1862 Train Wreck

   On February 27, 1862 a southbound lumber train collided with a northbound troop train carrying men of Col. Edmond J. Goode’s 7^th Mississippi Infantry on their way to Jackson, Tennessee to join Braxton Bragg and the Confederate Army in Tennessee.  The 7^th Mississippi had been serving with the 3^rd Mississippi* in the defense of the coast at Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian before being sent north. The lumber train was to move onto a siding as the northbound troop train approached. However, in the early morning fog, while most of the men were sleeping the wreck occurred. The first two wooden passenger cars were completely torn apart with the wooden splinters causing death to 22 members of the 7^th and wounding many others.  Another 6 men were mortally wounded and died in the hospitals where they were treated. Ten others were seriously wounded.

   Most of the dead and many of the wounded were members of the Dahlgren Rifles of Pike Co. and the Quitman Rifles of Franklin and Amite counties. A medical team from New Orleans along with volunteers from nearby Ponchatoula

provided assistance to the injured.
   After the tracks were cleared, the 7^th continued on to Tennessee where they were engaged at Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, and other battles of the Civil War as part of the Army of Tennessee.
  
   Sgt. John L. Beavers of Company I was also injured in the wreck.  Sgt. Beavers suffered a compound fracture of the right leg and was transferred to a hospital in New Orleans.  Showing his commitment to the Confederacy, Sgt. Beavers rejoined his unit in January 1863.  The Seventh Mississippi was then a part of the Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg.
   However, Sgt. John L. Beavers was judged to be unable to serve in any capacity in the army and was discharged “by command of Genl. Bragg” in March 1863 as shown on the certificate of discharge.

   The fine print (actually the surgeon’s report) states that Sgt. Beavers was unable to stand for any length of time and it would be impossible for him to keep up with his infantry unit on a march.  Following his discharge, Sgt. Beavers returned to south Mississippi where he studied medicine and became a practicing physician in Wesson, Copiah County, Mississippi.  Dr. John L. Beavers died in 1916 and is buried in Wesson Cemetery, Copiah County, Mississippi.

Sources:
1.  Ponchatoula Newspaper reprint
2. Compiled Civil War Records
3. Mississippi Census and Burial records