John Silas Mask

A 20 year old farmer, he enlisted as Private, Company F, 2nd Mississippi Infantry, date not given. He transferred to Company L on 30 April 1862.

He was wounded in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was furloughed and returned to his Company. He was wounded again, at the Wilderness, VA on 5 May 1864 and at Fort Cherry near Petersburg, VA on 1 October 1864. He was furloughed for 40 days on 26 October with no further military record.

In 1870 he was a farm worker in Tippah County, MS. By 1900 he was farming in Lafayette County, MS.

His service from a casualty list/roster for the Campaign provided by Michael Brasher, from his research in Compiled Service Records, Company rolls, and other period sources. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1870 and 1900. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph provided by Mr Brasher.

Family lore says John made a promise to a dying soldier, Wiley Hanks (7th MS Cavalry, 1840-1864), that he would take care of his family. Wiley left two sons, Henry and Joseph when he died while a POW in 1864 at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, IN. Mask married Hanks' widow Mary Ann Robbins Hanks (1837-1897) in 1871. She/they had 4 more children between 1868 and 1873.

12/1841; Anson County, NC

12/01/1911; Yocona, Lafayette County, MS; burial in McGonigill Cemetery, Yocona, MS