Mark Perrin Lowry Autobiographical Essay

This document is an autobiography written by Confederate Brigadier-General Mark Perrin Lowrey on September 30, 1867, at Ripley, Mississippi, to Colonel Calhoun Benham. This was sent to Colonel Benham for use in a book he was writing. It deals with Lowrey's early life through the end of his military career in the Civil War.

General Lowrey begins his autobiography by telling about his birth, siblings, and move to Mississippi. He then skips to the 1840's when, during the Mexican War, he enlisted in the 2nd Mississippi Regiment of Infantry, but never saw action. When the Civil War broke out he was at Kossuth, Mississippi, studying to become a minister.

In 1861 he was elected captain of a company from his home area near Corinth, Mississippi. He was then elected colonel of the 4th Mississippi Regiment of 60 day Volunteers at Corinth. They were ordered to Bowling Green, Kentucky, in December where a majority of the men died from measles and pneumonia. On April 3, 1862, he raised the 32nd Mississippi Regiment at Corinth and was elected colonel.

Throughout the document Lowrey lists who is in command of divisions and corps he fought under or with. He commanded his brigade at Perryville and was wounded in the left arm. His brigade took part in the skirmishing during the retreat from Murfreesboro.

At Tullahoma, in 1863, Lowrey tells about his drilling his troops and their proficiency. He writes about Chickamauga in which his regiment fought gallantly and was congratulated by General Cleburne. He was promoted to Brigadier-General on October 4, 1863. He mentions his brigade's position at Missionary Ridge. At the battle of Ringgold or Taylor's Ridge, he gives details of his troops movements as he does about the battle of New Hope Church. He commanded his division at the battle of Jonesboro and he goes into depth about the battle of Cobb's Mill. Lowrey then writes about what happened in the Middle Tennessee campaign. He includes a list of his reasons for resigning from the army that he gave to the government in Richmond. Lastly he writes about religion in the army and his part in it.