The Wayne Rifles were called into state service and mustered into the Confederate Army as C Company, 13th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, on June 6, 1861, at Union City, Tennessee. There they remained attached to the army under General Polk until ordered to Lynchburg, whither the regiment started July 14. Immediately upon reaching Lynchburg they were ordered to Manassass, and reached the railroad junction during the night of July 20 and the morning of July 21, the day of the famous battle of the Civil War, called "1st Battle of Bull Run" or "Manassass".
As soon as possible they were advanced to the field, with much marching and countermarching in the intense heat and stifling dust. The orders were to report to General Longstreet, but for convenience they were attached to Jubal A. Early's brigade, which was stationed in the rear of Beauregard's line on Bull Run, near McLean's ford. The famous battle of the 21st was brought on by the Federals attacking on the Confederate flank, behind the run. The battle raged from 10 o'clock, and General Early did not get orders to participate in it until two, when he immediately marched to the scene of the conflict.
"This brigade", Beauregard reported, "was marched by the Holtham house across the fields to the left,... and under a severe fire into a position in line of battle near Chinn's house, outflanking the enemy's right. At this time the enemy had formed a line of truly formidable proportions. The woods and fields were filled with their masses of infantry and calvary. It was a magnificent spectacle as they threw forward their cloud of skirmishers on the slopes of the ridge for another attack. But as Early formed his line, Elzey's brigade and other regiments advanced, almost simultaneously, with great spirit from their various positions. At the same time, too, Early resolutely assailed their right flank and rear." It was then the rout began. The 13th Mississippi suffered no dead, and 6 were wounded. The company letter changed to Company B about April 26, 1862, due to a re-organization where all companies in the state service were mustered into one regiment, the 18th Mississippi.
On July 4, 1861, Thomas was listed as "age 32, 5 feet 9 inches tall, fair complexion, red hair, blue eyes". (Most of the descendants of Thomas Lorenzo Dow Covington had dark eyes, dark hair, and high cheekbones, as if they possibly had some indian blood. Could Clarissa have been part indian? They lived in indian lands.)