The following ten companies of State militia formed the Sixteenth Mississippi Infantry:

All ten of the companies were among the fifty state militia companies ordered into the active service of the Confederate States by the General Order issued on 21 May 1861.

21 May 1861
Jackson, Mississippi
General Orders Headquarters,
Army of Mississippi

"The following companies, viz Summit Rifles, Captain J. P. Blincoe; ... Westville Guards, Capt George J. D. Funchess; ... Crystal Springs Southern Rights, Capt J. C. Davis; ... Adams Light Guard 1, Capt Robert Clark; Adams Light Guard 2, Capt S. E. Baker; ... Smith Defenders, Capt W. H. Hardy; ... Quitman Guards, Capt Samuel A. Matthews; ... Wilkinson Rifles, Capt C. Posey; ... Jasper Rifles, Capt J. J. Shannon; ... are ordered into active service and will proceed forthwith to Corinth, Mississippi, to the camp of instruction there established and report to Maj Gen Charles Clark, commanding. They will take with them all arms and military property in their possession. All deficiencies in arms will be supplied at Corinth. The companies will provide themselves with cooked rations sufficient to subsist them to Corinth. The several railroads will furnish transportation, and the companies will proceed by the nearest route. An officer from each company will be sent forthwith to report to these headquarters the condition and strength of their companies. The Captains of the several companies above mentioned are charged with the execution of this order."

W. H. Brown Adjutant and Inspector General
[OR, Series I, Vol 52, Pt 2, Pg 25]

Upon receipt of this order the companies made their departure for Corinth where the companies were officially mustered into the service of the Confederacy.

Thus, by the first of June, the ten companies which formed the 16th Regiment Mississippi Infantry had all been mustered into the Confederate service for twelve months, and their individual company identities were replaced with the military designators.

The first order of business after formation of the Regiment was the election of officers. Carnot Posey of the Wilkinson Rifles was elected Colonel, Robert Clark of Adams Light Guards 1 was elected Lt. Colonel, and Thomas Stockdale of the Quitman Guards was elected major.

The troops were kept at Corinth in camp of instruction from this time until the 24th of July. On the 22nd of July, the news came of the battle of Bull Run (18-21 July 1861). Col. Posey received orders to report with his regiment to Virginia.

"The term of the 16th Mississippi regiment would expire May 27, 1862. They were in R. S. Ewell's division on their route to the Shenandoah Valley, to reinforce Stonewall Jackson for the purpose of expelling the Federal General, N. P. Banks, from Winchester and were camped not far from the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the route leading to Swift Run Gap. Here the reorganization took place which made the change in the official status of all the compaines and of the regimental line. ... The election occurred on the 26th of April, .... Colonel Posey was re-elected colonel; Capt. J. J. Shannon, of the Jasper Grays, lieutenant colonel; Samuel E. Baker, of the Adams Light Guards, major, thus retiring Lieut. Col. Robert Clarke and Maj. T. R. Stockdale." [Pike County Mississippi, 1798 - 1876, Conerly, L. W., Nashville, TN, 1909]

The 16th Mississippi Infantry was eventually brigaded with three other Mississippi regiments: the 12th, 19th, and 48th. These four regiments became a part of R. H. Anderson's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Between July 1864 and April 1865, the 16th Mississippi Infantry participated in the following battles and campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia:

Front Royal, Virginia, May 24th, and Winchester, Virginia, May 25th, 1862, under Ewell and Stonewall Jackson, against N. P. Banks, in the Shenandoah Valley; and Jackson's and Ewell's celebrated retreat from Harpers Ferry, after driving Bank's forces out of Virginia, eluding the junction of Fremont and Shields to intercept them at Strasburg.
Cross Key, Va.,June 8, 1862.
Mechanicsville, Va., June 26, 1862.
Cold Harbor, Va., June 27, 1862.
Malvern Hill to the close of the seven days battles before Richmond.
Second Battle of Manassas, Aug. 30, 1862.
Siege of Harpers Ferry, Va.
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), Maryland, Sept.17, 1862.
Hazle River, with the 10th Alabama, in support of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry, November 10, 1862.
Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. This battle began on the 11th and closed on the 14th of December, 1862. After this battle Col. Posey was promoted to Brigadier and put in cornmand of the brigade, Gen. Featherston being sent to the department of Mississippi, Alabama and East Louisiana.
Battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1863.
The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1863.
Battle of Bristoe Station, October 14, 1863, where Gen. Posey was mortally wounded.
Battle of Mine Run, Va., November 30th and December 1st, 1863.
Battle of the Wilderness, May 5th and 6th, 1864.
Shady Grove, May 8, 1864.
Spottsylvania Court House, Va., 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of May, 1864. In this battle the brigade was commanded by Gen. Nathaniel H. Harris, colonel of the 19th Mississippi, who succeeded Gen. Posey, and was one of the brigades selected by General Lee to retake his lost works on the 12th of May, which had been captured by the enemy.
Hanover Junction, May 2, 1864.
Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. (The scene of the great battle in 1862.)
Turkey Ridge, June 6th, 1864.
On the 8th of June, 1864, the 16th Mississippi went into the trenches at Petersburg. In July elements of the 16th were taken out of the trenches, made a force march to Lee's right and engaged the enemy at the Davis House, near the Weldon Railroad, and then returned to the trenches.
On the 17th of August, they were again taken out of the trenches, went to Richmond and fought at New Market, on the 18th. On the 19th they returned to Petersburg.
On the 21st of August they were engaged in a fight on the Weldon Railroad. After the battle the brigade returned to the trenches until the 12th of November, 1864, when they were taken out and went into winter quarters, but were constantly on duty.
They fought at Hatcher's Run on the 5h and 6th of February, 1865.
On the 1st of March, they held the position vacated by Picket's Division between the Appomattox and the James Rivers. When Sheridan began serious demonstrations on Richmond, they were sent to the aid of Stuart's and Causey's Virginia brigades and then returned to their position between the Appomattox and the James, remaining there until the 2nd of April, when they were ordered to the right of Petersburg. They immediately went into action, but were compelled to retire before overwhelming numbers until the remnants of the 16th and 12th Regiments took refuge in Fort Gregg, where they made a stand buying time for Lee to evacuate Petersburg. During this action the 19th and 48th Regiments under General Harris made their escape. Seven days later, 9 April, 1865, the remnants of the 16th Mississippi, less than 100 men, were surrendered at Appomatox Court House.

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