History Channel portrays a minute by minute description of the artillery barrage into which CSA Brigadier General Joseph R. “Joe” Davis led the 11th Mississippi. The long march from west of the tree line on Seminary Ridge to the stone wall near the Brian Barn, known as Pickett’s Charge, is believed by many to be the turning point of the War.
Below are the on-site monuments to the 11th Mississippi and their inscriptions about the fateful charge.
11th Mississippi
Infantry Regiment
Davis’ Brigade – Heth’s Division
A.P. Hill’s Corps
Army of Northern Virginia
Confederate States of America
Afternoon July 2 – July 4, 1863
The 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, under the command of Col. Francis M. Green and Maj. Reuben O. Reynolds, formed west of the tree line on Seminary Ridge behind Maj. William Pegram’s Battalion of Artillery and immediately south of McMillan’s Woods on July 3, 1863. Shortly after 3:00 p.m., Color Sgt. William O’Brien of Company C, memorialized on this monument, raised the colors and the regiment stepped forward. Although clusters of men reached the stone wall near Brian’s Barn, the attack was driven back with heavy loss, and the remnants of the regiment reformed in this vicinity.
Combatants – 393
Killed in action/died of wounds – 110
Wounded/wounded captured – 193
Captured unwounded – 37
Non-casualty – 53
11th Mississippi Regiment
Company A – University Greys
Layfayette County – 1st Lt. Jonathan V. Moore
Company B – Coahoma Invincibles
Coahoma County – Capt. William D. Nunn
Company C – Prairie Rifles
Chickasaw County – Capt. George W. Shannon
Company D – Neshoba Rifles
Neshoba County – Capt. Jonathan R. Prince
Company E – Prairie Guards
Lowndes County – Capt. Henry P. Halpert
Company F – Noxubee Rifles
Noxubee County – Capt. Thomas J. Stokes
Company G – Lamar Rifles
Lafayette County – Capt. William O. Nelms
Company H – Chickasaw Guards
Chickasaw County – Capt. Jamison H. Moore
Company I – Van Dorn Reserve
Monroe County – Capt. Stephen C. Moore
Company K – Carroll County Rifles
Carroll County – Capt. George W. Bird, Jr.
July 3, 1863. The 11th Mississippi Infantry regiment, with its ranks growing thinner at every step, advanced with the colors to the stone wall near the Brian Barn.
The regiment was here ‘subjected to a most galling fire of musketry and artillery that so reduced the already thinned ranks that any further effort to carry the position was hopeless, and there was nothing left but to retire.
– Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Davis
Parham's Letters 
I remember seeing many Mississippi memorials there – quite impressive!
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[…] With respect to Parham’s wound, the ball entered just above the right knee and passed directly through. This may suggest that Parham reached within Federal musket range during Pickett’s Charge somewhere between the vicinity of Emmitsburg Road and the stone wall. See previous post on Pickett’s Charge. […]
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My great-grandfather Charles W. Harris was wounded on July 3, 1863 during Pickett’s Charge. He was captured and carried both physical and mental battlescars for the rest of his life. I am sure he fought side by side with Mr. Parham. They both resided in Lafayette co. Ms. I owe a great deal of respect to the soldiers that fought for what they believed in. Thank you for this sight. If there are pictures of this unit, I would gladly purchase a copy.
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I’m glad you enjoy the site. All pictures of individuals or unit within this site were from the world wide web, with the exception of the photo posted of young Parham M. Buford during his school days before the War. Your great-grandfather most surely knew Parham because they both served together in the same Company and received leg amputations from wounds received during Pickett’s Charge. Page 802 of “Duty – Honor – Valor: The Story of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry Regiment” by Steven H. Stubbs states the following about your great-grandfather. Quote: Harris, Charles Wesley – Private; enlisted 26 April 1861, at Oxford, Mississippi, in Company G; age eighteen; student; re-enlisted at Camp Fisher, near Dumfries, Virginia, 7 February 1862; wounded at Gaines’ Mill, 27 June 1862; hospitalized with a gunshot wound in the hand at Chimborazo Hospital #4 at Richmond, Virginia, 29 June 1862; severely wounded and captured at Gettysburg, 3 July 1863; left leg amputated at the lower third of thigh (necrosed bone rem’d”) by a Surgeon Clark, C.S.A., at Gettysburg, 15 July 1863; admitted to the U.S.A. Camp Letterman Hospital at Gettysburg, 1 August 1863; admitted to the U.S.A. General Hospital, West’s Building, Baltimore, Maryland, 6 October 1863; exchanged at City Point, Virginia, 12 November 1863; received $44.00 for pay, 30 April 1864; retired and assigned to the Invalid Corps, 12 September 1864; surrendered, 4 May 1865; paroled at Holly Springs, Mississippi, 2 June 1865. :Unquote. Footnote on page: Charles Wesley Harris was the uncle of Armead Price, Jr. and Huldric Price.
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