Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/380

 From the Times-Dispatch, October 21, 1906.

FROM MANASSAS TO FRAZIER'S FARM.

'''Recollections of a Soldier in Many Battles General Lee to the Rear.''' Sir,—I read in the Confederate Column of The Times-Dispatch some time ago Corporal Tom's article, in which he gave some intensely interesting accounts of his close calls and other experiences in the War of the Sixties. This has encouraged me to offer a few of my own experiences, and other incidents that have never found their way in print.

I was a native of Warren County, and in the early days of 1861, when I was just a plain farmer, twenty-four years of age, I assisted in organizing an infantry company of eighty-four men. The organization was completed on the I7th day of June, 1861, and M. T. Wheatley, a graduate of Lexington, was elected captain ; B. S. Jacobs, first lieutenant; J. B. Updyke, second lieutenant ; R. S. Funkhouser, junior second lieutenant; E. V. Boyd, orderly sergeant; John G. Brown, color sergeant. Later Boyd was made second lieutenant; Brown, junior second lieutenant, and Private A. Updyke was elected second lieutenant. Captain Wheatley was promoted to major in October, and died of typhoid fever in December, 1861.

We remained at Front Royal, drilling and having our uniforms made, until July, 1861, when on the 16th day of that month we reported to Colonel William Smith (Extra Billy) at Manassas Junction for duty.

BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

On the morning of the 21st of July, 1861, we were bivouacked near the Lewis House, and within four hundred yards of the Henry House, which was destined to become the key to the great strategic move of that day, although I think it was a surprise to our generals, for they expected the conflict to take place about five or six miles to the right of it. We were, through