The military board in January had adopted as uniform for Mississippi troops: "Grey frock coat and trousers, with red trimmings for infantry, yellow for cavalry, and orange for artillary; hat of black felt, looped p on three sides with horse-hair pompons for men and plumes for officers."

On May 23 the Inspector-General reported (The War of the Rebellion I. 2, p. 868) from Harper's Ferry: "The two regiments from Mississippi have with them their tents and camp equipment but are not satisfied with their arms, witch are chiefly of the old flint-lock musket changed into percussion...They all want rifles. One of these regiments under Colonel Moore (The Eleventh) is very superior to the other...The latter is badly clothed and very careless in its appointments...The other regiment seems to take much prode in its appearance and is endeavoring to improve itself by military exercises."

The Rifles and the Greys, according to the history of the Rifles, had left Oxford in "birght uniforms." The Inspector-General said too, that the Eleventh took pride in its appearance and was soldierly. A letter now owned by Miss Sallie Belle Duncan of Oxford, Mississippi, written in November of that year by W. E. Duncan of the Lamar Rifles to his father, Issac A Duncan of Oxford, testifies also to the latter statement:

"Our General [Bee] made us a speech a few days ago; he told us that the Eleventh Miss. Regt. had been closely watched by Gen. Johnston [Joseph E.] and he had pronounced it one of the best looking Reg. in the service. He told us that in the present fight that we were about to engage in he wanted to give us a post and wanted us to live or die there. He went on to say that he intended t put our Reg. in front where he had no doubt but what it would gain immortal honor. And I believe he is about right. I believe if he will give us a post to defend that it will take ten Regts. to drive us away."

Enlistment evidently had not changed, unless it had intensified, the turbulent character of our student soldiers; but turbulence is not always a bad thing in a soldier. Judge William Hemingway, of Co. K of the Eleventh, used to say that the University Greys were always impulsive and undisciplined; nobody in the army ever knew what they were doing or where they were except in battle. Then they were fighting and were in front.

If they were notable for these qualities in the Eleventh Mississippi, of which they were soon to become a part, they must have been notable indeed! James Drennan Love of that regiment says: "No more disorderly mob of men were ever got together to make an army."

Later on, he said, General Whiting used to "cuss" whenever he thought of the Eleventh, but he always concluded his remarks with: "Damn 'em! I wouldn't go into battle without 'em."

At Corinth, Mississippi, on May 4, 1861, the University Greys became Co. A of the Eleventh Mississippi Regiment of Volunteer Infantry under Colonel William H. Moore, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Frank Liddell, Major S. F. Butler. From Corinth the regiment was sent to Lynchburg, Virginia, where it was mustered into the provisional army of the Confederate States by Major Clay on May 13th.

Such were the University Greys, soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States of America, as enrolled at Lynchburg, Virginia, on May 13, 1861; young, of fine physique, well-born, ardent, and impulsive; undisciplined, turbulent, self-confident, each believing that he was the equal in battle of ten Yankees, certain that they would win the "immortal honor" their commander promised and would be at home again in a few months.

A few days later, the Eleventh Mississippi Regiment left Lynchburg by train over the Manassas Gap Railroad for Strasburg, the terminus of the road. From there to Winchester they were carried by wagon, some of the boys saying they thought the Confederacy could have furnished her soldiers more comfortable vehicles! From Winchester they moved on to Harper's Ferry arriving on May 19th.

At Harper's Ferry they became part of the Army of the Shenandoah, under General Joseph E. Johnson, their brigade being commanded by General Bee. Brigaded with them were the Second Mississippi regiment, the Fourth Alabama, and the First Tennessee. The other brigades of the Army of the Shenandoah were commanded by Bartow of Georgia, Elzey of Maryland, and Thomas J. Jackson of Virginia.

