Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/101

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

UNDER THE CONFEDERACY


17


he did without loss to his command. He then procured a howitzer and passed in the rear of Gen. Hooker's army ; wrecked a railroad train laden with supplies ; inflicted severe damage on the troop guarding the tiain, and finally cut his way through and escaped. He captured a transport near Aquia creek in May, 1864, while Grant was engaged in the Wilderness and the Federal commander was olsliged to detach a cavalry force to protect his communications. With twenty-nine men he marched into Fairfax Court House on the night of March 7, 1863, captured Gen. E. H. Stoughton at his head- quarters with a number of his stafT, and delivered them as prisoners to Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. His command was known as the Forty-third Batallion, Virginia Cavalry, and he was commissioned successively captain, major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, C. S. A. After the close of the war he engaged in the practice of law at Warrenton, Vir- ginia. In 1876 he made public through a letter to the "New York Herald" his inten- tion to support the candidacy of Rutherford E. Hayes for the presidency, and in this letter first applied the phrase the "Solid South." President Hayes appointed him United States consul to Hong Kong, China, in 1878, and he retained the office until 1885. Returning to the United States he began the practice of law in San Francisco, Cali- fornia, and became counsel for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. On September 23, 1899, a granite monument, twenty-five feet high, was unveiled at Front Royal, Vir- ginia, by "Mosby's men," in memory of the seven comrades executed near the spot, September 23, 1864, while prisoners of war in the hands of the Federal army. In July. iQoi, he was appointed special agent of the


general land office, with headquarters at Sterling, Colorado. He is the author of " .\ Bit of Partisan Service" and "The Con- federate Cavalry in the Gettysburg Cam- paign" in "Battles and Leaders of the Civil \\'ar" (Vol. Ill, pages 148 and 251), and of "Mosl)y's War Reminiscences and Stuart's Cavalry Campaign" (1887). See "Partisan l^ife with Mosby" by John Scott, (1867); "Mosby and His Men" by J. M. Crawford, (1867), and "Mosby's Rangers," by J. J. Williamson (1895).

Munford, Thomas Taylor, born in Rich- mond, Virginia, in 1831, son of Col. George Wythe Munford, for twenty-five years sec- retary of the commonwealth. He graduated in 1852 from the Virginia Military Institute, and, was mainly engaged as a planter. On May 8, 1861, he entered service as lieuten- ant-colonel of the Thirtieth Virginia Mounted Infantry, subsequently known as the Second Cavalry Regiment. At Man- assas he commanded what was practically a brigade. In the spring of 1862 he was attached to Ewell's command, and then joined Jackson in the valley. He succeeded Ashby, when that officer fell, being person- ally named by Gen. R. E. Lee. He led Jackson's advance in the Chickahominy campaign, and joined Stuart in the Manas- sas campaign, receiving two sabre wounds. He was brigade commander in the Mary- land campaign, and later commanded a di- vision. After Chancellorsville he com- manded Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, under \,hom he took part in the Gettysburg cam- paign ; was with Early in the valley ; and i'l November, 1864, was promoted to briga- dier-general, and given command of Fitz- hugh Lee's division. He made a gallant