I was advised by the Mississippi Department of Archives to contact you regarding my question that they were unable to answer. The question pertains to the identity of the lone soldier who was killed at Fort Pemberton (Greenwood, MS) during engagements with the enemy. According to General Loring's official report, he was killed on March 13, 1863, when a shell from a Union gunboat exploded over the gun (possibly the 6.4-inch rifle) that he was manning. The shell wounded 3 men, of which he was one. He died hours later. A list of Point Coupee Artillerymen erroneously lists a Pvt. P. McKittrick as having been killed at Fort Pemberton. Someone just informed me that McKittrick is listed as having been taken prisoner at Vicksburg in July, '63 and he ultimately died in Louisiana in the 1890s. I have seen a picture of his headstone attesting to that fact, so he is ruled out.

I am also trying to find out if other fatalities occurred during the main engagements at Fort Pemberton (March 11 - April 5, '63). Loring only lists one death (as of around March 23). 4 men (of the 33rd Ms. Inf. Reg.) died at Fort Pemberton (April 20) while preparing a torpedo, but that incident occurred 2 weeks after the engagements, following the Union's withdrawel from the area.

Thanks for any help.

Mark Adkins