Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/168

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I

160 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the New Orleans, La., Picayune, February 19, 1893.]

THE BATTLE OF FRAZIER'S FARM,

June 2gth, 1892. The Part Taken Therein by Louisiana

Troops.

A Paper Read Before the Louisiana Association of the Army of Northern

Virginia, February 18, 1893, by Captain John W. T. Leech,

Company C, Fourteenth Regiment, Louisiana

Infantry, Confederate States Army.

Comrades of the Army of Northern Virginia :

In writing of the thrilling events which took place around the city of Richmond in 1862, you will bear in mind that thirty-one years have rolled by and that a man's memory, however good, must neces- sarily have forgotten many things which would prove very interesting if they could be recalled.

But the truth of the matter is, I am growing old, and those scenes are rapidly fading away. I wore the gray then, and as the battle of life progresses I am wearing more gray, and this will continue on until that arch enemy of mankind will flank me out of every position and compel a final surrender.

Comrades, in commencing this narration it is proper to inform you what command I belonged to. I had the honor to command com- pany C, Fourteenth Louisiana regiment. This regiment belonged to General Roger A. Pryor's brigade, composed of the Fourteenth Alabama, Second Florida, Fourteenth Louisiana, St. Paul's Battalion and Louisiana Zouaves, consolidated, Third Virginia and the Donald- sonville Artillery.

We belonged to Major- General James Longstreet's division, which was composed of the following brigades : Kemper's, Anderson's, Pickett's, Wilcox's, Pryor's and Featherston's.

On the morning of the 28th of June, just after the battle of Games' Mill, I was standing on one of the hills near by, with a group of men,