Ken and all,
As promised I have put together all I have related to the two Bristers in the 7th Mississippi. By design it is lenghty. Also included is all I have on Lt. William J. Proby as Color bearer at Atlanta, GA
The Bristers of the 7th Mississippi
My conclusion is in agreement with Ken. The Color bearer was Lt. J. Milton Brister Co. B, later captain.
The two John Bristers in the 7th Regiment Mississippi Infantry were Capt. J. Milton Brister and Private John O. Brister of Co. B “Bogue Chitto Guards”; both were killed in action. Their relationship is not clearly determined; but due to their being from the same county, it is assumed that they are related. Capt. Brister usually signed documents as J. Milton Brister. Some family records list him as James Milton, but he is referred to as John Brister in William Price’s letter of October 2, 1861.
The following are their entries in the “Lest We Forget” Roster:
Brister, J. Milton Capt. Co. B 7th Miss. WIA Murfreesboro Dec. 31st 1862“In cedar thicket in front of brigade” Discharged Feb. 1863 “Gunshot wound of the left leg” [Capt. Killed Sept. 20, 1863] KIA Chickamauga; buried at Marietta, GA Confederate Cemetery. [Son of Warrick Brister and Melinda Martin]
Brister, John O. Pvt. Co. B 7th Miss. Died in Atlanta GA July 14th or 19th 1864 of wounds received at New Hope Church in May 1864. [Also listed as having died from wounds received in the “Works” on the Chattahoochee River (See John Buster)]
*Buster, John (Probably John O. Brister-died of wounds in GA. Atlanta “Works” Chattahoochee 7-14-64)
*Indicates man only listed in one record and possibly transcription error. Would have to review original documents to make final determination.
Both Bristers are recognized in the regimental history of the 7th Mississippi, Lest We Forget-The Immortal Seventh Mississippi with the following quotations:
Lest We Forget-The Immortal Seventh Mississippi, Vol. I
September 19th, 1861 Bay St. Louis, MS J. M. Brister, Capt. B C Guards” (OR Supp-JB)
Lost Equipment
Company B was one of the companies that moved on the 19th in what would later be described as “Dahlgren’s Stampede”. During their trip from Pass Christian to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Captain Brister would later report that they lost a good portion of their “camp equipage and cooking utensils” including, “2 spades, 5 hatchets and handles, 5 axes and handles, a tin bucket, two mess pans, a coffee boiler, 2 coffee mills, and a camp kittle.” They lost “7 axes and 1 hatchet with no handles.” On top of that he reported that in the move they lost “three tents without flies, and one tent not fit to use, being badly burned, and no pins and poles for three tents. J. M. Brister, Capt. B C Guards” (OR Supp-JB)
October 2, 1861 Shieldsboro, MS
“Our Family’s Confederate Letters” contributed by Miss Bonnie Lou Cole, Brookhaven, Mississippi; “Price Family Letters” transcribed by T. Anna Leese Fuller, 2009. Edited and indexed by R. Skellie, 2009. (Price)
William “Red Bill” Price Company B and his cousin Zachariah Monroe “Mun” Price of Company B are sick with the soldier’s complaint, diarrhea. Measles is still on the rampage in the camps and Bill has had his fill of old man Joe Hart, Sr. also in Company B. He is, however, pleased with other officers, namely, Captain J. M. Brister and Lieutenant Britton Hall. As always Price was concerned about his livestock. The breeding of his mare topped his list of questions and he relays his ideas about what to do if she does not breed.
“Shields burough Miss Oct 2nd 1861
Dear brother I seat my self this eavning to drop you a few lines conserning my health. These leavs me well with the exception of the diare [diarrhea]. I hav it. It is a verry bad complaint. Monro has it very bad at this time. I hope those few lines ma come safe to hand and find you and famley all well and doing well. I received your letter last knight which I taken grat pleasure in reeding. There is a rite smart of sickness here in camps and the measels is here too but I am not a fraid of them.
I will say this much. We hav one damd old rascal for our second lieutenant. That is Parson Hart. I never exspect to pay eny attention to his preaching eny more but keep this to your self for fear I mite see trouble a bout it but I think very well of the rest. John Brister is our captain and B. Hall, third lieutenant.”
