Allison M. Phillips, Confederate Stories, Vernon Parish LA.
Submitted by Lynda J. Mitchell



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The following story is provided from the Pension Files--Louisiana State 
Archives in Baton Rouge and from personal files.

Allison M. Phillips
In 1861 after the secession of the southern states--there was a company 
of volunteers made up in Vernon Parish (then Sabine, Rapides, and 
Calcasieu). The company was made up by the Honorable John H. Smart. It 
was known at the nacoco Rangers. When the company was finally made up 
to the required number and the officers elected, they marched to 
Alexandria, La. where they boarded a steamboat for New Orleans. There 
they met Captain William W. Smart and were sworn into the services of 
the confederacy November 19, 1861 and became Company K of the 19th 
Louisiana Infantry Regiment. They trained at Camp Moore and spent 
the winter there with B.L. Hodge as Colonel and J.M. Hollingsworth as 
Lt. Colonel. They were poorly armed and equipped and were not supplied 
with ammunition ..

In February 1862, They went to Corinth, Mississippi. From there they went 
to Tennesse and fought in the battle of Shiloh April 8-7, then back to 
Corinth to remain in the trenches there to protect it brigades and supplies. 
The regiment then became part of the Mobile, Alabama Garrison in July and 
spent most of its time camped at Pollard, Alabama. From there they marched 
back to Tennessee but were called back to Jackson, Ms. to join Joseph H. 
Johnston who was organizing an army to break the siege of Vicksburg.

They left Jackson on the 2nd of July and on the 4th they camped on the banks 
of the Black River with yankees just on the other side. They were then sent 
to General Bragg in Tennessee and was in the Battle of Chickamauga September 
19-20, 1863. There Allison M. Phillips (my great grandfather) was wounded in 
the right ankle.

The regiment repulsed several attacks during the Battle of Missionary Ridge 
November 25th. During the winter of 1863-64 they camped near Dalton, 
Georgia. The men fought in the Atlanta Campaign at Mill Creek Gap, May 8-11, 
at Reseca May 14-15, New Hope Church May 25-28, Atlanta July 22 where my 
great grandfather was wounded once again--this time in the left arm--tearing 
away part of the muscle.

They saw heavy fighting at Nashville December 15-15. From Nashville they 
retreated to Tupelo, Mississippi. The men participated in the siege at 
Spanish Fort March 27th to April 8, 1865. When Mobile was evacuated the 
Regiment was consolidated at part of a new unit--the Pelican Regiment 
where my grandfather was listed on the roll of prisoners of war.

In May 1865, Sgt. Allison M. Phillips was shipped to Meridian, Ms. where 
he received his parole. Upon release, he made his way to New Orleans 
where he caught a river boat and went over to Alexandria on the Red River. 
From there he walked home to Vernon Parish. As he came down the lane to 
his home, his hunting dogs came out and jumped upon him. Grandmother Betsy 
came out to see who it was. She couldn't believe Allison was home from 
the war. 

Allison M. Phillips died on November 24, 1917 and he and Grandmother Betsy 
are buried on land that they once owned. (Ft. Polk Cemetery #7 Vernon Parish)

Lynda J. Mitchell