16th Mississippi Infantry

Variious companies of militia at Corinth were organized and mustered into the Confederate States service as the 16th Mississippi Infantry June 17, 1861. Captain Carnot Posey, Wilkinson Rifles, formerly a Lieutenant in Col. Jefferson Davis' regiment, Mexican war, was elected Colonel.

When the main part of Johnston's army was moved to meet McClellan before Richmond, Ewell's division, including the Sixteenth Regiment, remained on guard on the Rappahannock until ordered to join Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. They crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains to Luray Valley in May. Under the command of Colonel Posey, and in Trimble's brigade of Ewell's division, this regiment was the only Mississippi command that participated in the famous Valley campaign of Stonewall Jackson in May and June, 1862.

They were in the Penninsular Campaign, noted for a particularly brave and effective charge at Malvern Hill. After this campaign the regiment was transferred to Featherston's brigade, and served at 2nd Manassas.

Initial Strength: 228; Killed in Action (KIA): 27; Wounded (WIA): 117;
Losses, % of Initial Strength: 63.2%

Detail Map #9: Richardson's Division Attacks the Sunken Road (10-11 am)

Tablet #386: Anderson's Division, Longstreet's Command - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 1 PM
Tablet #344: Anderson's Division, Longstreet's Command - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 5 PM

The Regiment was at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and on the Wilderness Campaign - they were particularly badly damaged at the Bloody Angle at Spottsylvania. They were in the lines at Petersburg to the Spring of 1865, when the last of them were captured or killed at Battery Gregg in April.

Sources: Howell, H. Grady. For Dixie Land I'll Take My Stand; and
Rowland, Dunbar. Military History of Mississippi, 1803-1898 - compiled online at the Civil War in Mississippi site.