23rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment

The 23rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment was a unit of the Confederate States Army from Mississippi during the American Civil War. After being captured in its entirety following the Battle of Fort Donelson, the 23rd Mississippi was reorganized and fought in several campaigns of the Western Theater before surrendering in April 1865.

History

The 23rd Mississippi was organized from North Mississippi volunteer companies assembled at Iuka. Originally the regiment was assigned to state service and formed part of General James L. Alcorn's brigade in the Army of Mississippi sent north to Kentucky in the fall of 1861, denoted as the 3rd Mississippi Regiment.

The regiment was transferred to Confederate service in late October, and the name of the regiment was changed to the 23rd Mississippi on November 19. After taking some losses due to disease in Kentucky, the 23rd fought at the Battle of Fort Donelson in February 1862. Most of the regiment was captured when the Confederates surrendered, and the survivors were sent to POW camps in northern states.

After the men of the 23rd were exchanged and released, the regiment was reorganized and re-enlisted for the duration of the war, with new officers elected. In the intervening period, Union troops had made advances into Tennessee and North Mississippi, seeking to control the state's railroads and strategic points. The regiment was deployed in North Mississippi under the command of General Lloyd Tilghman, fighting at the Battle of Coffeeville in December 1862.