I was glad to here from my mare but I was sorrow to here that she lost a horse colt again from Bogue Chitto to hu Boits [Hugh Boyets] so she was not so well acqainted with you as you thought but I want to know whether you hav put her to the horse or not. I think I told you to put her to Dick’s horse. You said something about having to take Hen’s horse. Tom I want you to do to soot [suit] your self. I do say to you with the best of feelings if old lade [Lady] is not eny use to you I want you to take her to fothers [father’s] and tell him to let her go with his until spring and if I aint there … and turn her out in the woods with the rest of the colts and that will pleas me as well as eny thing that could be done. Nuthing mor at the present. Only I want you to write to me aned tell all there to do the same and I will answer them.
So I remain your affectionat brother until death.
Wm Price To T J Price and famley” (WP-Price)
October 16, 1861 Camp Beauregard, Ocean Springs, MS Transcription of the Shivers family Civil War letters of Evan and German A. Shivers. 1999. Edited by Ron Skellie, 2009. (GAS) Source: Paul R. Shivers, 5134C Greenville Loop, Wilmington, NC 28409,
German Shivers of Company B is with the same company as the Price brothers stationed at Ocean Springs at Camp Beauregard. Word has reached him that his children are on the verge of being made bond servants unless something is done. He pleads with his brother Evan to intervene on their behalf. German left them with very little and expected his family to provide support while he was away. He complains that “Dam old Boon”, his father-in-law, won’t do a thing for them. He complains that a soldier’s life is hard and that he doesn’t have half a dime and barely was able to get a piece of paper to write a letter. There is no mention of sending money home for his family from his pay, but he then hints at what may have been his problem all along by telling his mother that “I am aliven a sober Life”.
“Camp Boregard Oct 16 1861
Dear mother & Brothers I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines I hop these few lins you all in good health I am in very bad health since I have bin camp I have had too spells of Billions fever but I am mending thank God as week as I am I want to fite the Yankees I was first stationed at Pass Christian from there to Cheasburrough [Shieldsboro, MS] now we are at Ocean Springs Jackson Co Miss now you know whare to direct a leter I hope I will soon dear mother & Brothers my nabors made me fine promises that tha wood help my family if I voleterd so I did do & I am willing to fite for my country I hear by Wm Dampier that brother Evan & _ _ Dampier has returned it is best for them to stay at home tha are not able to stand camp life Mother the people of Laurence Co are talking of binding of my pore children out tell Brother Evan I say for God Sake not to suffer it if he can help it Brother git on your horse & go see them let me beg you for my sake and for God sake go see them & help them a little Evan if I ever return I GA Shivers will remember you if you will I will fill your place & George W Shivers too if I don’t dye & if I dy I am anuff to loos out of one little family tell GW not to volunteer for a pore soldiers life is ahard life to live at least I find so far Dear Mother open your heart & give my pore little hungry children something I left them without Bed stid or tabe & no Chimey to ther house Dam old Boon he wont do a thing for them he is likely to starve hisself Mother I am liven a sober Life I am a peasible boy as ther is in camp I am so pore that I haven’t half a dime and this is all the paper that I can beg All of you write to me Oh God how bad I want to see all but I fear I never will Oh if you all pleas rite to me tell Gilbert houdy & tell him to rite to Direct your leters to Ocean Springs Jackson Co in care of J M Brister Capt of the Bogue Chitto gards ma[y] God Bless you all is my ____ prair German Shivers” (GAS)
November 8, 1861 Pass Christian, MS “Our Family’s Confederate Letters” contributed by Miss Bonnie Lou Cole, Brookhaven, Mississippi; “Price Family Letters” transcribed by T. Anna Leese Fuller, 2009. Edited and indexed by R. Skellie, 2009. (Price)
William Price (Co. B 7th Miss.) in his no-nonsense way also promised to split the heads of any people spreading lies about him back home.
“Nov 8th 1861
The state of Miss, Pass Crischan
Dair brother, I seat mi self this morning to ancer your letter. This lievs me well and a doing well. Hoping thes few liens ma come saft to hand and fiend you and famly well and all the [“relation” scratched out on original] connection.
