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Important Early War Mississippi Infantry Company Flag – Co. C 44^th Mississippi Infantry – This extremely rare textile surfaced just a few months ago in Oklahoma, not far from where the descendants of the Captain of Company C of the 44^th Mississippi Infantry once lived. The textile or flag remnant or banner, is constructed of a fine grade of cream to greenish colored silk, with the following artfully painted, in the center of the flag or banner, in gold, outlined, large letters:

“CALHOUN AVENGERS.

Capt. J.R.M. Duberry.”

The Calhoun Avengers were formed in the early spring of 1861, shortly after the commencement of hostilities; the members of the company, predominantly young men, between the ages of 14 and 24, were mostly from Pittsboro, Mississippi, in Calhoun County. James R. M. Duberry, a prominent local citizen, was elected Captain; the unit would be known locally as Duberry’s Company, as well as the Calhoun Avengers. The Mississippi 44th Infantry Regiment was organized from the 1st (Blythe’s) Mississippi Infantry Battalion, which was formed late in 1861, and the Avengers were absorbed into this regiment as Company C. Their baptism under fire would come shortly at Shiloh, where the company sustained many casualties. Duberry would remain with this company throughout much of the war, transferring out, into another Mississippi regiment, near the end of the war.

We are not sure exactly what purpose this textile served – it could possibly be the center section of a flag that was trimmed, then framed; it may have also served as a regimental headquarters banner, flown or displayed at the tent of Captain Duberry or perhaps even used at a recruiting event. The flag or banner remains in fair, albeit fragile condition, with some small areas of loss. The “doubling” of the painted lettering on the flag appears to have been imprinted, unintentionally, when it was apparently folded over on itself, after the war. When we obtained it, the textile was attached, along the edges only, to a piece of thin Masonite, and framed in what appears to us as a 1950s era frame, behind glass. We have carefully removed the flag / banner from the frame and off the Masonite and had a new frame made and put the textile on a piece of acid free, PVC free foam core, behind glass. The flag / banner measures: Width – 74”; Height – 19”.

Accompanying the flag / banner, and found with it, is Capt. Duberry’s family Bible. The Bible, a large, 1870s era publication, is in excellent condition. In the family lineage section, in the middle of the Bible, is a handwritten overview, with dates, of the Duberry family, up until 1976. In addition, in the last pages of the Bible, is a section where family images are housed, comparable to a period CDV album. Amongst some post-Civil War images, is one CDV of two civilian-attired gentlemen, sitting at a table. The back mark of this image indicates the photograph was taken at

“TWETER & DAHLBERG’S GALLERY

GALLERY .

OVER

Backstroms & Rogers’

Drug Store,

WETER VALLEY, MISS.”

We believe that one of the two gentlemen appearing in this image may be Captain Duberry, just prior to the onset of the Civil War. Indeed, this is an extremely rare and important grouping, all pertaining to a Mississippi company that saw much action and sustained significant numbers of casualties during the war.

The Calhoun Avengers

Names of the men who – early in the spring of 1861 – formed what is better known today as DuBerry’s Company. Made up in Pittsboro, mostly boys between 14 and 24 years. Four-fifths of them never returned. In the Battle of Shiloh, the Company lost 40 men.

OFFICERS

DuBerry, Capt. J.R.M.
McEachern, 1st Lieut. J.S.L.
Gaston, 2nd Lieut. R.W.
Mitchell, 3rd Lieut. Thos. A.
Young, 1st Sgt. W.T.
Moore, Sgt. Mark L.
Lowry, Sgt. R.B.
Young, Sgt. T.W.
Anderson, Cpl. I.F.
Grizzell, Cpl. B.S.
Tensdale, Cpl. I.W.
Strawn, Cpl. S.S.

ENLISTED MEN

Anderson, H G
Anderson, Wm M
Arnold, William
Beasley, B A
Blue, D N
Brean, J W
Bryan, T H
Burdine, J R
Byars, J M
Carter, William
Casteel, M S
Conner, J F
Conner, R H
Cook, D M
Cook, W M
Craig, James
Crowell, R M
Cruthirds, Redic
Csirell, D D
Davis, R B
Davis, S K
Denton, J W
Dillard, J N
Flemming, J W
Fox, Jesse
Freeman, E A
Gable, T J
Gaines, H T
Gore, Austin
Green, C B
Hallum, A G
Hannah, J C

Hardin, Coleman
Harrelson, J K
Harris, T J
Hartley, F D
Hartley, W H
Henry, N T S
Herrod, R M
Hutchinson, S W
Jackson, A J
Jackson, C W
Kennedy, J G
Lawrence, J A
Long, G G
Martin, G L
Martin, G L
Martin, W M
Matthews, J P
Maxey, C M
Maxey, J A A
McCallum, H H
McIntyre, J I
Middleton, Henry
Monger, J H
Moore, E F E
Morgan, J T
Mullins, F S
Murphree, C H
Murphree, T M
Palmer, D L
Palmer, Wm S
Parker, E S
Parker, Y A

