TUPELO – Attorney Brian Neely has long been a practitioner of the law. Since 2012, he’s served as assistant district attorney for the First Judicial District of Mississippi.
It’s clear he has a love for the law.
But sit with him a while and just listen. Before too many moments have passed, Neely’s true passion will bubble to the surface. The man is a walking, talking book of history, and with a degree in history from Boston University, historical facts and figures roll off Neely’s tongue with the grace of a seasoned orator. That’s no surprise: His resume lists motivational speaker as one of Neely’s abilities. And he is, after all, a lawyer.
If Neely was asked to list five historical periods or events which most capture his fervor, they’d likely all revolve around the same: the Black troops — in blue and gray — who fought and died at Brice’s Cross Roads on June 10, 1864. He has for years been captivated by the role of African-Americans in the Civil War and disheartened by the lack of information to be found on the subject.
“Even at Boston University studying history, I would think about it,” Neely said. “Black people must have done something during the war; they didn’t just sit around twiddling their thumbs.”
Neely and David Wilson, both board members of Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center and Museum, felt there should be some tangible recognition of the Black troops’ courageous efforts. A monument on the battlefield was unveiled a year ago on June 10, the anniversary of the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads. It was a start, but Neely wanted to do more.
“I felt there needed to be something more substantial to commemorate the African-American troops,” Neely said.
Not one to let an idea fade away without action, Neely began looking into possibilities. The concept of a bronze sculpture interested him until he learned the price tag for such an undertaking.
Then serendipity, divinity or a bit of both intervened, and a good plan — and new friendship—– was forged over a biscuit at 7 a.m. at Hardee’s one Saturday. That was when Neely met with Tupelo artist and retired vice president and general manager of WTVA, Jerry W. Jones.
On that early morning on October 19, 2024, Jones listened as Neely shared his vision.
“Brian at first mentioned a mural, which terrified me,” Jones said. “But I did like the idea of working on something relating to the Civil War. I thought it would be challenging and fun.”
The work Neely commissioned Jones to paint is now complete and hanging in the Neely home. The first print was unveiled last month on June 10 at the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center in Baldwyn.
Today, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., there will be a Lunch & Learn at the interpretive center, 607 Grisham Street. Jones will also be on hand to sign purchased copies of prints of the painting “Within Handshaking Distance.”
Dravidi Pasha, a re-enactor and descendant of enlisted fighters within the 59th US Colored Infantry Companies D, G and E at the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads and Tupelo/Harrisburg, will speak. The Baldwyn Chamber of Commerce will host a hamburger cookout, and 15% from the sale of the prints at the interpretive center will go to the center.
The process
The path to the painting’s completion was neither quick nor without great thought given to details. Jones has no problem letting folks know the painting results from a meaningful collaboration between an attorney and an artist.
It was a project that kept both up at night.
“For Jerry, there’d be no painting before he’d researched thoroughly,” Neely said. “And he indulged me every step of the way when I wanted something changed that just wasn’t what I envisioned. Some artistic license was taken.”
For example, at one of their many meetings for Neely to see Jones’ progress on the painting, Jones had made the scene dark, as it had been fought at 7 on a hot summer evening.
“Brian saw it and said he wanted more blue in the sky and more light,” Jones said. “He didn’t want it to be dark. He wanted people to be able to see what a desperate struggle it was.”
In truth, the battlefield was likely covered in thick brush and blackjack oaks, but in the painting, the men are fighting on a clear and open battlefield.
“Brian wanted the attention to be on the soldiers,” Jones said. “I told him in reality there were likely black-eyed Susans all over the field, but he said, ’Nope, just want the battle.’”
Jones’ paintings, done in watercolor or oil, are most often of wildlife, landscapes, beach scenes — things done from just watching and observing life.
“But you can’t paint a Civil War battle from observing,” he said “That’s why the research was so important.”
In the early stages of the process, Jones completed lots of sketches in pencil or charcoal. Gesture drawing, Jones calls them.
“It captures movement, like the cavalry charging down a hill,” he said. “It’s a study to give a sense of what’s going on.”
For these studies, Jones got a few friends to dress as re-enactors, with muskets, swords and pistols and allow him to sketch them in different poses.
“That also helped Jerry get the accuracy of weapon placement,” Neely added.
In his research, Jones found a book in the library, “I Can’t Wait to Make You My Wife.” It is a book of letters from slave to slave, freed man to slave, escaped slaves up north writing home.
“Just reading these short letters helped me understand the human tragedy of the broken nature of man,” Jones said. “When I was a little boy and everyone else had gone to sleep, I’d sketch Civil War battles. But not until this project did I really understand the nature of it all.”
The completed painting, a 24-by-30 oil on canvas, honors the United States Colored Troops of Bouton’s 3rd Brigade; the 55th and 59th Infantry regiments and Battery F, 2nd Light Artillery Regiment (USCT), who fought and died at Brice’s Cross Roads on June 10, 1864.
The painstaking planning and painting of the commissioned piece powerfully depicts the final few seconds of the advance of the Union soldiers of African descent (most ex-slaves from Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama).
The painting’s title, “Within Handshaking Distance,” comes from a quote by Capt. John W. Morton, CSA, the commander of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s artillery. Morton was describing actual events — the men of the USCT were out of ammunition and fought with bayonets and gun butts. “Within Handshaking Distance” would mark the brutal end of a desperate charge and the deepest they would advance into the Confederate lines. At the end of the day, Bouton’s 3rd Brigade lost more than 400 soldiers.
It is finished
Neely’s word of choice to describe his commissioned painting is “brilliant.” It has evoked some powerful emotional responses from others when they see it.
“And look at the grass,” Neely said, with joyful laughter.
The grass, though certainly not the centerpiece of the painting, draws attention to its photographic appearance.
Offering valued input on the project from day one was Neely’s wife, Shari.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this,” she said. “It was just so important to Brian to shine a light on the fact these soldiers were there, were an important part of the war.”
With high hopes of remedying the dearth of information available on the role of African-Americans in the Civil War, Neely is writing a book by hand on yellow legal pads.
The painting Neely commissioned Jones to do will be the book’s cover.
The finished painting may now hang in the Neely home, but the friendship formed between Neely and Jones will continue. So, too, might the artistic collaboration. There are two more pivotal battles Neely would love to have painted. Jones is already on board.
“God willing, there will be a next one,” Jones said. “We just needed a break. This was a bigger project than expected. I usually complete a painting in two to three weeks, sometimes two to three hours. From October to the end of May is a lot of time. But I’m definitely up for working with Brian again. His enthusiasm, stories, dreams and visions were such an inspiration to me.”