The Twelfth Mississippi regiment.
Headq'rs 12th Mississippi Reg't,
Near Richmond, Va., June 4, 1862.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
We hope you will excuse the liberty we take in requesting for publication this short communication, while so many important events are pressing themselves upon your columns.
Among the many regiments that bore a gallant part in last Saturday's engagement, none acted more nobly than the 12th Mississippi.
Being in the hottest of the fight for eight hours, she has covered herself with imperishable honors, and won bright-laurels of distinction, which will never be forgotten so long as the memory of deeds noble and glorious are recorded upon the scroll of history.
Col. Taylor, her brave, gallant, and chivalrous commander, has gained the respect and esteem of all who knew him, by his manly bearing upon the crimsoned battle-field.
Here-after his name will be ranked foremost in the list of patriotic heroes.
His cool, calm, and collected manner, when death's unerring missiles were mowing down the solid phalanx of Mississippi's best and braves sons, encouraged and re-animated that Spartan band to strike, with redoubled energy and increased vengeance, the blows for liberty and independence to us and our posterity.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harris and Major Lilly proved their claims upon our affections, and rendered indispensable assistance to Colonel Taylor in directing the movements of the regiment and assigning the companies to the positions they were respectively called upon to occupy.
The former (Lieutenant-Colonel Harris) was painfully, though not dangerously, wounded in the head while performing the duties incumbent upon him during these trying and heart rending scenes.
Major Lilly, though growing in years, possess the capacity of an aged and experienced veteran, and through the hall of grape, shot and shell, he remained at his post, with spirit undaunted and mind unchanged, cheering the soldiers of his command to renewed exertions in this dark hour of disaster and peril.
Unlike some other regiments when first under fire, the Twelfth Mississippi did her whole duty to her self and country, and performed with unflinching fidelity, everything that was required of her by her brave commanding General, R. E. Rhodes, than whom a more perfect leader and exemplary chieftain never existed.
Her officers and men well deserve the appreciative laudations that will be justly bestowed upon them by an impartial public, and, moreover, by anxious and sorrowing friends in the far-distant valley of Mississippi.
The list of her killed and wounded will show the severe loss she sustained, while contending for Southern rights upon the bloodstained field of glory; and the names of those who fell will be among the few that shall ‘"resist the empire of decay."’ Near Richmond, Va., June 4, 1862.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
Juvanis.
