The Last Moments of Two Mississippi Brothers

 

On top is Lt. Enoch Henderson Williams and on bottom is Joseph Green English Williams, both of Company C, 40th Mississippi Infantry. (Photo's courtesy of Danny Jones.)

       One of the saddest stories of the Civil War happened at the Battle of Franklin in Tennessee. Two brothers fought in the same company in the 40th Mississippi Infantry. Enoch Williams was born in 1806 in Georgia. He died one year before the war began. At some point he moved his family to Atalla County, Mississippi. Nothing is known about his wife except her name was Nancy. He had five children, four boys and a girl (some sources state that he actually had six boys and a girl). His oldest son William Williams died two years before the war began at the age of 26. 

       Enoch's second son was named Enoch Henderson Williams. He enlisted in Company E, 18th Mississippi Infantry when the war began. Just after the Battle of Shiloh, Enoch transferred to Company C, 40th Mississippi Infantry where he was commissioned a lieutenant. Enoch's brother Joseph Green English Williams also enlisted in Company E, 18th Mississippi Infantry. It was noted that as the two brothers were growing up, they were inseparable. They both attended Mississippi College together and it quickly became obvious that the younger brother Joseph was the better student. It made sense that they would both join the Confederate Army together. Joseph transferred to the 40th Mississippi with Enoch and was also commissioned a lieutenant. 

Private Columbus Marion Williams (Photo courtesy of Danny Jones)

       Another brother Columbus Marion Williams joined Company E, 18th Mississippi Infantry and records show that he got sick, was sent home where he died. Family sources say he was severely wounded at Gettysburg and was captured. When he was exchanged he was sent home to Mississippi to recuperate. According to the family, he died of gangrene in the still unhealed wound in 1870 at the age of 25.

       The source that claims there were six brothers says five of them died in the war and only Columbus survived. The names of these brothers or where they possibly served and died are not known if they even existed. 

       The story becomes much more melancholy. At the Battle of Franklin, Enoch and Joseph were still lieutenants in the 40th Mississippi Infantry in Winfield Featherston's Brigade. They went into the assault on the right flank of the Confederate Army having to fight their way past an Osage abatis. At some point in the fight, Enoch was shot in the stomach and Joseph was severely wounded in the arm. They were found the next morning, both had deceased, both holding the other brother's wound attempting to staunch the flow of blood. Each had tried to save his brother's life over his own. 

       They were probably buried together, the Confederate dead were placed in the ditch outside the earthworks. Later, Carrie McGavock of the Carnton Plantation had these men exhumed and placed in the Confederate Cemetery behind her house. Enoch was recognized (probably by something written in his pocket), however Joseph was not. Enoch rests in the Mississippi Section of the Confederate Cemetery in grave number 3. Joseph rests in an unmarked grave either in the Mississippi Section or the Unknown Section of the Cemetery. We can only hope they are buried near each other. Enoch was 27 and Joseph was 24. 

       The only information I could find about the one surviving sibling was Nannie Elizabeth Williams married a man named Johnson. I couldn't find any information on whether they ever had any children. Nannie died in 1911 at the age of 62. She rests today in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee. The story becomes even sadder when you realize that the only chance for the family line to continue was through Columbus. He married Francis "Fannie" Elizabeth Sallis. They had two children, one child which was born dead in 1868 and a daughter born in 1869 named Elma Marion Williams. Unfortunately, she died at the age of three. Fannie lived until 1926. All four rest today in Sallis Cemetery, Sallis, Mississippi. 

       

       

Another Civilian Death: James W. Jackson

James W. Jackson

       James W. Jackson was 38 years old when the Civil War arrived at his front door. James lived in Alexandria, Virginia just across the river from Washington, D.C. He was the owner and operator of the Marshall House Inn. Before Colonel Elmer Ellsworth and his 11th New York "Fire Zouaves" arrived at his inn, he was already semi-famous. James flew the Confederate (1st National) Flag atop his hotel which was clearly visible from Abraham Lincoln's office in the White House. 

James Jackson's Marshall House

       Lincoln and his cabinet had observed the large Confederate flag flying across the Potomac River and discussed it. James Jackson had been quoted as saying they would take down his flag over his dead body. When Virginia voted to secede from the union, the following day, Federal troops occupied Alexandria. Ellsworth immediately entered the Marshall House and asked a boarder about the flag. The boarder had no knowledge of the flag. Ellsworth then climbed the stairs and removed the flag from the flagpole. While making his way down the stairs, Ellsworth met James Jackson carrying a double-barreled shotgun. Jackson shot Ellsworth in the chest at close range killing him instantly. He missed with the second barrel as he shot at a Private Brownell. Brownell shot Jackson in the face and then repeatedly bayonetted his body before throwing him down the stairs. 

Private Francis Brownell (above left) and Colonel Elmer Ellsworth

       Both sides considered each man a martyr and hero. No one seemed to question the legality of soldier's employed by the Federal government trespassing and removing private property. James Jackson left behind a wife and three children ranging from ages six and twelve years old. He rests today in the city cemetery, Fairfax, Virginia. Elmer Ellsworth was 24 years old and had never married. His only brother Charley had died the year before of smallpox at age 18. Both rest today in Hudson View Cemetery, Mechanicsville, New York. 

