The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1902-05-16
.HERE are many yet living
who can recall to memory
the carnage wrought in

the battle at Frasier'S Farm, Virgin
la. The day prior to the battle of
Malvern Hill, where so many of those
gallant men, the flower Of Southern
chiyalry, who had helped to swell
the ranks of the Barksdale-H Humphreys
Brigade, gave up their lives in the
onslaught on the Federal stronghold.
1t was during the late evening
hours, smoke and dust, with the
shades of night falling fast, were en-
veloping the surroundings in dark
ness, when Colonel J.
Gibson Taylor, commander Of the 2nd
Mississippi battalion, discovered
brigade of Confederate troops in his
front, retreating by right flanks, with
their four regimental colors trailing
in the dust. He called for four men
to 90 to the front with him hurriedly,
and to take the colors and to try to
rally the men. Warren Richmond Of
company F., Mike Brady of Company
A., - Hogan of Company E. and
the writer of this article, who was
member of Company F, all Of the End
Mississippi Battalion responded,
and with the Lieutenant-ColOn-
el hastily tore down a rail fence
which separated them from the re-
treating column, and joined them.
Each one of the men took a color, and
faced the advancing Fe1erals. who
were forcing their march, via the NAL
vern Hill, enrOute to where their gun
boats and transports were anchored,
while the Lieutenant Colonel called
to the panic stricken men to rally on
his Mississippians, and stand their
ground like men. To uphold their
name like Virginians. But he might
just as we'll have told them to run
and seeing it he ordered US threw
down the colors, and get back to our
command, which we did. Just as we
recrossed the gap in the fence we
heard troops in our front, but owing
to the then prevailing darkness could
not see them, and some one called
out:
"What regiment is that?"
"Sixty-first New York" came a re-
ply and with it a volley Of musketry
that made the surroundings quake,
our men were moved down with the
sickle of death, Lieutenant-Taylo
fell with bullet through the abdO-
men, and called to Richmond to hold
his head up and let him pray. which
was done, while hunted up the am
bulance corps to remove him. He
died the following morning in the
Frazier cottage. And when the roll
was called for these men here is the
reply: Richmond, killed at Spotsyl-
vania. Hogan-killed. Brady, died
in the insane asylum, because there
was no soldiers home in which to
place him.
For the want of soldiers home,
we will go from the insane asylum to
the insane asylum again.
1t was at Burksyille, Virginia,
where as parOled prisoners from Ap.
pOmatoX, quite crowd Of US, many
of whom in a brief space of time, had
been transposed from wealthy Missis-
sippians into Virginia paupers, had
gathered to take our final leave of the
State and people, in which and with
whom the most of US hal passed al
most four years. AS many Of us felt
that we were cOjmOpOlitans, and
were ready for anything in the way
Of pleasure, and excitement, we took
the ADVICE given US by Federal SOL
diers, which was to 90 to Baltimore,
stating the city was filled with Con-
federate sympathisers and they would
treat us nicely.
But unfortunately, when we reach
ed Washington city, President Lin
coin had just been killed, and as we
were walking down one Of the princi-
pal streets we we're attacked by a
mob OF roughs and negroes. We lin
ed up in battle array and with cobble
stones, bricks and anything else COM
atable, gave battle, and we're arrest
ed by the provost guard and after be-
i . fp