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Morgan S. Jackson, Private, Company A, 3rd & 23rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment, enlisted on September 19, 1861 at Iuka by Gen. James. L. Alcorn in "Blount Guards" of Tippah County.
This company was mustered into service on August 24, 1861 at Iuka, Mississippi and assigned as Company A of the 3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment. The officers were Captain C. G. Blunt, 1st Lieut. R. M. Swindall, and 2nd Lieut. J. T. McBride. It was enlisted for a period of 12 months.
The Regiment responded to Gen. A. S. Johnston's call to defense and was moved into Kentucky to defend the Confederacy's northern borders.
The company roster shows Private Jackson "present" from November 1, 1861 through December 1862. In February 1862, the regiment was moved into the outer defensive line of the earthen fortification known as Ft. Donaldson. It was here on February 16, 1862, that 546 men of the 561 present of the regiment were surrendered. The prisoners of war were dispersed to three different prisons. Pvt. Jackson was assigned to (prison) Camp Douglas in the Chicago, Illinois area. Here he was to remain until exchanged at Vicksburg in September 1862.
On November 19, 1861, the regiment had been redesignated the 23rd Regiment Mississippi Infantry. On September 24, 1862 Pvt. Jackson reenlisted at Jackson, Mississippi for the balance of the war at the reorganization of the new regiment.
Company records state that Jackson was detailed on "extra duty" to the hospital (Vicksburg) on December 25, 1862. This allowed him to spend the winter months in productive work. North Mississippi was in Union control, therefore leave was of little benefit. This also carried higher pay in the capacity of hospital Stewart.
On May 1, 1863, with the spring campaigns beginning, he "requested" to go back to his unit as a private.
However, he apparently did his hospital duties too well, for a little over two weeks later, on May 16, he was again detailed as hospital Stewart to the Medical Department (surgeon) in Vicksburg. The May 16 company roster states, "Supposed to be at Vicksburg detailed to Surgeon!" Another possibility exists that he was never released from medical hospital duty even though requested. It doesn't appear he ever returned to his unit. |
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Marker in memory of PVT Jackson
In the meantime the regiment fought on May 16, 1863 at the bloody battle of Champion Hill (outside Vicksburg). The Confederate forces were forced to redraw toward Jackson. In June, under Gen. Joe E. Johnston, they attempted to relieve Vicksburg.
On crossing the Big Black River, the soldiers met superior Union forces and were forced to withdraw back to the defenses of Jackson, leaving Vicksburg to its sealed fate. Vicksburg surrendered July 4, 1863.
However, Pvt. Jackson didn't survive long enough to see that happen. He was killed on July 1, 1863 at the siege of Vicksburg. Had he been with his regiment, he might have lived to face other battles.
Not to be confused with another M. S. Jackson, who was a member of Company C., 20th Tennessee Infantry Regiment (from Nashville area) and was captured the day after the battle of Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing and also was assigned to prison at Camp Douglas (Records dated August 1, 1862.) Both men were there at the same time, but obviously two entirely different individuals with the same surname and initials.
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Tom and Dave Childers are the 2nd great grandsons of Morgan S. Jackson.
This research was done by W. C. Jackson, great grandson, of Walnut, Mississippi.
Morgan Jackson was buried in an unknown grave in Vicksburg.
On June 11, 1994, a monument was dedicated at Little Hope Cemetery near Falkner, Mississippi. The story and pictures appeared in the Southern Sentinel (Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi) a few days later.
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