The time at Harper's Ferry was spent largely in drilling, and in plice and outpost duty. Measles broke out in the regiment and the sick were cared for in the homes of the citizens, no hospitals having yet been provided. A number of the regiment died but, so far as the records show, none of the Greys. When Patterson's Federal Army crossed the Potomac River, the Army of the Shenandoah fell back on June 15th to Winchester, taking most of three days to cover the thirty miles. This was the first march of the regiment with full equipment: arms, knapsack, blanket, canteen, and haversack with rations, according to the History of the Prairie Guards (Company E, Eleventh Mississippi) by D. C. Love of that company.

The following letter written by Robert E. Houston of the Van Dorn Reserves (Company I of the Eleventh Mississippi) to his uncle, Judge L. E. Houston of Aberdeen, gives some details of the experiences of the regiment:

"Dear Uncle: Well we had some of the most fatiguing marches from Harper's Ferry to this place, the boys say they ever experienced; as for myself I was sent to Winchester on business that night to wit 15th. inst. I was chosen by the Quarter Master to carry special despatches to Gen. Johnson. I did so, rode all night & next morning on hearing that we were drawing up on our lines in battle array at Bunker's Hill walked all the way back to be in the contest 15 miles then had to turn, the same evening & retrace my steps with the army to this place from this great fatigue I experienced no inconvenience, save a little foot weary from which I wholly recovered by one day's sleep. Our present encampment is located 1/2 mile from the City, N.W. situated in a beautiful grove, only one objection could be sustained against it and that is that we are not very plenty of good water & the inferior we can get is 1/2 mile from camp. The people of Winchester are the most generous & hospitable people I ever met with any place men women & children are it seems ever studying how to smoothe the path of our soldiers' life and the manifest kindness of the fair ones had made a wonderful impression upon the minds of many of our boys & you must not be much surprised if they bring a good many of these ladier to show their fortunes in the sunny south. I feel so very grateful for their interest in us that after due reflection I conclude to take one to myself provided I can find some Banker's daughter willing to emigrate.
"Our captain is getting along admirable little or no dissatisfaction in camp now possibly once & awhile you may hear a word from one of his opposers as to his incompetency buy anyone with half an eye can see that we are one of the best drilled companies in the Brigade & aside from this the partiality or the popularity of our company with higher officers, as the probability now is that the whole of the 11th Miss. Reg. will be made skirmishing partys of & surely the V.D.R. It was canvassed a while by the officers as to the policy of making a cavalry company of us & it met with considerable favor adn had it not been that the Confederate States desire to consentrate all their forces & make one decisive stroke even if we had to make it in the enemy's country we now would be a regularly constituted cavalry.
"A camp life is one of excitement, pleasure sleep, laziness & but little dissipation as we are kept under very strict militry discipline & under these rules we have one of two things to do viz either obey them or be punished by waling post or going on double duty. I wonder that I have not been punished long ago as I am perfectly green as to my duty. Well, Parson Sykes arrived here today & I can assure you the boys gave him a hearty welcome, not only because he was from Aberdeen, but because he had cast his lot with the soldiers & when we each day, as we do now expect to meet our foe in deadly conflict, soldier clings to soldier, as brogher to brother nor is it this way in our regiment alone but over our whole brigade I never saw such gentlemany deportment in civil life.
"Our native state, 'Tennessee' has been the first to rout the enemy from the soil of Old Virginia, as a description in the Richmond dispatch gives in detail more accurately than perhaps I can of the fight at Romley & the evacuation of Harper's Ferry. I send you the slip.
"Gen. Bee of Texas is in command of the forces here & every one seems to have utmost confidence in his capacity. My love to all & tell Mary I am coming back to see her one of these days."

