I was searching through some older messages on this board from several years ago and came upon a discussion of Eli Lee and would like to add what I know in addition to requesting any further information others may have to supplement and/or correct my notes. First, I live in Pearl River County, Mississippi, so all of my relatives originate from this area. My great-great-great aunt, Nancy Hariel, married Elijah Lee who was the son of John Riley Lee. Elijah was in Co. B, 4th MS Cavalry. His records indicate he was wounded at Harrisburg, MS. His brother, Uriah, was in Co. G, 1st New Orleans Infantry (Union). As a matter of fact, Nancy's brother, my g-g-g-grandfather Reutilus Hariel, was in the same company. So Nancy's husband fought against her brother and brother-in-law. I had five other relatives in this Union unit.

Elijah and Uriah had an older brother named Eli who was born in 1830. I don't much about him other than his family showed up in the 1850 Marion County census and he was later married to Mahala Sumerall with three kids: Rankin, Irvin, and Angeline, according to my notes. I have been trying to determine whether he fought or not, but I just don't have enough information.

Elijah/Uriah/Eli had an uncle named Reuben Lee (John Riley's brother). Reuben had at least three sons who fought for the Confederacy. Eli Lee (couldn't they find other names to use?????), nicknamed "Coot", was in Co. B, 7th Battalion. He was captured at Vicksburg. I've found another Eli Lee in Co. B, 2nd Regt. State Troops. However, the records indicate this soldier was "never in camps". There was a James A. Lee who enlisted the same day as this Eli Lee in the same company. "Coot" had a brother named James Addison Lee, so I assume these are the same men. The author of the older post seemed to believe they were. Furthermore, James' records indicate he was present from July to September, 1862, but was AWOL from September 23, 1862, to February 28, 1863. That's all his service record shows. If the Eli Lee in this particular unit is indeed "Coot", then he ended up enlisting in another unit, the 7th Battalion. But what about James Addison? I can't find anything more on him. They also had a brother, Samuel, who was in the 38th MS. He enlisted March 25, 1862, and was reported dead July 11th, 1862...I'm assuming in operations around Vicksburg.

According to my notes, Eli/James/Samuel had other brothers who were of the right age to serve: William J. (b. 1824), James Monroe (b. 1830), Thomas Jefferson (b. 1840), Jonathan F. (b. 1842) and John R. (b. 1847....although he would have been young).

All of these Lees are third cousins of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

After searching further, I have found an Elijah J. Lee in the 7th Infantry who enlisted at Bay St. Louis, which is in my area. He was killed in a train crash in Alabama. I don't know who this Elijah Lee is.

If anybody has anything else to add, please share. Thanks for reading!

Shelby Harriel
shar_14_22@yahoo.com