Yalobusha Historical Society Minutes – Aug. 18, 2011
Scott Fernandez
Carl Vick, in the absence of Mike Worsham, announced that the sale of the Front Street Building to the Fifty-four Masonic Lodge was finalized in the Coffeeville Chancery Clerk’s Office on August 18, 2011. The sale of the building was approved by members present.
Next, a discussion followed on the fundraiser, the General Store. The General Store will be located on the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church as part of “Celebrate Coffeeville” on Oct. 1, 2011. Please bring your “stock” for the General Store at the next regular meeting on Thursday, September 15, 2011 or contact a member for collection.
Julia Fernandez introduced Scott Fernandez, the guest speaker and staff member of the North Mississippi Crime Lab in Batesville, MS. Scott is a forensic toxicologist and retired from the University of Tennessee in 2002. Scott has lectured for the last twenty-five years in Mississippi and West Tennessee on Mississippi Military Regiments in the Civil War.
Scott presented the story of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry, comprised of soldiers recruited from North Central Mississippi. Particular emphasis was placed on two brothers, Pacolet and Goore Fernandez who served in one company of the regiment, The Lamar Rifles of Lafayette County.
The 387 men of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry serving in Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia could not have imagined their fate as they marched into Pennsylvania during the summer of 1863. By sundown on July 3rd of that year, after less than one hour of brutal combat in that part of the Battle of Gettysburg now called Pickett’s Charge, they would count over 300 of their comrades as casualties; killed, wounded or captured. Their sacrifice, valor and devotion would be recognized 137 years later when a monument to their Regiment would be erected on the hallowed ground of Gettysburg .
The next meeting will be on September 15, 2011. The guest speaker will be Lynn Hewlett, and his topic will be Taylor.
Attending: Carl and Mae Vick, Pat Brooks, Joy Herron, Dave Hovey, Joy Tippit, James Person, Julia Fernandez, Alma Moorman, Tom Moorman, Dot Criss, Amy Fernandez McMinn, Opal Wright, Frances Stewart, Lawrence Litten, Billy Rowsey, Betty Rowsey, Jimmie Pinnix, Francine Pinnix, Cliff Chandler, Sue T. Fly, Kay McCulley, Debby Hughes, Sarah Williams, Granville C. Vaughn, Helen Jones, Frank Fernandez Jr., Emma Hovey, S. W. Bondurant M. D.
Submitted by: Joy M. Tippit
