1861

May

Organized in Corinth, Mississippi

May 14

Mustered in for 12 months service under Colonel William Barksdale, Lieutenant Colonel M.H. Whitaker and Major Isham Harrison

Moved to Union City, Tennessee and attached to General Polk's Army.

July 14

Ordered to Lynchburg, Virginia, then to Manassas.

July 20

Arrived Manassas Junction during the night before the battle

July 21

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.

Assigned to Brigadier General N.G. Evans' Brigade alomg with the 17th and 18th Mississippi.

October 20

Marched from Goose Creek to Fort Evans on the Potomac near Leesburg.

October 21-22

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.

Winter

The regiment went into winter camp on Catoctin Mountain near Leesburg.

December 9

Brigadier General Richard Griffin took command of the Mississippi Brigade

1862

Spring

Retreat to Culpeper and movement to Yorktown. The Mississippi Brigade was attached to General Magruder's Division.

April 26

The regiment reorganized for three years service, reporting 640 effectives. Colonel Barksdale continued to command the regiment while Captain James W. Carter of Company C was elected Lieutenant Colonel and Captain Kennon McElroy of Company F was elected major.

June

Not engaged at Yorktown or during the Seven Days, although under fire at Seven Pines.

June 29

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.

July 1

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.

August

Colonel Barksdale was promoted to brigadier general and given permanent command of the brigade, which was assigned to McLaws' Division. Lt. Colonel Carter was promoted to colonel, Major McElroy to lieutenant colonel and John M. Bradley to major.

End of August

McLaws' Division was ordered north from Richmond to join Lee's army near Manassas. Lieutenant Colonel McElroy commanded the regiment as Colonel Carter was still recovering from his wound.

September

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.

September 12

The regiment began to scale Maryland Heights from the north.

September 13

Attacked Federal entenchments on Maryland Heights from the flank and rear, taking the position after heavy fighting. The loss of Maryland Heignts blocked the line of retreat and doomed the Federal garrison in Harpers Ferry.

September 14

The 13th Mississippi was left on Maryland Heights as garrison while the brigade moved to Sharpsburg.

September 17

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. Lt. 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."

Fall

Colonel Carter returned to command of the regiment.

December 11

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.

1863

May 3

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.

May

At Fredericksburg

June 3

Began the march to Pennsylvania

July 2

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment continued to be commanded by Colonel James W. Carter. It brought 481 men to the field. Barksdale's brigade made a stunning charge in the early evening that tore through Federal lines north of the Peach Orchard 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 when the army retreated on July 4. Colonel Carter was killed, Lt. 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 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"_

July 28

Lieutenant Colonel John Bradley died in Williamsport of his Gettysburg wound.

July 29

Captain George L. Donald of Company G was promoted to major.

September

Movement of Longstreet's Corps by rail to North Georgia via Richmond and South Carolina.

September 19

Arrived at Ringgold after the battle had begun and marched through the night to the battlefield.

September 20

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.

September 22-
November 4

Siege of Chattanooga

November 4

Left Lookout Mountain for Knoxville

November 15

Crossed the Tennessee River at London

November 16

Skirmish at Campbell's Station

November 20

Siege of Knoxville

November 29

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.

December 16

The 13th Mississippi were sent to pursue Union forces at Clinch Mountain Gap. They captured the camp and equipment of the 117th Indiana infantry, a welcome prize at the start of winter.

Winter

Went into winter quarters at Russelville, Tennessee.

1864

March

Moved to Bristol, Tennessee

May 3

Moved to Gordonsville, Virginia,

May 6

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.

May 8-21

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

May 27

Hanover Junction

June

Battle of Cold Harbor

September

The 13th Mississippi with Kershaw's Division was sent to reinforce Lieutenant General Jubal Early's Army of the Shenandoah

October 19

Battle of Cedar Creek

November 20

Returned to the Richmond Front, posted at Garnett's Farm and on the Darbytown and Newmarket Roads.

1865

April 1

After the collapse of the Confederate defenses, retreated through Richmond and to the west.

April 9

Appomattox

Surrendered 4 officers and 81 enlisted men, commanded by Lieutenant W.H. Davis

James W Carter