General Patterson by various feints now attempted to deceive General Johnston as to his intentions of attacking Beauregard at Manassas but Johnston was wary. His feints and maneuvers are matters of history but the following letter from W. E. Duncan of the Lamar Rifles presents them well from the young soldier's point of view.
"Winchester, July 10th, 1861. Mr. T. N. Wendel, Dear Sir, It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity of writing you a few lines. My helath is tolerbly good. We have had some stirring times since I wrote to you. Mr. Medows arived here on the 2nd which was last Tuesday about ten o'clock. The weather was very warm but not withstanding we were upon the line of march in less than an hour after we received the order and marched 12 miles in three hours where we haulted for about two hours and then marched 4 miles and camped for the night. We had no blankets so we had to sleep under trees without cover but we were so tired we could have slept most anywhere. Mr. Medows and Cap. Lawshee shouldered their guns and went with us. Mr. Meddows succeeded in getting a horse and Col. Moore gave him an office. I think perhaps it was Aid. You see that General Johnston had placed two Reg., one of Virginians and one of Georgians, between Martinsburg and the Potomac to watch General Patterson's movements and to act as skirmishers. On the first of July Lincoln begun to move his troops across the Potomac and they were attacked on this side by the Georgia Reg. The Georgians and Virginians would fight and retreat so After we had marched some 8 miles we had the pleasure of meeting 42 priseners that the Georgians had taken. I tell you that did us more good than anything we had ever seen. It was difficult matter for the Cap. to keep their men in ranks so anxious were they to get into an engagement. Our men fell back to Dartsville where we joined them. General Johnston then formed us in line of battle. We had the advantage of a rock fence which was about two miles in length and behind which Johnston formed his men expecting of course that Patterson would make the attack. That was on Wendsday. All day we lay on our arms expecting the next movement to be called on to use them, but it was not the case; on Thursday morning some two hours before day we were called to arms, and then we stood for two hours when we was dismissed. The alarm was a fals one given by one of our pickets who happened to see some of our cavalry coming in. Fryday and Fryday night and in fact until Saturday at about 2 o'clock everything remained quiet when we were again disturbed by hearing our pickets shoot and running to headquarters we were soon all at our post when our General {Bee} marched us off i a western directiion at double quick time to a distance of 3 miles where we haulted a short while and was marched back to camp though that alarm was not a fals one. General Patterson had sent some 12 or 13 hundred men to indever to cut off some scouting parties that we had out but it seems that they were too smart for them and led them up to our pickets before they were a waire of it and our march was to get between them and their men but we did not sucede. Well I must tell you what Patterson was doing all this time; he came on to Martainsburg (which is 6 miles from the river and 4 miles from Dartsville) and then fortifyed himself so you see we were only 4 miles apart and both waiting for the other to make the attack. General Patterson crossed the river with 15 thousand and then was reenforced by 18 thousand more which made his force 33 thousand strong. We were about 15 thousand strong. On Sunday morning we received orders to march back to Winchester. We were then formed into double collums and Johnston made us a speech. He said that we had offered them battle for four days and they would not except. That he could not make the attack without making too great a sacrifice in life unless there was more to be gained than there would be in taking that place. He said that he was satisfyed that he could whip them out there but he thought that prudence was the best part of valor. We then marched back to Winchester where we had the pleasure of meeting with the two companies from Oxford, McClung Rifles and Avant Southerners. Mott's Reg. had come in the night before. The boys all look well, seame to be in good spirits. I think it is likely that we will have a battle here in a few days as I understand that Pattersen is advancing.
"Our Companie is suffering a good deal from sickness. We have 44 on the sick list. I have never nissed a march nor been sick when there was a prospect of battle yet.
"Mr. Wendel I hae tryed to give you a description of our rounds and I have done it in such a twisted way that I don't know whether you can understand it or not but there is one thing sure, you must not quitisize, and excuse all mistakes. Write soon and I an as ever yours, W. E. Duncan.
"I forgot to say that we took some two hundred priseners and killed about 60 of them; they took 10 of our men that we konw of and killed 3."

"Winchester, July 11, 1861.

"Mr. Wendel, I wrote you on yesterday. Sine then we have received orders to go some where but I have not learned where; I think probably it is to Strausburg which is some 15 miles west of this. The boys are cleaning their guns so I will see what I can do for mine. Nothing more. I will write again soon good by, W. E. Duncan."

