Organization and Demographics of the 26th Miss

Organization:
In the summer of 1861, A.E. Reynolds, a lawyer from Jacinto, Mississippi met with President Jefferson Davis requesting authority to raise a regiment of soldiers from Tishomingo County (which included present Alcorn, Tishomingo and Prentiss counties). Reynolds was given permission with the understanding that he would find suitable means to equip the regiment himself. Without delay, Reynolds returned home and received assistance from Francis Marion Boone, a prominent planter, and other able citizens. Organization was begun.

Mustering took place at Iuka, Miss. Most of the volunteers came straight from the farm and had no military training. Companies were enrolled and several adopted nicknames (e.g. Co. B: Boone Avengers; Co. C: Bob Davenport Grays; Co. E: Wince Price Guards; Co. F: Anna Terry Guards; Co. G: Marietta Rifles). The 26th Miss was organized on Sept. 10, 1861 as the regiment was enlisted into the service of the CSA and officers were elected.

Company Demographics:
Company A: Cartersville, Cripple Deer, Iuka, et al.
Company B: Rienzi, Jacinto, et al.
Company C: Booneville, Baldwyn, et al.
Company D: Burnsville, Iuka, et al.
Company E: Corinth, et al.
Company F: Corinth, et al.
Company G: Marietta, et al.
Company H: Bay Springs, Barnes Store, et al.
Company I: Ponotoc and Itawamba Counties (Records are obscure)
Company K: Conglomerate of the above

(Note: This list is derived from an examination of the Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Serving in the 26th Mississippi. I inspected the records of over 1340 men who served with the regiment at some point in it's history.

Click here to see a CW period map of Northeast Mississippi.