Captain John C. Lampley's Company

"Kemper County Home Guard"

Raised at Kellis Store, Kemper Co., MS, June 1861.

All information from original letter and muster roll on file at the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Jackson, MS.

COMPANY ROSTER:

1. Adcock, Robert, Private

2. Belonay [hard to decipher], Thos., Private

3. Bethany, S.H., Private

4. Bird, E.P., Private

5. Bostick, James, Private

6. Breedlove, John, Private

7. Clark, Alexander, Private

8. Clay, S.G., Private

9. Conn, Isaac, Private

10. Dickson, A.T., Private

11. Edwards, A.W., Private

12. Edwards, E.Z.[hard to decipher], Private

13. Edwards, Elisha, Private

14. Fain, A.P., Private

15. Fain, G.H., Private

16. Fain, Ira M., Private

17. Fain, S.M., Private

18. Fulton, S.D., Private

19. Haggard, B.J., Private

20. Haggard, Elijah, Private

21. Hailey, Charles, Private

22. Hailey, W.T., Private

23. Haily, George, Private

24. Haily, Ira, Private

25. Haily, John, Private

26. Haily, L.D., Private

27. Hanna, A.J., Private

28. Holton, J.A., Private

29. Jarvis, E.R., Private

30. Jarvis, F.M., Private

31. Jarvis, J.C., Private

32. Jarvis, R., 2nd Lieutenant

33. Kellis, L.C., Private

34. Kellis, Wm., Orderly Sergeant

35. Lampley, John C., Captain

36. Mcarthur, Dugold [both names hard to decipher], Private

37. Mcarthur, J.P., Private

38. Palmer, James, Private

39. Peden, J.D., Private

40. Peden, Wm. M., Private

41. Shepperd, Anderson, Private

42. Shepperd, Thomas, Private

43. Spear, Nathanial, Private

44. Stewart, R.F., Private

45. Watkins, George, Private

46. Wilson, Wm., Private

47. Vandevander, A.C., Private

48. Vandevander, Jacob, Private

49. Vandevander, Wm. A., 1st Lieutenant

NOTE: One completely indecipherable private's name omitted from the above list; could be James Lee, James Love, James Furr, or almost anything else. The addition of this soldier to the above roster would make an even fifty members for this company. This soldier is the fourth name on page 2 of the original roster.

LETTER TO MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR JOHN JONES PETTUS FROM CAPT. LAMPLEY’S COMPANY OF HOME GUARDS, OFFERING THEIR SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI (original spelling and punctuation retained):

"Kellis Store Mi

July 3rd 1861

Hon J.J. Pettus

Jackson, Miss

Dear Sir

We beg leave to inform you that since writing to you a few days past in reference to our company of Home Guards for Commissions for officers of the same. Our attention has been called to the revised Code of Mississippi. page 288. in which we find the law suits our Case. Our company consists of more than thirty two. though three companys have been made up in the County. Two of them gone and the other will leave very soon. we held our Election. Our officers give full Satisfaction. the company is Satisfied fully and we have armed Ourselves with Shot Guns & rifles. Our Constitution and by laws are in accordance with the constitution of the State and by laws from the Statute of Militia. Only that we are ready to march any where in the bounds of the State. Should our service be required. we want our officers commissioned according to the Statute. And we don't think it hardly necessary to have an election ordered now. but will transmit a certificate of Election. enclosed please find roll of members comprising our company. will you be so good as to aid us now.

Respectfully

Wm. Kellis

orderly sergeant

by order and request of the company

P.S. please answer soon"

TRANSCRIBED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDS AT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY, JACKSON, MS, BY JIM HUFFMAN, GGGG-GRANDSON OF CAPT. JOHN C. LAMPLEY. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS COMPANY AND ESPECIALLY REGARDING CAPT. JOHN C. LAMPLEY, PLEASE CONTACT ME: JIM HUFFMAN, 1230 STEMWOOD DRIVE, PICAYUNE, MS 39466. 601/798-8208.