Patterson, W J
Petree, W B
Pilgreen, Hezikiah
Pilgreen, W
Pilley, T N
Poteete, J D
Provine, L F
Reagan, T B E
Robinson, J I
Ross, W L
Sallis, F M
Shehan, William
Shipp, C O
Skelton, J M
Sprutell, A J
Stacey, I J
Stribbling, M M
Swafford, Ransom
Tabb, J N
Therrell, J D
Therrell, J W
Thetford, B F
Vaughn, B D
Walker, G W
Watkins, N R
White, F M
White, W C
Winter, A H
Woodward, J H
Worley, J D
Yeats, D N

The Calhoun Avengers

Names of the men who – early in the spring of 1861 – formed what is better known today as DuBerry’s Company. Made up in Pittsboro, mostly boys between 14 and 24 years. Four-fifths of them never returned. In the Battle of Shiloh, the Company lost 40 men.

The Calhoun Avengers
ENLISTED MEN

Anderson, H GAnderson, Wm MArnold, WilliamBeasley, B ABlue, D NBrean, J WBryan, T HBurdine, J RByars, J MCarter, WilliamCasteel, M SConner, J FConner, R HCook, D MCook, W MCraig, JamesCrowell, R MCruthirds, RedicCsirell, D DDavis, R BDavis, S KDenton, J WDillard, J NFlemming, J WFox, JesseFreeman, E AGable, T JGaines, H TGore, AustinGreen, C BHallum, A GHannah, J CHardin, ColemanHarrelson, J KHarris, T JHartley, F DHartley, W HHenry, N T SHerrod, R MHutchinson, S WJackson, A JJackson, C WKennedy, J GLawrence, J ALong, G GMartin, G LMartin, G LMartin, W MMatthews, J PMaxey, C MMaxey, J A AMcCallum, H HMcIntyre, J IMiddleton, HenryMonger, J HMoore, E F EMorgan, J TMullins, F SMurphree, C HMurphree, T MPalmer, D LPalmer, Wm SParker, E SParker, Y APatterson, W JPetree, W BPilgreen, HezikiahPilgreen, WPilley, T NPoteete, J DProvine, L FReagan, T B ERobinson, J IRoss, W LSallis, F MShehan, WilliamShipp, C OSkelton, J MSprutell, A JStacey, I JStribbling, M MSwafford, RansomTabb, J NTherrell, J DTherrell, J WThetford, B FVaughn, B DWalker, G WWatkins, N RWhite, F MWhite, W CWinter, A HWoodward, J HWorley, J DYeats, D N

Annual Report of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Volume 1

CONFEDERATE MISSISSIPPI TROOPS

44th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry

OVERVIEW:

44th Infantry Regiment was organized from the 1st (Blythe’s) Mississippi Infantry Battalion, which was formed late in 1861. In June, 1863, the unit was designated the 44th Regiment. Some of its members were recruited in Calhoun, De Soto, and Amite counties. The unit was active at Shiloh and Munfordville, then was assigned to J.P. Anderson’s, Tucker’s, and Sharp’s Brigade, Army of Tennessee. It served with the army of Murfreesboro, fought with Hood in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. This regiment lost 4 killed and 40 wounded at Munfordville, ahd 4 killed, 31 wounded, and 17 missing at Murfreesboro, and thirty percent of the 272 engaged at Chickamauga were disabled. For a time it was consolidated with the 10th Regiment and in December, 1863, totalled 476 men and 308 arms. Only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865. Its commanding officers were Colonels A.K. Blythe and Jacob H. Sharp, Lieutenant Colonels R.G. Kelsey and James Moore, and Major John C. Thompson.

The Mississippi 44th Infantry Regiment was organized from the 1st (Blythe’s) Mississippi Infantry Battalion, which was formed late in 1861. In June, 1863, the unit was designated the 44th Regiment. Some of its members were recruited in Calhoun, De Soto, and Amite counties. The unit was active at Shiloh and Munfordville, then was assigned to J.P. Anderson’s, Tucker’s, and Sharp’s Brigade, Army of Tennessee. It served with the army of Murfreesboro, fought with Hood in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. This regiment lost 4 killed and 40 wounded at Munfordville, had 4 killed, 31 wounded, and 17 missing at Murfreesboro, and thirty percent of the 272 engaged at Chickamauga were disabled. For a time it was consolidated with the 10th Regiment and in December, 1863, totalled 476 men and 308 arms. Only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865.Company A — Tombigbee Rangers (raised in Lowndes County, MS)Company B — Mississippi Swampers (raised in Coahoma County, MS)Company C –Calhoun Avengers (raised in Calhoun County, MS)Company D — Capt. Dockery’s Company & Blythe Rifles (raised in Yalobusha County, MS); also, DeSoto Beauregards (raised in DeSoto County, MS)Company E — Blythe Rifles (raised in Yalobusha County, MS)Company F — Palo Alto Confederates (raised in Chickasaw County, MS)Company G — Autauga Guards (raised in Alabama)Company H — Pettus Rangers (raised in Marshall County, MS)Company I — Sawyer’s Independent Company (raised in Alabama)Company K — Amite Mississippi Rangers, aka Amite Rangers (raised in Amite County, MS)Company L — Tom Weldon Rebels, aka Polk’s Body Guard (raised in Adams County, MS)

