| 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Battle flag of the 18th Mississippi Infantry | |
| Active | 1861–1865 |
| Disbanded | April 9, 1865 |
| Country |  Confederate States |
| Allegiance |  Mississippi |
| Branch |  Confederate States Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Battles | American Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Erasmus Burt |
The18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a unit of theConfederate States Army that took part in many battles of theEastern Theater of the American Civil War.
The companies of the 18th Mississippi were organized in June 1861 with an initial strength of 1,100 men under the command of Mississippi generalJames L. Alcorn.[1] Company E of the regiment was formed of teenage volunteers, mainly students atMississippi College atClinton.[2]Erasmus Burt, formerly the state auditor, was made colonel of the regiment. The troops immediately proceeded via rail to Virginia, where the 18th took part in theFirst Battle of Bull Run in July. At theBattle of Ball's Bluff in October, the regiment took heavy casualties. Col. Burt was mortally wounded and command passed to Thomas M. Griffin.[3] One of the soldiers of the 18th killed at Ball's Bluff was John Pettus, the son of Mississippi governorJohn J. Pettus.[4] In his after-action report of the battle, Col.Featherston of the17th Mississippi reported: "I cannot refrain from expressing my admiration for the gallantry displayed by the officers and men of the Eighteenth Regiment while under my observation."[5]
In late 1861 the regiment was attached to the brigade of Mississippi generalRichard Griffith. The following summer, the 18th took part in theSeven Days Battles, fighting atMalvern Hill and once again taking heavy casualties. Col. Thomas Griffin was wounded at Malvern Hill,[6] and General Griffith was killed during the Seven Days battles. The 18th fought at theBattle of Harpers Ferry, theBattle of Antietam, and theBattle of Fredericksburg where the regiment led by Lt. Col. William H. Luse opposed federal attempts to build a pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock.[7]
In 1863, the regiment fought at theSecond Battle of Fredericksburg during theChancellorsville Campaign, with the 18th posted at the stone wall on Marye's Height where Confederate defenders took major casualties. Most of the regiment, including commanding officer William H. Luse, was captured following Union assaults on their position.[8] After being exchanged, the 18th took part in theBattle of Gettysburg as part of GeneralBarksdale's brigade. During Barksdale's charge againstThe Peach Orchard, his brigade took heavy casualties and Barksdale himself was mortally wounded.
Following the retreat from Pennsylvania, the 18th was sent south to assist Confederate forces in Georgia. The regiment fought at theBattle of Chickamauga and the subsequentKnoxville campaign.[1] The 18th then returned to Virginia and fought at theBattle of the Wilderness and other battles inGrant'sOverland Campaign. By January 1864 the 18th Mississippi had been reduced to a strength of 220 men,[9] and by the summer the regiment had been so decimated by losses that it had no serving field officers, as noted in a letter from Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis to GeneralRobert E. Lee.[10] The regiment assisted the forces of GeneralJubal A. Early in theValley campaigns of 1864. Following Early's defeat, the 18th was moved to defend Richmond, and the remnants of the regiment surrendered atAppomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.[1]
Commanders of the 18th Mississippi Infantry:[1]
Companies of the 18th Mississippi Infantry:[1]
