Thomas Jefferson Wilkins and wife Elizabeth Glover Wilkins. This picture was made at Sunnyside, their home in Brooksville, Mississippi. The occasion was their 60th wedding anniversary. I am enclosing a few exerts from the diary he kept during the Civil War. He was wounded 6 times during the war and I believe he began this diary after being wounded at Gettysburg. (Copied just as he wrote!)
"Thomas J. Wilkins, Co. E., the 11 Miss Vol Age 25 years when at home a farmer at Brooksville, Miss taken prisoner on the 18th of August 1864.This is a copy of the sketch he wrote of his war record when applying for pension:Aug the 29 -64
This morning I feel very sore but I have had my 'wond' dressed and a good drain we leave the field hospital about 9 oclock and was sent to the Com Hospital the distance of 6 milesAugust 21 -64
I am at Com Hospital and my wond is doing as well as could be expected. I am getting the best of attention and we are getting plenty to eat. I rested very well last nite and i feal all write. The weather is very pleasant today.August 21 -64
I left the Division Hospital about 9 oclock and was sent to City point and there I was put into a very nice hospital I feal very well this morning after a good nites rest The distance is 12 miles from the Division Hospital to city PointI am skipping to November 23, 1864
I left the Lincoln Hospital and went to the Old Capital Prison but I got plenty of blankets and I am doing very well at WashingtonDecember the 13 1864
I have been at the Old Capital Prison ever since the 23 of Nov and I have been in bad health ever since I have been their. I was sent to Elmire New York and I am now there...............diary ended here. We were told it took him over a year to walk home to Brooksville.
The first battle was Seven Pines near Richmond, Virginia. Offense Col. Ladell had the Flag and I told him to give the flag to me and I would put it on the Yankee breast works. Next fight I was in was the second Manassas.
The next fight was Gettysburg where we went in the fight with 98 men. There were 17 killed. I had two brothers killed Henry Martin and David Crocket Wilkins. I was wounded very badly. I got a furlough and came home and stayed about 6 months and went back. 18 wounded and one that went in the fight were able to answer roll call next morning and that was my friend John Morgan.
The next fight was the Battle of the Wilderness where I was wounded and got a furlough and went to Pettersburg and stayed with a private family about 2 months and went back to the company.
The next fight was Petersburg and Weldon Railroad where I was wounded and taken prisoner and carried to Fortress Monroe and then carried to Washington and then carried to Lincoln Hospital and stayed about two months and then sent to Baltimore and then sent to Elmira, New York and stayed there about three months when the Yankees got an order to turn out all the soldiers that they thought would not be able to fight anymore and I was sent back to Richmond, Virginia and got discharged and put on the Retired List so I could draw my rations and my pay which was $71.00 and they gave me a pass home.
Signed
Thos. J. Wilkins
Co. E. 11th Mississippi Volunteers
(I have plenty of information and a book called the Prairie Guards if you are interested in reading more of the diary and information on how the Prairie Guards formed and the names of the men. I also have a picture of those who lived long enough to attend a 11th MS Reunion in 1911. You can also find Thomas Jefferson Wilkins and the 11th MS in a book called Duty, Honor, Valor by Steven Stubbs.)