I will say to you that the hant [they ain’t] motch sickness her[e]. The Compiny is a Doing very well. I hant motch of interresting to rit to you at present. We hav left Ocean Springs. We hav com back to Pass Chrischan. I dont [k]now how long we will sta her[e]. We air a Driling all the time. We air a giting so that we can Drill very well. I dont [k]now that the[re] is eny danger of their being a fight her[e] shortly.”
“The[y] [the enemy] air her[e] clos by. The negros is triing (?) to get to them. The[re] was one stold a skiff a Mondy night and was making his way of[f] when he was taking up by some osterman [oysterman] on his way and was brot back and I heard that two white women runaway from town with a negro man last Monday knight and I have not herd from them since.”
“Tom I supose there is some bad reports out on me up there. It come to me from up there that I have the same disease that John hurt [Hart] had when he left here and if I can find out who told that damd ly on me I will split his damd head. So I must come to a close. You must write to me soon and tell me all about it. Please excuse my short letter for we drill -6- hours in the day.
Eat, Drill, and Mosketers
On the back of the William Price November 8th letter is the following note from John O. Brister Company B, a neighbor and family connection to the Prices. Times are bad and getting worse, but they have plenty to eat, most are well, they drill every day, and the mosquitos are terrible.
“Nov 8 1861
Dair frend
I seat mi self this morning to Drop you a few liens to let you now that I am well and a doing [well] hoping thes liens may come saft to hand and fiend you and famly well and a doing well.
Thomas I hant nothing interresting to rit to you at present. Times is hard her and loks like worse a coming. The hant motch sickness her now. The mosketers is very bad her. The wont let no one sleep in the night. The yankeys is stil clos bey. We have lively times her. All well and a plenty to eait and nothing to do but to dril 6 ours ever day. So I well clos mi letter for the present time.
John Brister to Mr. Thomas J. Price” (JB)
January 12, 1863 Camp in Shelbyville, TN Lt. Col. Benjamin F Johns Commanding 7th Regt. Miss. Inf.
After action Report Battle of Murfreesboro. “REPORT OF LIEUT. COL. BENJAMIN F. JOHNS COMMANDING, 7th MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT In Camp near Shelbyville Tenn. January 12th 1863” Lannie Smith Notes. (BFJ-OR-Lannie Smith) [Withers Papers-Western Reserve Historical Society]
“The Regt lost many valuable officers among them are Capt. [Russell D.] McDowell of Co. C 1st Lt. Jones [George Imes] of Co. I [Co. F and Co. A] and Lt. Harrigill of Co. E killed dead in the field. Lieutenant Holloway, Co I & Lt. Havis, Co. E are so severely wounded that they will never be able for duty if they survive their wounds. Col. Bishop will soon be able to take command of his Regt. Capt. Atkinson of Co. F and Capt. Brister of Company B will soon be able to report [to] their commands. I cannot close this report without mentioning the prompt and efficient manner in which Capt. E. B. Curruth of the C. S. Department kept the Regt. supplied with rations ready cooked. With respect I submit the above report A true copy signed B.F. Johns, Lt. Col Comdg 7 Regt D. W. Myers, A.A. Genl” (BFJ-Lannie Smith-Withers papers)
OR Supplement 7th Mississippi. After action reports from the 7th Mississippi companies were filed in January 1863 from Shelbyville, TN. [After action Murfreesboro]
Company A was probably reported by Capt. Burch of Company E since they were men from the same county. Companies A and B were commanded by Capt. J. Milton Brister of Company B, who had been wounded in the second charge of the Brigade in the cedar thicket on the 31st and was unable to make a report.
Lest We Forget,Volume II
March 7, 1863 Shelbyville, TN Hugh Achibald “Arch” McLaurin Co. E 7th Miss. To his sister. Hugh A. McLaurin Papers, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI. Transcribed and edited by R.Skellie, 2006, 2008. Previously transcribed by Dr. William Glenn Robertson and Steve Acker. (HAM)
Private Arch McLaurin's letter of March 7, 1863 to his sister mentions the cavalry skirmish on March 4th described by Col. Tucker of the 41st Mississippi, commanding Chalmers Brigade, and confirms that some cavalry and some infantry were captured during the skirmishes. He describes how the brigade was involved in the action and that they were with the brigade during the movement in support of the cavalry on the Unionville [Triune] Pike between March 2nd -4th.