On July 18th General Johnston received a message that the Northern army under McDowell was advancing on Beauregard. Planning quickly he set his army in motion from Winchester to Piedmont on the Manassas Gap Railroad, whence they were carried by train to Manassas. The weather was hot and the eight mile march at double-quick from Manassas to the battle field disabled many. Most of the Eleventh arrived at Manassas too late for the battle on July 21st though their appearance contributed to the final and complete rout of the enemy. But the University Greys got there by noon on July 20th - the Greys and the Noxubee Rifles (Company F). They went into battle on the morning of July 21st with other regiments under General Bee. These were the frist to advance to the relief of the left wing against a flank attack at great odds; they fought gallantly in a heroic struggle against overwhelming numbers. Then, having done all that was expected of them, they were forced to fall back behind Jackson's fresh brigade until they could reform.

The reports of General J. E. Johnston and Beneral Beauregard (War of the Rebellion I, 2) give in considerable detail the movements in this, the first battle of Manassas. General Johnston says: "Evading him {General Patterson of the Union Army} by the dispositions made of the advance guard under Col. Stuart, the Army moved through Ashby's Gap to Piedmont, a station of Manassas Gap Railroad. Hence, the infantry were to be transported by the railway while the cavalry were to continue their march. I reached Manassas about noon on the 20th...I was accompanied by Gen. Bee with the Fourth Alabama, the Second and two companies of the Eleventh Mississippi. The president of the Railroad Company had assured me that the remaining troops should arrive during the day."

General Beauregard having given in some detail the original plan of battle says: "In consequence of the untoward detention of some 5,000 of Gen. Johnston's corps, resulting from the inadequate and imperfect means of transportation for so many troops at the disposition of the Manassas Gap Railroad, it became necessary on the morning of the 21st before daylight to modify the plan."

At about nine o'clock General Bee was ordered in haste to the left where Colonel Evans had been attacked by an immensely superior force. General Johnston says that General Bee had selected his position with a soldier's eye and formed upon it his troops which General Beauregard says, numbered, as many as had arived, some 2,800 muskets, the two companies (A and F) of the Eleventh Mississippi being among them under Colonel Liddell. General Johnston continues: "Being compelled, however, to sustain Col. Evans, he crossed the valley and formed on the right and somewhat in advance of his position. Here the joint force, little exceeding 5 regiment, with 6 field pieces, held the ground against about 15,000 U.S. troops for an hour until, finding themselves out-flanked by the continually arriving troops of the enemy, they fell back to Gen. Bee's first position, uon the line of which Jackson, just arriving, formed...About 11 o'clock...a battle was shown...I then hurried to the scene...we came not a moment too soon. The long contest against five fold odds and heavy losses, especially of field officers, had greatly discouraged the troops of Gen. Bee and Col. Evans. Our presence with them under fire and some example had the happiest effect on teh spirit of the troops. Order was soon restored and the battle re-established, to which the firmness of Jackson's brigade greatly contributed...The aspect of affairs was critical but I had full confidence in the skill and indomitable courage of Gen. Beauregard, the high soldierly qualities of Gens. Bee and Jackson and Col. Evans, and the devoted patriotism of their troops."

It was here that Gen. Bee rallying his men, showed them Jackson's reinforcements "standing like a stone wall," and gave Jackson the sobriquet of "Stonewall" from that day. Just as victory was assured, General Bee fell mortally wounded, "after deeds of immortal and ever-memorable courage," says General Beauregard.

These are the official reports. A letter written by Dr. W. A. Evans, a young physician of the Van Dorn Reserves (Company I, 11th Mississippi) now in possession of his son, Dr. W. A. Evans of Aberdeen, Mississippi, gives other data and a private's point of view:

