6 1/2 x 5, imprinted form, filled out in ink.

Mississippi Central Rail Road Company, Transfer No. 391. Office of the Mississippi Central Rail Road Company, 20 Feby. 1861. For Value Received. J.J.C. Sims of Tenn., do hereby assign and transfer unto J.B. Walker of Ga. Ten (10) Shares of the Capital Stock of the Mississippi Central Railroad Company, standing in my name on the Books of said Company, on each of which Fifty (50) Dollars have been paid, being the whole of the stock held by Certificate No. 206, M.C. & Tenn. R.R. J.C. Sims, pr. A.J. Mc Coninco Sec. proxy. Excellent condition. Very desirable 1861 Confederate railroad document.

WBTS Trivia: In 1852, the Mississippi Central Railroad was chartered by the Mississippi Legislature to build a railroad from Canton, Mississippi, to Grand Junction, Tennessee, financed by wealthy cotton planters in La Grange, Tenn., and Oxford, Miss., passing through the towns of Grenada, Water Valley, Oxford and Holly Springs. The first passenger trains from Holly Springs to Oxford ran in 1857.

In November 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant began the Mississippi Central Railroad Campaign down the line with the ultimate goal of capturing Vicksburg, Mississippi, in conjunction with General William Tecumseh Sherman. Grant established a base in Holly Springs and began advancing south along the railroad. Confederate soldiers built earthwork fortifications to defend the railroad. Skirmishes were fought all along the railroad. While General Grant was stalled, Confederate General Van Dorn lead a successful cavalry raid on Grant's supply base at Holly Springs, burning most of his supplies and then moved north destroying the railroad and telegraph lines along the way. With the railroad destroyed Grant had no way to resupply his army and was forced to end the campaign and retreat.