17TH-TX-CAVALRY-L Archives

From: Charles Temple <>
Subject: [17TH-TX-CAVALRY] Bryan Marsh
Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 15:58:06 -0500 (EST)

I have always had a particular interest in Bryan Marsh and Co. C of the 17th Tx Cav. because my g-grandfather, Marquis de Lafayette (Pal) Price, served in Co. C under Capt. Marsh and saved his life in July, 1864, at the Battle of Atlanta. At the time, for various reasons, there were no field officers of the 17th present, and as senior company officer, Capt. Marsh was acting Colonel of the regiment. During an attack on a Union position, Capt. Marsh was shot down with severe wounds to his right arm and left hand. He lay on the ground bleeding to death as most of the regiment retreated. Pal noticed his commander (and pre-war friend) was missing and went back under fire to find him. He located Marsh, managed to stop the bleeding, picked him up, and carried him to safety. Later that day, Capt. Marsh's arm was amputated below the shoulder, and three fingers of the hand were removed. Capt. Marsh was later promoted to Colonel and although unfit for field service, refused to go home!
and served in staff positions for the remainder of the war. Despite his severe handicaps, Capt. Marsh led a Texas Ranger company after the war, and served several terms as sheriff of Smith County, Texas. Pal Price also survived the war and maintained a warm friendship with Capt. Marsh until the latter's death in 1901.

As an aside, two of Pal's brothers, Benjamin Franklin (Frank) and George, also served in Co. C of the 17th, and died at Camp Douglas after their capture at Arkansas Post. Three other Price brothers died while serving in different Texas regiments during the war.

________________________________________
PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet
http://www.peoplepc.com

This thread:

• [17TH-TX-CAVALRY] Bryan Marsh by Charles Temple <>