As part of the Army of Northern Virginia, the 17th Mississippi fought in many of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the Eastern theater of the American Civil War.

After suffering heavy losses in battle, the remnants of the 17th Mississippi Infantry surrendered with Robert E. Lee's forces at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

Union forces attempted to cross the Rappanhanock river there in December 1862, and were defeated with heavy losses at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

At the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the regiment took part in general Barksdale's charge on the Union lines at The Peach Orchard.

[1] The Union officer defending the fort, Captain Orlando Metcalfe Poe, reported the capture of the 17th Mississippi's regimental flag, and said "In spite of the gallantry and persistency of the attack, it was handsomely repulsed, with a loss to the enemy of almost the entire which led the assault....I know of no instance in history where a storming party was so nearly annihilated.

The remnants of the 17th joined the Confederate defenders at Petersburg, Virginia, then retreated with Lee's Army to Appomattox Court House.