"With the Civil War looming on the horizon, the young men of Lafayette County, Mississippi, organized a militia company in December 1860. The unit was formed in Oxford, Mississippi, and practiced military maneuvers and rifle tactics. The company decided to adopt the nickname, "Lamar Rifles" in honor of L.Q.C. Lamar, who was a popular local congressman. They also adopted the motto, "Semper Paratus," or "Always Ready!". The Lamar Rifles were enlisted into the Mississippi state service in February 1861 after Mississippi seceded from the Union and started organizing it's forces. After war was declared, Governor Petus ordered the Lamar Rifles to Corinth where the company was mustered in on April 26, 1861. On May 4, 1861, the Lamar Rifles were mustered into the 11th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Regiment and designated Company G."
Unit History
