Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/108

 104 Southern Historical Society Papers.

event. It may be proper to credit the "old Fifteenth with several contributions made to the gallant Parker Battery, which distin- guished itself in the great Sharpsburg fight. The intrepid first commander of the heroic battery, Major W. W. Parker, before Captain J. Thompson Brown became the captain, had been an of- ficer in the Fifteenth Virginia; also, Privates Thomas L. Alfriend, Robert Bidgood, and perhaps others I cannot recall just now. The "Boy Battery" first won fame under the knightly and valiant Parker. It sustained its reputation under Captain Brown, and became one of the famous batteries of the Confederate army. The many fields it fought on were enriched with the brave young blood of its heroes. "The Boy Battery" at Sharpsburg and the Lexington cadets at New Market should stand as prominent in the annals of our Civil War as did the twin heroes, Castor and Pollux, in the enchanting realm of Roman mythology. Old Virginia is proud of her artillery record, and even now in these piping times of peace and patriotic devotion to our common country she is ever mindful, and lovingly recalls the fact of furnishing fifty-three (53) famous batteries, not in- cluding heavy artillery, in that grand old army that wore the gray. They were ever fearless batteries, that hurled shot and shell with un- erring and deadly precision into the ranks of the enemy on many victorious fields.

The writer is fully aware he has written in a rambling manner, and for such an offense he pleads in extenuation the natural time-honored privilege that is kindly granted to age and the reminiscent period.

When two-score years are added to age, forbearance and indulg- ence are quite in order, then it becomes every chivalrous nature to reckon kindly with old friends and comrades,

"Who stood together, time and oft, When valor won in battles fought."

E. E. MORRISON, Lieut. Col. i$th Virginia Infantry.