On 31 Dcember 1862 when the battle commenced, the regiment was detailed on special duty to guard the stations and bridges on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad between Normandy and Fosterville.
From the following quote by Colonel Lowrey, it would seem that the regiment was called to Murfreesboro, arriving on the 1st or 2nd of January.
"At the Battle of Murfreesboro, my regiment (32nd Mississippi) was detached for special service, and did not engage in the first day's fight, but took an active part in the skirmishing that followed it, and I was left to bring off the brigade in the retreat from that place.' (Mark Perrin Lowrey, CSA, Ri[pley, Miss., Sept.20, 1867.)
"War Time Notes," an article by Jeese T. Cheeves, a member of the regiment, appeared in the 27 March 1902 edition of the Corinth Herald. While Ceeves memory did not serve him well on dates and some particulars of the weather, his account otherwise seems plausible. It read in part:
"We left our camp Dec. 27 for Murfreesboro. The ground was covered with snow. Here was fought a great battle Dec. 31, 1862 and Jan. 1, '63. Gen'l Bragg moved his army to Tullahoma; the 32nd left Murfreesboro about dark; it rained all night but we kept moving, the next day we reached Manchester ..."
Another source shows L. F. Reeves, Company I as having died a prisoner of war at Murfreesboro on 7 January 1863. However, he could have been one of the hundreds of sick that were left in the town when Bragg's army retreated.
I would be most appreciative of any information on the regiment's participationin the battle, however small.
My Thanks and GOD's Blessings,
Lanny K. Smith