Name: J R M Duberry

Residence Date:1850 Residence

Place: North of the Yalobusha River, Yalobusha, Mississippi, USA

Number of Enslaved People: 1

All Enslaved People:

Name: J R M Dubury
[J R M Duberry]

Gender: Male

Age: 34

Birth Year: abt 1816

Birthplace: New York

Home in 1850: North of the Yallobusha River, Yalobusha, Mississippi, Occupation: Merchant

Industry: Not specified retail trade

Real Estate: 600

Household Members:

James R. M. DuBerry

Company C (Calhoun Avengers) Stationed at camp near New Madrid, Missouri, August 8, 1861. July 11.— Muster-in roll of Captain James R. M. Du Berry’s Company, in Blythe’s Battalion of Mississippi Volunteers in the service of Tennessee, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel A. K. Blythe, called into the service of the Confederate States in the Provisional Army, under the provisions of the Act of Congress passed February —, 1861 by Jefferson Davis, President, from July 11, 1861 (date of this muster) for the term of twelve months, unless sooner discharged. . . . J. A. SMITH, First Lieutenant, Confederate States Army, Mustering Officer. Stationed at Columbus, Kentucky, August 8-November 1, 1861. Stationed at Columbus, Kentucky, January-February 1862. Stationed at Corinth, Mississippi, March-April 1862. Stationed at Tupelo, Mississippi, May-June 1862. Stationed at Smith’s Cross-Roads, Tennessee, July-August 1862. Stationed at Knoxville, Tennessee, September-October 1862. Stationed at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, November-December 1862. Stationed at Shelbyville, Tennessee, January-February 1863. January 4.— Marched to this place from Murfreesborough. Distance, twenty-five miles. Remained one day. January 5.— [Marched] to Allisonia. Distance, some twenty- eight miles. January 9-10.— Returned to this place. Stationed at Shelbyville, Tennessee, March-April 1863. March 14.— While off picket on the outpost, the enemy’s cavalry dashed on my outpost. Picketed and captured five of my men. Have since been exchanged. Moved from our old encampment to town. Now doing provost duty in Shelbyville, Tennessee, [with] Colonel Sharp as commandant of the post. Stationed near Chattanooga, Tennessee, July-August 1863. July 2.— Left Tullahoma, Tennessee and marched to Chattanooga, Tennessee. July 7.— Arrived at Chattanooga and remained there. July 15.— Went by railway to Taylor’s Store, Alabama and remained there. August 22.— Marched to Whiteside’s Station on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad [and stayed] over there for one day. August 23.— Marched from that place to this [place] without anything occurring of note. Stationed near Chickamauga, September-October 1863. September 6.— Left Camp Barksdale near Chattanooga. September 11.— Marched fifteen miles to McLemore’s Cove in the line of battle. September 12.— Marched sixteen miles to La Fayette, Georgia. Thence on the same night [marched] ten miles north. September 13.— In line of battle until 10 a.m. September 14.— Marched back to La Fayette and remained there until 6 p.m. September 17.— Marched to [Lee and] Gordon’s Mills. September 18.— Arrived [at Lee and Gordon’s Mills] at — p.m. Took position in line of battle fronting the enemy the same evening September 19.— At 3 p.m. was ordered to the front. Lay on the battlefield of Chickamauga that night. September 20.— At 10.30 a.m. advanced on the enemy and fought almost incessantly until sunset. Drove the enemy from every position until near night, when we were relieved. Lay on the battlefield that night. September 21.— Marched to Spring Creek and remained there. September 23.— Marched to this place. Stationed near Dalton, Georgia, November-December 1863. November 25.— The company participated in the action of Missionary Ridge. Then marched for this place. November 27.— Arrived here. Nothing of note occurred since. Stationed near Dalton, Georgia, January-February 1864. January 1.— Since muster remained in camp. February 24.— The cavalry drove in our pickets. Was immediately in the line of battle. [February 28].— Remained [in line of battle] until yesterday, during which time a part of the company was in one skirmish with the enemy. Stationed near Dalton, Georgia, March-April 1864. The company has remained quietly in camp and nothing of note has occurred since last muster. Stationed near Lovejoy’s Station, Macon and Western Central Railroad, Georgia, May 1-August 31, 1864. Marched from Dalton, Georgia to this place. Participated in all the various engagements. July 22.— [Engaged in] the battle near Atlanta. July 28.— [Engaged in] the battle near Atlanta. Station not stated, not dated. Roll not signed.