 

The Sad End to William Bruce Mumford

 

William Bruce Mumford

       It's bad enough for a soldier to die in war, but when civilians are killed it's worse, especially when that civilian is executed. William Bruce Mumford was one of those civilians. He was forty-one years old when the Federal Navy arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana. He'd served the United States in two previous wars. He'd fought in the Seminole War and was wounded in the leg during the Mexican War. He would walk with a limp for the remainder of his life. Mumford made no bones about where his loyalty lay in the upcoming conflict and would have served the state of Louisiana had he been physically capable. 

       From the USS Pocahontas a Captain Morris and several U.S. Marine's marched to the mint in town and removed the Confederate flag and replaced it with the U.S. flag. He did this without orders, the town itself had not yet been surrendered. A crowd soon arrived and became enraged over this act. Captain Morris notified them that removing the U.S. flag would result in them being fired on by the warship. Seven men, including Mumford decided to remove the flag anyway as it had been placed there illegally. The ship did indeed open fire on the seven men, but only Mumford was wounded by a flying piece of brick. Mumford limped to the mayor's office to present him the trophy, but the angry mob tore it to shreds as he went there. Upon arrival, there wasn't much of it left. 

       When the Federal Army finally arrived three days later, Union General Benjamin "Beast" Butler heard about the incident and demanded that Mumford must pay for this "crime." He ordered Mumford arrested and tried before a military court on charges of "high crimes...against the laws of the United States. Of course, he was found guilty in this "kangaroo court." It mattered not that the city wasn't even occupied or had surrendered when he removed the flag. It mattered not that he had served the United States as a soldier in two previous wars. Butler was basically judge and jury. He ordered Mumford to be hanged, but was kind enough to allow Mumford to decide the spot he would die. Mumford chose to be executed in the courtyard of the mint where the so-called "crime" had occurred. 

       Mary Mumford, William's wife asked General Butler to visit her and he complied. Despite the pleading of Mary and the children, Butler refused to save the man. Despite repeated pleas from different citizens, Butler remained unmovable on granting clemency. 

The Site of Mumford's Execution

       Butler allowed Mumford to say a few words before his execution. He proclaimed his devotion to the Confederacy, but he also spoke of his love for the U.S. Flag and what it's original meaning before it waged an unconstitutional war against weaker states. He proclaimed his love for the original U.S. Flag and his support for it through two of it's wars. After he was hanged, Louisiana Governor Tom Moore called him a hero. His body was left hanging in front of the mint for almost an hour. General Robert E. Lee demanded of General Henry Halleck why a civilian was hanged for removing a flag before a city had officially surrendered. President Jefferson Davis went a step further. Due to Butler's proclamation which basically called all New Orleans women "ladies of the night" and Mumford's hanging, he ordered that Butler was to be treated as a war criminal and if captured to be executed on the spot without a trial. 

       There is a funny irony to this part of the story. Prior to the presidential election of 1860, Butler believing that a moderate candidate could save the Union, had nominated Jefferson Davis for president fifty-seven times to no avail. Years later, Butler would arrange a job for Mumford's widow in Washington, D.C. Mumford was originally placed in a vault in Cypress Grove Cemetery, but he rests today at the foot of a Confederate monument in Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana. He left behind a wife and five children ranging from age's five to thirteen. 

Mary Mumford

Mumford's Grave

A Tale of Two Brothers

 

Lieutenant Nicholas "Nick" A. Caufield

       The Caufield brothers lived in New Orleans, Louisiana when the Civil War began. The oldest Nick worked as an accountant. His younger brother William worked as a clerk. Both enlisted in Company F, 5th Louisiana Infantry which was sent for service in Virginia. Nick was elected lieutenant, while William served as a private. Nick was absent back home in New Orleans from November 1861 until February 1862 where he was recruiting for the regiment. 

       Not a lot is known about the two between February of 1862 and the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) in September of 1862. We know they were both present for 2nd Manassas and Chantilly. It was at Sharpsburg in Maryland that the brother's, serving in Brigadier General Harry T. Hays's Louisiana Infantry Brigade, were posted in the "Bloody Cornfield." It was there that Hays had his men lie prone on the ground because of all the incoming artillery fire. 

Private William Caufield

       As they lay on the ground, William lay in front of his brother, reclining on his elbow and talking to a Lieutenant Gubbins. A Lieutenant Fitzpatrick beside them was wounded and Nick asked if he was hit. A moment later a shell struck hitting William passing completely through his body. The same shell cut off one of Private Fitzsimmons's legs, then cut off both of a Private Jenkins feet before striking Nick in the lower part of the back and exiting his chest. Nick's heart was torn from his chest. One Federal shell had killed Nick Caufield, William Caufield, and Private Fitzsimmons and wounded Private Jenkins. 

       The burial location of these three men are unknown, probably originally buried on the field and possibly removed to a cemetery later. Nick Caufield was 26 years old. His brother William was just 21.