*From: "Military History of MIssissippi 1803-1898"

by: Dunbar Rowland

     The Minute Men were organized under the order of Maj. Gen. H.C. Tupper, commanding State troops, dated May, 1862, in accordance with which the Colonels of Militia in each county made up of the companies required of them severally from the militia companies.  The term of enlistment was six months.  The troops were not mustered into the Confederate States service, but were subject to the orders of Confederate officers.  According to the report of Adjutant-General Jones S. Hamilton, bearing date November 1, 1863, but apparently of earlier date in fact, "there were at first seventy companies of infantry and thirteen companies of cavalry, from which there were organized five regiments and four battalions of infantry and one battalion of cavalry.  The remaining cavalry companies were unattached and operated in the northern and northwestern part of the State.  The cavalry battalion is now filled to a regiment and the unattached companies have entered other cavalry organizations since formed.  Most of the infantry served out their term of enlistment in that arm of the service, but cavalry being greatly needed in April last, many were permitted to change their service, upon condition that they were to re-volunteer for twelve months.  By this means nearly two regiments were formed of men whose term of enlistment had nearly expired."

Fifth Regiment -- Minute Men

Colonel - H.C. Robinson.

Lieutenant-Colonel - D.W. Metts

Major - S.J. Randall.

Adjutants - M.P. Ives, M.P. Jones, killed at Vicksburg; J.L. Bolton

Quartermasters - J.R. Burrage, killed at Vicksburg; T.C. Wheaton, died July 8, 1863; E.J. Runnells.

Surgeon - S.H. Smith.

Assistant Surgeon - R.M. White

Chaplain - J.B. Stone.

Quartermaster Sgt. - H. Stone

Ordnance Sgt. - E.H. Edgar, J.G. Burwell

Sergeant Major - Thomas Neafsey

Drum Major - Z.M. Hoyt

Drummer - J.E. Montgomery

Musician - A. Laird

Company B (Jasper County Minute Men)

Enlisted at Paulding 25 July, 1862

Captain - W.C. Porter

Lieutenants - J.D. Arledge, G.L. Lightsey, C.W. Long

Enrolled, 73.  Captain Porter, Lieuts. T.J. Bankston and Lightsey and 30 men were surrendered and paroled at Vicksburg.

     The Fifth Regiment was organized at Meridian, September 5-6, 1862, and remained there doing heavy guard and fatigue duty until about October 12, when ordered to Columbus, Miss.  It was encamped in Lowndes County, doing guard duty and picketing until April 7, 1863, when it was ordered to Vicksburg, where, during the siege of May 18 to July 4, officers and men with few exceptions did their duty faithfully, first in the trenches and afterward on guard, patrol and picket duty along the river, a large part of the regiment being on duty two hours of every six, day and night, during the siege.  Some of the best officers of the regiment were killed during the siege and others died of disease.  Adjutant Jones was killed when one of the largest shells thrown by Admiral Porter's fleet struck the courthouse where the regiment was quartered, killing and wounding fifteen or twenty men.  After this the regiment was moved to the railroad cut, just above the station, where it remained until the surrender. (Notes by Colonel Robinson 1864)

     Gen. John Adams, commanding fourth district, reported the regiment, aggregate 384, as stationed north of Columbus, near the fortifications, in his report of January 1, 1863.  The regiment, with the Third Battalion, formed the brigade of Gen J.V. Harris.  In February the regiment was reported 408 present, 568 aggregate, stationed at Columbus, except one company at Meridian.

     Until after the battle of Baker's Creek the State troops on the Vicksburg lines, about 600 in number, including Robinson's Regiment and Burgin's Battalion, under the command of Gen. John V. Harris, were with Moore's Brigade, guarding the river front at Warrentown and the approaches from the lower fords of the Big Black.  On May 18 they reported to General Baldwin, whose brigade occupied a line of works to the north of the city.  Later, the two State commands were attached to Gen. John C. Vaughn's Brigade.  Vaughn's report for May 31 shows two of the State troops killed and fifteen wounded, in town, and one wounded on the land line.  After the surrender July 4, the regiment was paroled.  At Columbus, September 21, 1863, the regiment and battalion were paid off and mustered out.