"March the 7th 1863 [Near Shelbyville, TN]
Dear Sister
I will now attempt to write you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am doing; We are out on picket duty again. I am well at this time; I expect we will have a skirmish with the Yankees before we go back to camps. The yankee cavalry drove our cavalry pickets in a few days ago and took several of our cavalry prisoners and two or three of our infantry Our brigade was called on to assist them but they run before we got in sight of them. We have been out ever since last Monday. We will have only two more days to stay I will write again as soon as we get back to camp. I want you to send me some cotton pants the first opportunity I want two pair I also want a pair of shoes. I can get shoes here for $10 a pair but they wont last more than one march before they wore out. I was very glad didnt send but one shirt. I am in hopes if we do get into a skirmish that we will come out victorious I received a letter from cousin Mary Jane McLaurin a few days before I left camp Well I believe I will close for this time give my love to all the family Your brother [signed] H.A. McLaurin”HAM
March 11, 1863 Shelbyville, TN Hugh Achibald “Arch” McLaurin Co. E 7th Miss. To his sister. Hugh A. McLaurin Papers, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI. Transcribed and edited by R.Skellie, 2006, 2008. Previously transcribed by Dr. William Glenn Robertson and Steve Acker. (HAM)
“Again, on the 11th McLaurin wrote his sister about the regiment’s duty on the Triune Pike and the Unionville Pike (between Shelbyville and Murfreesboro); and the Battle and its aftermath continued to be the main topic in camp. There had been no incidents, but they had a few close calls. He had just seen hundreds of Yankee prisoners captured by General Earl Van Dorn’s army in the square at Shelbyville. Archie McLaurin of Company E was surprised because from their rough looks he thought the way “they looked like they ought to fight better then they do.”
His sister must have inquired about Captain J. M. Brister of Company B, but he had not yet returned to camp. Arch did receive the letter and bundle from her and Miss Sallie Strong and he feels bold enough to tell Miss Sallie that he will help her find a new Beau since from what he says there aren’t many good looking men at home that aren’t married. He also assures her that he is doing well and not to believe the stories being told by men at home like Walk McDaniel Company E. He says all the boys tell stories and they have to keep in practice so they can keep up with their messmates in camp when they return.
“Camped Near Shelbyville, TN
March 11th 1863
Dear Sister
I will now endeavor to answer your letter I received a day before yesterday. We got off pickett day before yesterday and I am glad to find a letter here for me. Capt Brisler [Brister] has not got here yet. Lieut. Rankin [1st Lt. Samuel Edward “Ed” Rankin Co. D.] brought me the letter and the bundle Miss Sallie sent me. You can’t imagine how glad I was to get the bundle. I want you to tell her that I am very much obliged to her. Tell her I will try and find a nice beau for her if she has lost her old one (Dr Strode). I don’t [think] that will be any trouble for me to find a sweet heart if ever I get home as three of the best looking men I know are married. I think there is a chance for me now as Walt Strode and Jimmings are out of the way. We get off pickett without a fight but I thought twice that we were in it but the Yanks run both times.”
“Gen Van Dorn captured 1200 prisoners one day last week. They were all around the square in town the other day. When we came through they looked right bold. They looked like they ought to fight better than they do. You spoke about Walk McDaniels being in the hospital. If you could see him he wild [will] bring anything you would want to send me. I wrote to you when I was out on picket but for fear you wont get it I will tell you again what I want you to send me. I want a pair of shoes 2 pair pants and 2 pair of cotton socks”
Telling Lies to Keep in Practice
“You need not listen to the soldiers in the hospital when they say that they don’t get enough to eat for they are so used to telling lies up here that they have to tell some down there to keep in practice. If I was to get a chance to go home now I would have to tell many a lie to keep up with the boys her[e] in camp. If I didn’t they could beat me so bad that I would be ashamed of my self but as long as I can stay with them I think I can keep up with them.”
