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106 be carried into battle again. I addressed the "boy company" as follows: "You are boys, but you have this day been where men only dare to go! Some of your company have been killed and many have been wounded, but recollect, that it is a soldier's fate to die! Now, every man of you who is willing to return to the field, step two paces to the front!" The brave boys responded at once, described by another as follows: "Weak, almost dazed by the scenes of horror through which we had passed, stern duty calls and we obey. The significant 'two paces' is stepped and a volunteer section, led by Lieutenant J. Thompson Brown, return and moves to confront the now exultant enemy."

After the bloody battle of Sharpsburg, Colonel Lee let up on the "boy company." He and they were ever afterwards friends. The little fellows loved their commander, and never failed to divide with him anything they had gathered in foraging which they might have on hand; he was the recipient of fruit, eggs, and even more substantial luxuries when there was any among the boys-of Parker's Battery. Now he treasures the precious memory of that noble company of boys, and the survivors love him, and he also loves them as only men can love each other who have been through the scenes in battle of a great war. Recently at the Richmond reunion he met six or eight of the "boy company," who live in Richmond, and he was deeply touched as they came around him, and put their hands and arms about him and recalled the scenes and incidents of the great battles of Second Manassas and Sharpsburg. Not long after this Colonel Lee was promoted and moved for service to the West. He was assigned to duty at Vicksburg in November, 1862, but he ever afterward followed with pride the gallant and true "boy company" (Parker's Battery) which served to the close of the war and surrendered at the general collapse at Appomattox.

The "boy company" (Parker's Battery) was but one of many such companies of boys organized during the great war, and I will now mention one company, composed entirely of Mississippi boys, the captain of which was Captain W. A. Montgomery, now of Edwards, Miss., who was only about eighteen years of