Lieut.-Col. William T. Martin. After the rear of this daring expedition became as important as the front, Martin and his men became the rear guard, with the howitzer under Lieut. James Breathed. During the march 25 Federal cavalrymen surrendered to this rear guard, under the impression that they were surrounded. On his return Stuart hastened to recommend the promotion of Martin to a colonelcy and the increase of his battalion to a full regiment.
In the meantime the Sixteenth Mississippi was fighting with Jackson in the valley of the Shenandoah. Its brigade, Trimble's, bore the brunt of the fight at Cross Keys, when Col. Carnot Posey and Lieuts. J. B. Coleman and W. R. Brown were wounded. Besides these, 6 men were killed and 25 wounded. General Trimble in his report called attention to services performed on this occasion and previously by Captain Brown, of Company A, who, with portions of his company, during the campaign killed 12 of the enemy, captured 64 with their arms, and some 25 horses with equipments.
At Gaines’ Mill, the Second regiment, Col. John M. Stone, and Eleventh, Col. P. H. Liddell, were distinguished in the gallant and successful charge of Law's brigade, and suffered severely, the Second having 21 killed and 79 wounded; the Eleventh 18 killed and 142 wounded.
In the same battle, the Twelfth regiment, under Maj. W. H. Lilly, the Nineteenth, under Maj. John Mullins, and the Second battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, fought under the brigade command of Featherston. Major Lilly was wounded and the command devolved upon Captain Thomas. Major Mullins was also severely wounded. At Frayser’s Farm the brigade was again in action, and Colonel Taylor was among the killed. This gallant Mississippi brigade lost in the two battles 115 killed, 542 wounded, and 9 missing; a total of 666.