A New Pianna and an Interesting Knife
“I expect Nan Mitchell will cut a dash now with her new pianna. I would like very much to hear one now. It has been so long since I have heard heard that I have almost forgot how they sound. I will tell you what Jenny’s present is but don’t tell her until she tries to guess what it is. Tell me the next letter what she guessed first. It is a little white handle knife two little blades in one end and a little pair of scissors in the other. Tell Dutch that I will find something nice for him before long. Tell him to be smart and learn fast and learn how to write me and write me a letter. Well I will come to a close. Hoping to hear from you soon. This leaves me in the best of health so no more from your brother Hugh A McLaurin” HAM
October 5, 1863, Chattanooga, TN Chickamauga Report—Col. W. H. Bishop “HDQRS. SEVENTH MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT, In Line, near Chattanooga, October 5, 1863. (Bishop-OR) [After action report Chickamauga]
Captains Robertson and Brister Killed
Colonel Bishop reflects on the action of the afternoon and evening and gives special tribute to Captains Robertson and Brister who were killed in the afternoon attack on Snodgrass Hill. “My loss in the first attack in the afternoon was very great. Among the killed, I regret to say, were Capts. J. M. Brister [Co. B (H)] and G. A. Robertson [Co. G], brave and gallant soldiers and attentive and efficient officers.” (Bishop)
September 20, 1863
Bass, W. J, “A Short Sketch of My Life While in the Confederate Army From Aug 28th AD 1861 To May 14th1865”, 65 hand-numbered pages.[manuscript] Source: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, provided by George Purvis, 7th Regt. Miss. Inf. Researcher. Index to the William T. J. Bass Autobiography (WJB), Transcribed and edited by Ronald J. Skellie, 2007 for inclusion in the regimental history: Lest We Forget-The Immortal Seventh Mississippi. (WJB).
William Bass of Company G recalls the scene on the day after the battle when the men gathered to lay their captains to rest. “It was here our Regiment the 7th Miss lost two as gallant and efficient officers as the Army could boast Capts Robertson of Co. G and Capt. Brister of Co. H. I believe they were both gallant young men. The two companies met and buried them together in the same grave. Here I spread my only Blanket over them in the grave.” (WJB, p. 26) Both Capt. Robertson and Capt. Brister were later reburied at the Confederate Cemetery at Marietta, Georgia.
Lt. William J. Proby as Color bearer at the battle of Atlanta, GA July 22, 1864
Date: 3/25/2016, 11:57 am
In Response To: Re: CSA letters honor Lincoln/Lawrence Co. soldier (George Martin)
Ken,
We should add Lt. William J. Proby, Formerly Captain of Co. A. He returned to Miss. to enlist Militia but then returned as a Lt. He bore the flag off the field after the death of Ensign Nunnery, at the Battle of Atlanta, July 22nd 1864. Unfortunately, he was killed in the Battle of Ezra Church on July 28th. We do not know if he continued to bear the flag after he retrieved it on the 22nd.
Lest We Forget Roster entry for Captain William J. Proby Co. A 7th Miss.:
Proby, William J. Capt. Co. A ; not re-elected; re-enlisted; Served as Lt. Col. and Provost Marshall of Franklin County 1862. Returned to the 7th Mississippi as a Lt. in 1863; killed in battle of Ezra Church “On the 28th of July 1864 the Regt. was in the fight on the Lickskillet Road when Capt. T.S. Cotton was wounded & Lieut. Proby was killed.” -Letter to Dunbar Rowland from T. Samuel Cotton-1910. Lt. Proby was credited with retrieving the colors at the battle of Atlanta where the Regimental Ensign, William Nunnery, was killed at the breastworks; however, Cotton stated that John A. Zumbro actually retrieved the flag. (Proby was possibly WIA Chickamauga-Lee White, NPS) (photo of Proby pre-war exists)
Thomas S. Cotton Letter Jan. 9, 1910, Hattiesburg, Miss. Letter to Dunbar Rowland after the publication of Rowland’s ¬Military History of Mississippi 1800-1899. Transcribed and edited from a copy supplied by Jackie Scarborough as part of her research on her Honors thesis at USM and a copy received from the MDAH obtained by George Purvis. (Cotton)
Capt. Thomas S. Cotton of the “Franklin Rifles” Company A 7th Mississippi wrote in a post war letter to Dunbar Rowland to straighten out some errors and omissions regarding the history of the 7th Mississippi Regiment in particular as it relates to their involvement in the action on July 22nd and 28th. The letter was in the same package as the April 29th 1861 Muster Roll and the June 10, 1861 Muster roll of the “Franklin Rifles”, a record of the actual election of officers in the first organization, and a letter informing the War Department of the election of John Holden as 3rd Lt. Company A to replace Adolphus Brown. Of particular note are the details relating to the battles in Atlanta on July 22nd and the 28th [Ezra Church or Lickskillet Rd].
