The following is just one example of why I admire the courage and fortitude of the people of my all-too-often maligned home state! -- Jim Huffman, Gainesville Vols

ONE-HUNDRED AND THREE PERCENT CASUALTIES OF THE 9TH BATTALION MISSISSIPPI SHARPSHOOTERS

from the Army Argus and Crisis, Mobile, Alabama (successor to the Daily Southern Crisis, published at Jackson, MS, and the earlier Missouri Army Argus, published in Missouri), February 25, 1865

Headquarters, 9th Mississippi Battalion Sharpshooters, near Meridian, Miss.February 15, 1865. W.F. Wisely [editor], Dear Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a list of the casualties in our battalion in the campaign of last year from Dalton, Georgia, to Nashville, Tennessee. You will please publish this list for the satisfaction of the friends and relations of those whose names appear on this "Roll of Honor." Thus preserved in your columns, it may be valuable to the future historian. The Argus is "winning golden opinions" from all sorts of people." It is par excellence a soldier's paper. It is sought for by our fellows and read with great avidity. One and all wish you a hearty Godspeed in your good work. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Emmett Weaver, Acting Adjutant.

[There follows a list of the incredible casualties in the battalion.]

[Concluding statement.] Recapitulation. Officers killed: 1. Officers wounded: 8. Offices captured: 1. Enlisted men killed and died of wounds: 23. Enlisted men wounded: 49. Enlisted men captured: 6. Total number of casualties: 88. At the evacuation of Dalton, this battalion only numbered 85 effective men. It is supposed that it has been oftener engaged with the enemy, and that it has lost more heavily during the past year than any infantry corps composing the Army of Tennessee in proportion to the number of effective men carried into action.