield's Company (county of origin not specified)

Capt. John Kelly’s Company (county of origin not specified)

Capt. W.G. Caperton's Company (county of origin not specified)

Capt. C.M. Doss' Company (county of origin not specified)

Do you have an ancestor in these units?   If so, contact the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for his service record.  Then contact us for a membership application.