Death of Ensign William J. Nunnery
Cotton described the action at the breastworks and the death of Ensign Nunnery. “Now the Brigade is not mentioned in the fight before Atlanta on July 22 where we broke the enemy’s line and got into their ditches and had the hand to hand fighting. Now here it seems the orders are confused in as much as in this fight Lieut. W. Nunnery was killed passing through the abattis in front of the enemys line and the flag was taken by John Zumbro Sargt of Co. (A)…” (Cotton)
April 6, 2016
Ken and all,
I have no other information on Lt. William Proby Company A as a Color Bear other than the post war statement by Thomas Cotton that he was not the color bearer after Nunnery was killed July 22nd. The source of that story is still a mystery. I have found no mention other than in Cotton’s letter. I have not reviewed Rowland’s full account of the part that the 7th Mississippi played in the battle and can only surmise that at some point in Rowland’s history Proby’s retrieval of the flag is mentioned.
My supposition is that after Nunnery was killed, Proby retrieved the flag and during the withdrawal to their trenches after they broke the enemy’s line, the flag was passed to Zumbro who bore it until the action at Ezra Church. It is likely that Zumbro bore the flag when it was lost at Jonesboro, but there is no proof. Proby was killed in the action at Ezra Church. Additionally, the letter exposes the reason many had no indication of the regiment or Sharp’s Brigade, for that matter, even fought in the battle of Atlanta, GA July 22nd 1864.
Cotton was taking exception to the lack of information about the regiment and Brigade’s participation in the battle of Atlanta on July 22nd 1864. As the following regimental capsule histories report, it would appear that only the 10th Mississippi participated in the action on July 22nd and the 44th and 9th Battn. Sharpshooters had no mention at all in their histories except that they shared the action of the remainder of the brigade. One could assume that there was no record available for the 44th, but at the time they were consolidated with the 10th Mississippi.
Military History of Mississippi 1800-1899. Does not mention Brigade’s participation in the Battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864.
7th Regt. Miss. Inf. Capsule history
“At the opening of the campaign of 1864, the brigade, under General Tucker, participated in the engagement at Rocky Face Ridge, May 8, and at Resaca, May 14-15, was held in reserve, supporting Walthall's brigade. General Tucker was severely wounded and the brigade suffered considerably from artillery fire. Colonel Sharp, of the Forty-fourth, was promoted to Brigadier-General. The brigade served under General Hood in the fighting along the lines of New Hope church and Kennesaw Mountain in May and June.” [No Mention of the fight on July 22nd 1864 at the Atlanta & Augusta RR]
“Gen. S. D. Lee took command of the corps July 27, Hood having been promoted to command of the army, and was directed to push the Federal advance back from the Lickskillet road west of Atlanta. Sharp's Brigade, which had been moved from the east to the west side of the city the day before, marched out three miles and attacked, twice, but the Federal line was too strongly established for the force available against it. Gen. Patton Anderson resumed command of the division, which went to work intrenching westward of the city, and was engaged in this work and constant skirmishing with the Federal line for a month. August 30 they marched to Jonesboro and went into battle there against Sherman, attacking with great gallantry and perseverance a strongly posted line of the enemy. (See Forty-fourth Regiment.) Col. William H. Bishop commanded the regiment through this campaign, and Lieut.-Col. Benjamin F. Johns was detached in command of the Ninth.”