"July 25, 1861
Dear Faulk: "Father reached us on Monday last. Stood the trip much better than he expected. Sunday a scene was enacted here long to be remembered by the friends of the Southern cause. Our Company, much to our regret, were not participants in the action. The first two companies o the right wing of our regiment were in the engagement. Their loss was 8 killed and 39 wounded. A Railroad collision on Saturday evening detained us. The conductor was court martialed and shot, charged with bribery by court and intentionally producing the collision so as to prevent reinforcements here in time for the battle of Sunday. We first heard the canonading when about 18 miles distant. Imagine our impatience on a freight train going only 6 miles to the hour. Reached Manassas at 5, started immediately for the battle ground 8 miles distant. You can tell how fast we walked, or rther double quicked, for we wereonly an hour and a quarter reaching the ground. Reached the field as the last volleys of musketry were dying away. The Gulf States suffered heavy losses during the engagement. Generals Bee and Bartow's brigade were the most serious losses, produced by the absence of batteries in our brigades, while Sherman's battery of 36 pieces were scattering our ranks. The General of our brigade, Bee of South Carolina, was killed during the engagement. Acted with unprecedented courage during the day, was among his command urging them to deeds of noble daring, rode many times in 50 yards of the enemy lines, perfectly reckless of danger. Was planting the standard for the Fourth Alabama regiment (all thier field officers having been shot) when he was wounded in the groin by a minnie ball. The wound resulted fatally. His loss deeply affects our brigade. We had implicit confidence in him. Johnston's entire division owe their portion of the victory to the undaunted courage of his men. Gleis artillery being in route from Winchester to this place. Gleis division, without a cannon, routed the enemy of double his force capturing Sherman's battery of 36 pieces. Two Generals of Johnston's division, Bee and Bartow, killed - himself and all the rest of his Generals slightly wounded. Beauregard having a great deal of heavy artillery was more successful - won a decisive victory. Summary of the battle - Line of battle 15 miles long - killed wounded and missing on our side variously estimated at from 1,500 to 2,500, loss Federalists estimated at from 3 to 6000. Our numbers said to be 45000, theirs 65000 actually engaged. Engagement commenced at 5 a.m. & lasted until 3 p.m., most of the time the contending parties being in less than a hundred yards of each other. At 7 the enemy retreated, our cavalry pursued them until 11 at night capturing many hundred prisoners, from 6 to 10 thousand stand of arms, 71 pieces of canon, many of them being rifled. All the Federal beeves. The most amusing of all, a wagon load of handcuffs for our Congressmen when they reached and took Richmond. It was for us a brilliant but dearly bought victory. Father went to Richmond on yesterday. Will be back tomorrow. Am at present encamped on the Eastern edge of the battle line. Went all over the battlefield today - hundreds of the enemy still lie unburied on the ground. The dead New York zouaves are as thick as host on the ground. In their hats is written 'Revenge Ellsworth's death.' Our men have buried about 2000 of the enemy and they still lie thick on the field. I have been dressing the wounds of the Federalists and waiting on them this evening. They were deeply grateful. Will march toward Alexandria tomorrow morning. Left Winchester on Thursday at 2 o'clock having received a dispatch from General Beauregard to come immediately to his assistance for he was expecting to be attacked by overwhelming numbers. We started immediately, marched all the evening, all night, all the next night until 10, without resting sleeping; only ate once during the time. Joe and I have been up only a day but under the excitement marched all day without becoming much fatigued, and fattened under the forced march. I believe it only takes resolution to accomplish anything. Could get anything in the way of a trophy on the battle ground but not being in the engagement, thought they would be only suggestive of our disappointment at not being on the ground. Will get trophys after the first engagement I am in. Uncle Tom's regiment did not get in the fight. Love to girls & Josie. Will write to them soon. W. Gus.
"Let the girls read this as I have'nt time to write them. W. Gus E."

After the great Union rout the University Greys counted their cost in dead and wounded: George Mickleborough Moseley, hit in the knee, was permanently disabled; Calvin Richard Myers and William J. Lamkin, who had joined the company after their arrival at Harper's Ferry, were wounded but returned to service later; James Edward Jarman had his knee rendered permanently stiff but later, according to his sister Betty, enlisted in a cavalry unit; John Y. Lilley and Sterling S. Tarpley were mortally wounded; Second Lieutenant Levins M. Bisland, Andrew Jackson Johnson, Junius Sylvester Meek, and Henry M. Rice were killed in action.

After the Battle of Manassas the army remained in camp until the following spring.

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