As it looked about this time last year from the approximate point at which Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade began its charge around 6 p.m. on July 2, 1863, the subject of historian Phillip Thomas Tucker’s new book.
Tucker thinks Minutemen of Attala Private Newton Nash was killed just east of Plum Run, behind the trees in the far distance. No one knows for sure but I’ve always thought he died closer to the Sherfy Farm since his friends buried him the next day and they would not have had access to Plum Run on July 3. Photo by Jo Anzalone, a descendant of Winston Guard’s Private Jonathan James McDaniel who was also in the charge but survived.
13TH MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY REGIMENT 
We got an inside tour of the Sherfy House this past weekend, as part of the Fall Muster with the Friends of Gettysburg. With the NPS closed we went with a Plan B, walked the Sherfy property and stood about where the 13th MS initially engaged the lads from the north near the Emmitsburg Road. //s// Mike Burns, GGS of Pvt. Francis Burns.
That’s cool, Mike. Thanks for the comment. Grady Howell says Francis rose to sergeant in the Kemper Legion. Jess McLean has more: 5′ 11″, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, born in 1827 in County Donegal, Ireland. Emigrated in 1849 and was age 34 when he enlisted. Pretty old, nine years older than my own ggf of the Minutemen.
Dick, that is interesting and new info on his promotion to Sergeant. His muster rolls show him a Private the whole time, so would like to hear more from Grady. Yep, he was a bit older than the average Private, to be sure. Cheers, Mike
Only generals were appointed by the Rebel government. Everybody else was elected to their rank, including sergeants, though they (and their superiors) would have to agree to let them stand for election. Have no idea how to get in touch with Mr. Howell. Finding his book was hard enough. Pioneer Publishing Co. in Carrollton, MS, (662)237-6010, at http://pioneersoutheast.com/ which sells it for $22 a copy would be the place to start.
I posted on the site, but did not have info GGF ever made any rank besides Private, at least from the Muster Rolls. Jess is a great guy, and I bought his book and sent copies to every relative I have :-).
Reblogged this on Poore Boys In Gray and commented:
The real high tide of the Confederacy at Gettysburg…
Hello Dick,
Do you have any information specifically about the Pettus Guards of Co K regarding what occurred during Barksdale’s charge through the peach orchard? My g g grandfather Pvt. John F. Strebeck was a member of this company taking part in the attack. He was later listed as either away sick or wounded and its unclear which is most accurate.
George
Hi George, Sorry to take so long responding. As I said in the other response to your other question at the Appomattox entry, read all 24 of the Pettus Guard entries here (or just the Gettysburg ones) and also consider buying a copy of Jess McLean’s history which is sold at Amazon.
Although Jess doesn’t have a John F. Strebeck in his muster listing for the Guards, he does have an entry on him on Dec. 1, ’63 in his chronology of the regiment and he might have more. His new book has a CD that’s searchable. There’s no Strebeck in the index of my history, The Bloody Thirteenth.
Hello Dick, Thank you for your great work and BTW, I just received your book from amazon.I am looking forward to a great read. Pvt. John F. Strebeck mustered into the 13th Miss.on March 16, 1863 in Fredericksburg, Va., presumably during the garrison of the town after the battle there.One might surmise that his older brother Daniel, a 3rd Lt. in the company was looking out for his baby brother when he arrived to enlist.Here are his enlistment and service record up to the parole at Appomattox. He is listed in the NPS records for the 13th Miss. and he is on the NPS list of confederates paroled at Appomattox.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=93775341&PIpi=76786702
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=93775341&PIpi=76786685