9th Regt. Miss. Inf. Capsule history
“The brigade served with Hood's Corps through the fighting along the lines of New Hope Church and Kennesaw Mountain, in May and June. Capt. M. C. Higginbotham, Company C, was killed in the trenches near New Hope Church, May 27.” [No Mention of the fight on July 22nd 1864 at the Atlanta & Augusta RR]
“After the battle of Peachtree Creek, they were posted on the east side of Atlanta, and moved thence on the 26th to the west side. General Lee took command of the corps, and under orders from General Hood, who had succeeded Johnston, attacked Sherman's advance on the Lickskillet road, July 28.”
9th Battn. Miss. Sharpshooters Capsule history
“In the Atlanta campaign Major Richards was in command, succeeded by Lieut. J. B. Downing and he by Lieut. John Thomas Oliver. Lieut. Montgomery A. Nelson was mortally wounded at Resaca, May 15, 1864. The battalion shared the services of its brigade through the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro. In the fighting near New Hope Church, May 25 to June 5, Company A had 5 wounded, including Lieut. Joseph Day; Company B had 6 wounded, including Lieut. Thomas Howard; Company C had 2 killed, 5 wounded. The campaign, from May 8 to September 2, was one requiring the sharpshooters to be constantly engaged, often at close range, nearly all the time in rifle pits or behind barricades of rails or logs. The only report made for the battalion is of the battle of June 28, 1864 [July 28, 1864, Ezra Church west of Atlanta], near Atlanta, by Lieutenant Downing. In this fight the battalion was distinguished in a brilliant charge, driving the Federal skirmishers and losing 4 wounded.” [No Mention of the fight on July 22nd 1864 at the Atlanta & Augusta RR]
In September, the Tenth and Forty-fourth Regiments were also under the command of Major Richards.
10th Regt. Miss. Inf. Capsule history
“The brigade under General Tucker was in line at the battle near Rocky Face Ridge early in May, and at Resaca May 14-15, where Tucker was wounded and succeeded by Colonel Sharp, afterward promoted to Brigadier-General. They skirmished at Cassville May 19, fought in the battle of New Hope Church May 26-28, and participated in the fighting of Hood's Corps on the line of Kennesaw Mountain in June. Colonel Barr was wounded near Marietta, June 22, and died in hospital. The regiment crossed the Chattahoochee July 9, were in the battle of Atlanta July 22, and were posted on the east side of Atlanta until just before the battle of July 28, when they advanced under Gen. S. D. Lee, on the Lickskillet road, west of the city. They approached the Federal line at such a place that they were under heavy fire for a quarter of a mile. The Forty-fourth, in this movement, lost half its numbers, and "the gallant Tenth, on its left," said General Sharp, "was almost as severely punished, losing five color bearers.”
41st Regt. Miss. Inf. Capsule history
“At the opening of the Atlanta campaign they aided in the repulse of Sherman at Rocky Face Ridge, before Dalton, May 8, and next were in battle at Resaca, May 14. While his brigade was in reserve, General Tucker was observing the Federal movements from General Walthall's position, and was severely wounded, causing his retirement from active service. He was succeeded by Col. Jacob Sharp, of Blythe's Regiment. The brigade served under General Hood in the constant fighting along the New Hope Church and Kennesaw Mountain lines in the latter part of May and until July 2. After crossing the Chattahoochee River, the Forty-first, under Col. J. Byrd Williams, was particularly distinguished in the battle of July 28, near Atlanta.” [No Mention of the fight on July 22nd 1864 at the Atlanta & Augusta RR]
“Gen. John C. Brown, in command of the division, reported that "Sharp's and Brantly's Brigades acted with great gallantry. The brigade, which had been moved from the east to the west of the city the day before, was hurried out three miles to check the enemy, attempting to cross the Lickskillet road.”
In conclusion, with the clear omission of battle details for all of the Brigade save the 10th Mississippi in the action at the Atlanta & Augusta Railroad on July 22, 1864, I prefer to err on the side of inclusion rather than exclusion of Proby as a flag bearer until I can find proof that he was not as Cotton claimed.