A young man named George W. Thombs/Toms Co. H 7th Regt. Mississippi was killed in the RR collision at Ponchatoula, LA in February of 1862. In a July 11, 1862 letter to his brother Micajah "Cagy" Wilkinson, Benjamin F. "Frank" Wilkinson, Co. C 9th Battn. Sharpshooters wrote about the formation of the Chalmers' Battalion of Sharpshooters. In his letter he said, “...Cagy I have been detached to a battallion of ‘Sharpshooters’. They are the roughest set of men I ever saw. I tell you they will make the Yankees squat whenever they get the chance, about half of them had as leave be dead as a live. Wash Kelly belongs to the same company that I do he goes by the name Toms, I have not made myself known to him yet..."
Why would a man join under a false name and what did he do while a member of the Sharpshooters? Did he survive the war? Did he apply for a pension? Did he serve in any other units before or after he joined the Sharpshooters?
Frank Wilkinson knew both men because prior to being selected for the Sharpshooters he was a member of George Thombs regiment, 7th Mississippi in Company C . He also was involved in the collision as were his two other brothers so he was aware of Thombs death. He knew Kelly was serving under an assumed name. We have not found how Frank knew Kelly, but his letter indicated that he did and that he was not saying anything. No later correspondence clears up the matter.
In the roster for the 9th Battn. Miss. SS there are two Thombs listed: G. W. Thombs and W. Thombs both in Company C 9th Battn. SS; the same company as Wilkinson. I feel certain that these are the same man and that they are actually the Wash Kelly mentioned in the Wilkinson Letter.
I found two other listings for Thombs beside the 7th Miss. and 9th Battn. SS:
1. George Thombs in Co. B 12th Miss. [This man could be George Thomas, but could this have been Kelly's first attempt to swap names (There was a G.W. Kelly who also belonged to Co. B 12th Miss)or could George Thombs have actually belonged to the 12th and decided to transfer to the 7th Miss. before the 12th Miss. left for VA.]
2. George Thoms in Co. H 29th Miss. [can't think of a connection.]
I am trying to identify "Wash Kelly" and determine what his wartime record included. Both his record as G. W. Thombs and as Wash Kelly. To my knowledge he does not show up on any rosters for the 9th Battn. Sharpshooters.
I find four possibilities for Kelly:
1. G. W. Kelly Co. B 12th Miss. [may have decided to not go to Virginia]
2. Wash Kelly Co. I 5th Miss (State Troops) [May have decided he did not want to be in a militia group anymore]
3. G. W. Kelly Co. F 1st Miss. Light Arty. [Again may have decided against staying with the unit]
4. G. W. Kelly Co. I 44th Miss. [This unit had ties to the home County of Wilkinson, Amite County, and could have caused the two men to meet]
Good Hunting