OLE MISS - A MONUMENT - The MOONEY BOYS and THEIR FATE at RICHMOND

(this is number 36 in a series)

When the Civil War came in the Spring of 1861, the three oldest Lafayette County, Mooney boys, and a Mooney cousin, all joined up within 2 days of each other, in May of 1861.

The two oldest Mooney brothers, Eli, 24 and Samuel, age 23 joined the Mott Guards, which became Company B of the 19th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. The youngest boy, 17 year old Christopher, and a cousin, John Mooney, aged 20 joined the Avant Southrons, which became Company F of the 19th Mississippi Infantry. At least all 4 were in the same Regiment.

The Nineteenth Mississippi fought in the Seven Days Battles around Richmond, in the Spring of 1862. The youngest of the brothers, 17 year old Christopher was killed in one of these battles. His service record does not tell which one. I can find no grave for him. Another Brother, Samuel was wounded in one of the 7 Days battles.

In March of 1863, cousin John took sick with small pox. He was sent to Howard's Grove Hospital in Richmond. He died there on March 3 of 1863. I can find no grave for him. About two months later, Samuel was wounded for the second time at Chancellorsville. Later that year, in September, he died of a disease in a hospital in Richmond. I can find no grave for him.

The last of the Mooney boys, Eli, came down with dysentery in September of 1864. He was sent to Howard's Grove Hospital in Richmond, where he died. The last of the 4 Mooney boys was gone. I can find no grave for him. All 4 boys graves were just lost over time.

For the rest of their lives, how do you think the Mooney family felt when they heard the word, Richmond?

In 1906 the women of Lafayette County finished 14 years of work when they erected a monument on The Circle at Ole Miss, dedicated to the Lafayette County boys who marched away to fight for the Confederacy, who never came back. They placed it at the University to also remember the War dead of two Cemeteries, St. Peter's in Oxford and the dead of the University Hospital. They could never forget those boys.

Now you know about 4 Mooney boys represented by that monument.

Please SHARE. The UM family should be made aware of why that monument is there, and exactly who it represents.

The picture here is very fitting for this article. It is the UM Confederate Monument on the bottom of The Circle, and the Old Chapel at UM. By my estimate, at least 100 young men died in that building, during it's use as part of the University Hospital.