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Local historians honor veteran

Corsicana Daily Sun - 11/25/2018

Nov. 25--History enthusiasts came together Nov. 17, 2018, at the Brushie Prairie Cemetery in western Navarro County for a special occasion.

Several years ago, Rex Huha, California, came to Corsicana in search of the lost grave of his great-great uncle, Lawson B. Price. He visited the Liz Gillispie Genealogy Department at the Corsicana Public Library where he met Dana Stubbs. Over the next several years he worked on his family history and finally determined his great-great uncle was buried at the Brushie Prairie Cemetery.

Huha ordered a VA marker to mark a memorial spot in the cemetery. He contacted Sam Thomason with the cemetery association and Thomason determined it was possible to place the marker near known members of the Price family. Because of events beyond his control, Thomason was not able to install the marker. Huha called on Stubbs at the library. As she and her husband, Norman Stubbs, are familiar with the process, they along with Bill Stubbs installed the marker while Thomason was in attendance.

Then a call went out to the Roger Q. Mills Chapter, 2466, United Daughters of the Confederacy. They conducted a dedication of the marker for Sgt. Price. With a magnolia-covered wreath next to the marker, Dana read a history of the units Sgt. Price served. Norman recited the poem "The Flag My Grandpa Knew" by Ron Hatfield. Next, Geneva Davis, UDC, read the daughter's dedication and a poem. The service concluded with a three-shot salute by Norman and the small group sang Dixie.

Price's service in the Confederate army

When Lawson Price and his brother, Moses Price enlisted to fight for the Confederacy they first joined the 12th Arkansas Infantry. This unit spent much of its time defending Confederate strong points along the Mississippi River. The unit first participated in the Battle of Fort Donelson. Then they took part in the defense of Island No. 10, early spring, 1862. Outnumbered at least three to one, the Confederates realized their situation was hopeless and decided to surrender. The bulk of the 12th Arkansas was then sent to prisoner of war camps and exchanged at Vicksburg, MS, in September, 1862.

However, Sgt. Price was enlisted into the 33rd Arkansas by Special Order Number 28, issued by Major General Hindman. This order was for the absentees at the time of the surrender at Island No. 10. As Moses Price had been killed, one may surmise Sgt. Price was taking care of his deceased brother, therefore, missed this POW service of their company. Incidentally, another brother, Andrew Price was a member of the 33rd Arkansas.

In December, 1862, they participated in the Battle of Prairie Grove, which resulted in a tactical draw but it essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union. In the summer of 1863 they were located in Louisiana where they conducted raids on Federals around the Mississippi River. They fought in the Battle of Milliken's Bend but was unsuccessful in relieving the Southern forces at Vicksburg. But, they helped force the submission of the 1st Arkansas Union companies therefore missing the Battle of Helena in July.

Sgt. Price was able to go home on furlough in August 1863, but should have been back on duty in time for the Battle of Little Rock which when over was a mark for the Union army.

Sgt. Price went home on sick furlough for 30 days January and February of 1864.

Then came the Red River Campaign in the spring of 1864. The Army of Trans-Mississippi fought along the Red River in Louisiana. Sgt. Price's company participated in the Battle of Pleasant Hill keeping Shreveport, Louisiana, safe from Union occupation. They next were back up near Little Rock where they met the Yankees at Jenkins' Ferry. It was called a draw but the Union Army was saved by being able to cross the Saline River.

By late April, 1865, news of Lee's surrender in Virginia had reached Louisiana and Texas. Since war-ravaged Arkansas was unable to make ends meet the regiment was encamped in and around Marshall, Texas.

The 33rd Arkansas was covered by the formal surrender of the Department of Trans-Mississippi. Most of the Arkansas regiments simply disbanded without formally surrendering and for the most part, the men simply went home.

Sgt. Price and his family came to Navarro County shortly before his death. He had worked as a teamster in the Dallas area prior to settling the Brushie Prairie community. He was only about 42 years of age when he died. He was a mason and interred at the Brushie Prairie Cemetery.

He was survived by his wife of 20 years, Nancy (Davis) Price and two sons, Jefferson Beauregard Price and Robert Lawson Price; two daughters, Mollie Susannah (Price) Lambright.

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(c)2018 the Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, Texas)

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