[218] active in organizing the State militia and succeeded in raising a mounted brigade, which he commanded with signal ability at Carthage and at Springfield. He continued to serve in Missouri during 1861, some of the time having a separate command, but generally serving under Price. He rendered important service at the battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn), his brigade doing some of the hardest fighting of that well-fought field. He served all through 1862 and 1863 in the Arkansas campaigns, being commissioned a brigadier-general in the Confederate service on the 5th of November, 1862. When Banks began his Red river campaign in 1864, Parsons was sent to reinforce the army under Dick Taylor. He reached Mansfield just at the close of that brilliant victory and on the next day commanded the division of Missouri infantry at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9th, losing 33 killed and 288 wounded. Upon the retreat of Banks, Gen. Kirby Smith detached Parson's command with other troops and marched against Steele in Arkansas. He encountered that general at Marks' Mill and again at Jenkins' Ferry, forcing him to beat a retreat back to Little Rock. In this double campaign, in which the Confederates recovered large parts of Louisiana and Arkansas, Parsons' command added new fame to that already acquired. Parsons was with General Price in his last great march through Arkansas and Missouri and shared in all the marches, hardships and battles of that trying campaign. At the close of the war General Parsons went to Mexico and joined the republican forces in their war against Maximilian. He was killed in an engagement with the imperial forces at Camargo, Mexico, on the 7th of August, 1865.
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[218] active in organizing the State militia and succeeded in raising a mounted brigade, which he commanded with signal ability at Carthage and at Springfield. He continued to serve in Missouri during 1861, some of the time having a separate command, but generally serving under Price. He rendered important service at the battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn), his brigade doing some of the hardest fighting of that well-fought field. He served all through 1862 and 1863 in the Arkansas campaigns, being commissioned a brigadier-general in the Confederate service on the 5th of November, 1862. When Banks began his Red river campaign in 1864, Parsons was sent to reinforce the army under Dick Taylor. He reached Mansfield just at the close of that brilliant victory and on the next day commanded the division of Missouri infantry at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9th, losing 33 killed and 288 wounded. Upon the retreat of Banks, Gen. Kirby Smith detached Parson's command with other troops and marched against Steele in Arkansas. He encountered that general at Marks' Mill and again at Jenkins' Ferry, forcing him to beat a retreat back to Little Rock. In this double campaign, in which the Confederates recovered large parts of Louisiana and Arkansas, Parsons' command added new fame to that already acquired. Parsons was with General Price in his last great march through Arkansas and Missouri and shared in all the marches, hardships and battles of that trying campaign. At the close of the war General Parsons went to Mexico and joined the republican forces in their war against Maximilian. He was killed in an engagement with the imperial forces at Camargo, Mexico, on the 7th of August, 1865.
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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