McComb, or Brookhaven. Several were hoping to get one last glance at their home town before arriving in Jackson. Many were still asleep; others that might have enjoyed the view of the swamp were disappointed because of the heavy layer of fog that turned the landscape to a dull gray. Those who were sleeping or day-dreaming were rudely awakened about 7 AM by the screaming of the engine brakes. A terrible clamorous crash rent the calm morning as the engines of the two trains collided. Wooden passenger cars splintered into dangerous fragments, men's bodies were broken and thrown about. The scene was one of ultimate chaos as the maimed and bloody survivors crawled from the remnant of the train. The men of Companies H and K suffered the most from the disaster since their rail car was positioned closest to the engine. Company I, Capt. Fairley, was not aboard being left behind according to Lt. Job Foxworth's diary but at least one member was aboard as attested to by the casualty list. Official records of the Seventh Mississippi list 22 killed at the scene, 7 others died subsequently of injuries, and 14 received injuries in varying nature, one-half serious enough requiring discharge for disability. Arriving at Jackson, Col. B.F. Johns drew 24 blankets to replace those used to cover the dead that morning. It was reported that the conductor of the lumber train which was being run out of time carrying timbers for construction of gunboats at New Orleans escaped through the woods and made his escape. This is not true, for the New Orleans Daily Picayune reported on 9 March 1862 that, 'William D. Foster, the conductor of the timber train which caused last Tuesday (sic) such a terrible accident on the Jackson Railroad, was arrested yesterday by Lieutenant Boyland and Special Agent Miller, by virtue of a warrant charging him with man-slaughter.' In the account given in the Picayune on the 28th, Foster is described as the engineer. Dr. J. N. Thornhill, assistant Surgeon, 7th Mississippi suffered a broken rib in the accident but Dr. G. W. Deveron, superintendent of the New Orleans Marine Hospital on Common Street in New Orleans, happened to be on board and rendered great assistance to the injured. As soon as rail authorities in New Orleans learned of the accident, they dispatched a train of passenger cars to the scene with medical assistance. The train bearing the injured arrived at New Orleans about 6:30 PM that afternoon and were treated by a number of New Orleans finest surgeons but some were past all hope of recovery. Such a fearful accident occurring in the war had a profound effect upon the 7th for when they went into battle at Shiloh, Co. H was exempted from the line. Though higher casualties were to be experienced in battles yet to be fought, none approached the shock and grief and disbelief as the Train Wreck of Ponchatoula. The Seventh went on to fight on every bloody field of battle in the Army of Tennessee from Shiloh to North Carolina but few would soon forget that gory February when they met disaster at Ponchatoula." NOTE: The conductor, William D. Foster, was reportedly cleared of any criminal act and released. It was determined he simply ran away from fright and shock.

The town of Tifton did not exist then. Chula, the nearest community also did not exist until the coming of the railroad just prior to the war. It became a whistle stop - much as it is today.

Tifton