Gainesville Volunteers

At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard gave the order to open fire on Fort Sumter.  Thus began the war that pitted American against American and brought destruction to many of the southern states.

   In anticipation of this event, several southern states had begun to organize local militias for the defense of their region. In southern Mississippi two such groups were organized in the coastal region.  The “Biloxi Rifle Guard” was organized in Harrison County and the “Gainesville Volunteers” in Hancock County.  The “Gainesville Volunteers” were organized and commanded by Mexican War veteran, John B. Deason, a lawyer and general collecting agent.
   These two groups along with several others were mustered into Confederate service in October, 1861 as the 3^rd Regiment Mississippi Infantry.  They were giving the charge of coastal defense and set about learning to be soldiers. 
   Following the defeat in the battle (?) of Pass Christian the Third was transferred to Camp Moore in Louisiana and then to Jackson, Mississippi and on to the defense of Vicksburg.  They almost participated in several battles in an around Vicksburg.  It seems that if fighting broke out on the left of the line, the Third was on the far right or on the left when the fighting was on the right. During the battle of Champion Hill, the 3^rd never fired a shot.  Seventy-two members of the 3^rd were trapped in Vicksburg and were surrendered with the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863.  The remaining members of the 3^rd marched to Crystal Springs and then to Jackson and became attached to Joseph Johnston’s forces.
   Those from Vicksburg were paroled to camp at Enterprise and exchanged in December.    Some of the soldiers began the long walk from Enterprise to Gainesville never to return to the war.  There they hid from the Federals and at least one was arrested and imprisoned on Ship Island for aiding and abetting the Confederates.
   The remaining members of the Third were reorganized and joined in the battle for Atlanta.      

The Third was now a part of the Army of Tennessee under the command of General Hood. The Third took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville before being sent to the Carolinas to reinforce Joe Johnston’s meager forces as the Confederacy came crashing down.

Historical marker located at the Mississippi Welcome Center on Interstate 10 east, near where the group was organized in 1860.