While doing some research recently in the John J. Pettus correspondence at the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, I found some interesting information about the Westville Guards of Simpson County. The unit was formed as a pre-war militia in 1860, and on September 18, 1860, they sent a letter to Governor Pettus giving a list of the members of the company. Included with the list was the following statement:

"We have adopted Mississippi rifles with bayonets for our arms, and have adopted as our uniform dark blue with yellow buff trimmings, cap with red-topped pom pom."

The original document is in the John J. Pettus correspondence, Mississippi Department of Archives & History
Series 757, Box 930, Folder 8