The Corinth Herald

Corinth MS

Thursday, April 17, 1902

by Allen Epps

"Communicated--About two weeks ago a letter appeared in the Herald from Jessee Cheeves, an old war chum of mine, relating to the great civil war.  His letter was correct and very interesting to the boys who tread the warpath with him.  Jessee and I put on the war paint at the same time.  We registered as warriors on the 7th day of March 1862.  We joined Company A, which was made up at Rienzi by Dr. J. G. Lowery, who had won fame in the Mexican war.  We gave vent to our ambition with a loud rebel yell, pledging ourselves to avenge the death of Gen. Zollicoffer, who was killed at Fishing Creek, KY., a few days previous.  Company A numbered 127, rank and file.   Some of this number was rejected.  Recruits were added from time to time till the close of the war, when Company A had on her register about 150 names--their bodies rest in mother earth from whence they came...  Company A came to Corinth and went into their white shacks or tents on College Hill, there to await the arrival of nine other companies, ten being the requisite number to make a regiment.  Soon they were on hand.  The 32nd regiment of Miss. volunteers was formed and M. P. Lowery, a Baptist minister, who had served in the Mexican war, and one of the best men I ever knew , was elected Colonel.  True, faithful and brave, and for him military talent he made Brigadier-General after the battle of Chickamauga, Ga.,...Capt. Bill Tyson, who had distinguished himself on several battlefields in Va., was elected Lieutenant.  He was true, patriotic, and as fearless as a tiger.  He never said go forward men, but with his bright sabre {sic, saber] pointing to the enemy he said men follow me.  He sleeps in his 3 x 6.  Lum Kerr, our 3rd Lieutenant was elected Major... He fell to rise no more on the bloody field of Chickamauga, Ga. where he sleeps to this day... We were not equipped when battle of Shiloh was fought.  Our first duty was to guard General Prentis [sic] and his brigade of union soldiers that had been captured in the battle of Shiloh and bro't to Corinth.   Our next duty was to go to Farmington, meet the enemy and tell them to go back.   But they say no, you go back.  And so we did go back to College Hill, to satisfy our hunger with 'old jang', a nick-name for beef.  A few days later we were ordered to go east of College Hill and take position on the Payne farm and tell the yanks who were coming down Bridge Creek, not to come farther.  Here we lost one man killed--Jim Spain.  This farm is now owned by Tandy Young, who distinguished himself at the battle of Franklin, Tenn.,...Allen Epps" {Member of Company A.}