Joseph Drake was Captain of Company H, "Carroll County Rebels," which mustered into State service at Carrollton, Mississippi August 24, 1861 and organized at Grenada, Mississippi as the Fourth Regiment, Second Brigade, Army of Mississippi, and enlisted for twelve months. He was elected Colonel on September 11 in a camp near Trenton, Tennessee. This regiment was then put under Van Dorn's command. After being promoted to major general on September 19, 1861, Van Dorn was transferred to Virginia and on October 4, was given command of the 1st Division in Beauregard's corps in the Army of the Potomac, under Joseph E. Johnston. The Fourth Mississippi infantry, which had been detached from Van Dorn's division of the Army of the Potomac, was one of the two regiments at Fort Henry which were at all experienced in war, and the men conducted themselves as veterans. Col. Joseph Drake sent two companies of Mississippians to meet the first advance of the enemy on February 4, who held the rifle-pits alone until reinforced. During the bombardment of the 6th, which resulted in the surrender of Fort Henry, Colonel Drake commanded General Tilghman's Second Brigade. After the naval attack compelled the surrender of Fort Henry, Drake retreated to Fort Donelson, where he commanded Brig. Gen. Bushrod Johnson's 3rd brigade. The Fourth was under fire in the trenches at Donelson during February 13 and 14, and participated in the assault which was made on the 15th for the purpose of opening a line of retreat. Gen. Johnson reported that Drake's Brigade, under its very gallant, steady and efficient commander, moved in admirable order, almost constantly under fire, driving the enemy slowly from hill to hill until about 1 p.m., when he was instructed to return to the rifle pits, leaving Drake's Brigade for a time unsupported. Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest went to Drake's support and advised him to fall back, which he did without disorder. Col. Smith's brigade advanced a short distance up the hill, repeatedly rushing and then falling to the ground in the prone position, all the while listening to taunts from Drake's Confederate brigade opposing them. The surrender followed on the 16th. It is said that Colonel Drake broke his sword and threw it in the river when told of the surrender. His son John Beckenridge Drake joined Company K, 30th Mississippi infantry on February 27, 1862, shortly after his father was captured. He was imprisoned at Johnson's Island, then admitted Feb 21 1862 to U.S.A. Prison Hospital, Camp Douglas Chicago, Illinois received at Camp Chase Columbus, Ohio on March 1, transferred March 6, to Fort Warren, Boston and released on parole on 7 April for the purpose of exchange for Colonel Milton Cogswell, 42d New York Volunteers, April 11, 1862, awaiting exchange at Baltimore, to report to Maj. Gen. John E. Wool at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He retired after he was exchanged on August 27, 1862, considered too old for active service. He was 56.
Postbellum career
Drake returned to his plantation and served as a member the Mississippi Senate from Carroll County in 1864.
