Richard Edgar Frayser

Frayser, an orphan early, worked in a store and for the Post Office as a young man, before establishing his own 'mercantile' business in New Kent in 1854. At the start of the War he enlisted as a Private in the unit which became Company F, 3rd Virginia Cavalry. He came to General Stuart's attention on the Peninsula in June 1862, but was captured in July. He was exchanged in August, and, on the 31st, was appointed Stuart's Signal Officer and commissioned Captain.

He was cited in General Stuart's Report for his service during the Maryland Campaign.

Frayser continued on Stuart's staff and detached duty until May 1864 when he was again captured - this time in action in Spottsylvania - the day after his General was mortally wounded. The Captain was imprisoned at Fort Delaware until late August 1864, then among the "Immortal 600" on Morris Island in Charleston Harbor and later Fort Pulaski, Georgia. He was exchanged among the sickest prisoners in February 1865.

He settled in Richmond and was in the newspaper business. By the 1890's he had obtained a law degree and had also dabbled in Virginia politics.

Biographical details from They Followed the Plume1, which is also source of the copy of his photo used here. The original is in the Valentine Museum, Richmond.

10/1830; Kent County, VA

12/22/1899; Richmond, VA; burial in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA