The following information was provided by Sam Wilkes.
***
Son of Robert and Jane Caldwell Laird.
Erastus served in Company B, 4th Mississippi Cavalry. He was wounded but not discharged. He was assigned to guard CSA government stores at Mt. Carmel.
The following excerpt is taken from Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, Mississippi WPA Manuscripts of Newspaper Items.
Information from James P. Loflin, December 5, 1936.
There was a raiding band of cavalry sent out by General Grant from Port Gibson. Their purpose was to destroy railroad tracks and everything that came in their way. They came down the old St. Stephens road and passed through Old Blountville, which is now Prentiss, and a number of citizens, not soldiers, gathered up what guns and other war arms that they could find, followed by the raiders. When they had gotten to Williamsburg, Covington County, their men numbered 35 and they were joined there by Dr. Brown who became their leader.
The Yankees had camped on Rocky Creek in Jones County. Dr. Brown sent a number of men on to destroy the bridge and guard the creek. They attacked the Yankees on different sides, killing two or three, and wounding many. They soon raised a flag of truce. Dr. Brown went over and talked to them. He told them he had 300 men and 1500 behind. They laid down their arms and were taken prisoners of war. Only one Confederate was wounded, Erastus Laird, who was home on Furlough, was shot in the leg. Mr. Buck Polk was in this skirmish. The saying has been handed down, "Buck killed a Yankee with a three buck shot."
These Federal soldiers that were killed were buried on Rocky Creek and later taken up and buried in the National Park at Vicksburg, MS.
******
[Middle name provided by Tanglewoods.]
***
Son of Robert and Jane Caldwell Laird.
Erastus served in Company B, 4th Mississippi Cavalry. He was wounded but not discharged. He was assigned to guard CSA government stores at Mt. Carmel.
The following excerpt is taken from Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, Mississippi WPA Manuscripts of Newspaper Items.
Information from James P. Loflin, December 5, 1936.
There was a raiding band of cavalry sent out by General Grant from Port Gibson. Their purpose was to destroy railroad tracks and everything that came in their way. They came down the old St. Stephens road and passed through Old Blountville, which is now Prentiss, and a number of citizens, not soldiers, gathered up what guns and other war arms that they could find, followed by the raiders. When they had gotten to Williamsburg, Covington County, their men numbered 35 and they were joined there by Dr. Brown who became their leader.
The Yankees had camped on Rocky Creek in Jones County. Dr. Brown sent a number of men on to destroy the bridge and guard the creek. They attacked the Yankees on different sides, killing two or three, and wounding many. They soon raised a flag of truce. Dr. Brown went over and talked to them. He told them he had 300 men and 1500 behind. They laid down their arms and were taken prisoners of war. Only one Confederate was wounded, Erastus Laird, who was home on Furlough, was shot in the leg. Mr. Buck Polk was in this skirmish. The saying has been handed down, "Buck killed a Yankee with a three buck shot."
These Federal soldiers that were killed were buried on Rocky Creek and later taken up and buried in the National Park at Vicksburg, MS.
******
[Middle name provided by Tanglewoods.]
The following information was provided by Sam Wilkes.
***
Son of Robert and Jane Caldwell Laird.
Erastus served in Company B, 4th Mississippi Cavalry. He was wounded but not discharged. He was assigned to guard CSA government stores at Mt. Carmel.
The following excerpt is taken from Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, Mississippi WPA Manuscripts of Newspaper Items.
Information from James P. Loflin, December 5, 1936.
There was a raiding band of cavalry sent out by General Grant from Port Gibson. Their purpose was to destroy railroad tracks and everything that came in their way. They came down the old St. Stephens road and passed through Old Blountville, which is now Prentiss, and a number of citizens, not soldiers, gathered up what guns and other war arms that they could find, followed by the raiders. When they had gotten to Williamsburg, Covington County, their men numbered 35 and they were joined there by Dr. Brown who became their leader.
The Yankees had camped on Rocky Creek in Jones County. Dr. Brown sent a number of men on to destroy the bridge and guard the creek. They attacked the Yankees on different sides, killing two or three, and wounding many. They soon raised a flag of truce. Dr. Brown went over and talked to them. He told them he had 300 men and 1500 behind. They laid down their arms and were taken prisoners of war. Only one Confederate was wounded, Erastus Laird, who was home on Furlough, was shot in the leg. Mr. Buck Polk was in this skirmish. The saying has been handed down, "Buck killed a Yankee with a three buck shot."
These Federal soldiers that were killed were buried on Rocky Creek and later taken up and buried in the National Park at Vicksburg, MS.
******
[Middle name provided by Tanglewoods.]
***
Son of Robert and Jane Caldwell Laird.
Erastus served in Company B, 4th Mississippi Cavalry. He was wounded but not discharged. He was assigned to guard CSA government stores at Mt. Carmel.
The following excerpt is taken from Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, Mississippi WPA Manuscripts of Newspaper Items.
Information from James P. Loflin, December 5, 1936.
There was a raiding band of cavalry sent out by General Grant from Port Gibson. Their purpose was to destroy railroad tracks and everything that came in their way. They came down the old St. Stephens road and passed through Old Blountville, which is now Prentiss, and a number of citizens, not soldiers, gathered up what guns and other war arms that they could find, followed by the raiders. When they had gotten to Williamsburg, Covington County, their men numbered 35 and they were joined there by Dr. Brown who became their leader.
The Yankees had camped on Rocky Creek in Jones County. Dr. Brown sent a number of men on to destroy the bridge and guard the creek. They attacked the Yankees on different sides, killing two or three, and wounding many. They soon raised a flag of truce. Dr. Brown went over and talked to them. He told them he had 300 men and 1500 behind. They laid down their arms and were taken prisoners of war. Only one Confederate was wounded, Erastus Laird, who was home on Furlough, was shot in the leg. Mr. Buck Polk was in this skirmish. The saying has been handed down, "Buck killed a Yankee with a three buck shot."
These Federal soldiers that were killed were buried on Rocky Creek and later taken up and buried in the National Park at Vicksburg, MS.
******
[Middle name provided by Tanglewoods.]
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