Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/15

 Address of Captain John JMYI\I>. 3

Lee in the combined attack upon McClellan, that resulted in the seven days fight around this historic city, Colonel Munford's regi- ment accompanied his command, and participated, as far as the nature of the densely wooded country would permit, in the fights around Richmond. At White Oak Swamp, where Jackson was detained a whole day, while Longstreet and A. P. Hill were deliv- ering the fearful battle of Frazier's Farm, Colonel Munford was called upon to perform one of those difficult tasks that often fall to the lot of this arm of the service. As the part he performed that day has been misunderstood and erroneous impressions prevail as to the cause of Jackson's delay at White Oak Swamp, let me, in the fewest words possible, give the exact situation. While Magru- der engaged the Federal forces on the afternoon of the 29th of June, 1862, Jackson's forces were rebuilding Grape Vine Bridge, and only succeeded in crossing the Chickahominy after darkness had fallen. On reaching White Oak Swamp on the 3Oth, he or- dered Munford to cross the stream, notwithstanding the enemy had torn up the bridge and planted their artillery so as to command the crossing. Crutchfield brought up two batteries of artillery and opened on the enemy. Munford's leading squadron moved across under almost insuperable difficulties.

The regiment soon followed, charging the Federal batteries, but were repulsed by the infantry line of battle. Munford moved down the stream, and recrossed with great difficulty by a cow-path. He informed General Jackson that the infantry could cross below the bridge, but the engineers thought that they could cross better above it. A division of infantry was therefore put in above, but, after wasting hours of valuable time, failed to effect a crossing.

For an interesting page of the chapter of accidents that followed us from Games' Mill to " Westover," see the letter of General Mun- ford on page 80 of the Campaigns of Stuart, by H. B. McClellan.

On page 466 of Dabney 's Life of Jackson, we find these signi- ficant words: "Two columns pushed with determination across the two fords, at which the cavalry of Munford passed over and returned the one in the centre, and the other at the left and pro- tected in their outset by the oblique fire of a powerful artillery, so well posted on the right, would not have failed to dislodge Frank- lin from a position already half lost. The list of casualties would have indeed been larger than that presented on the 3oth, of one cannoneer mortally wounded. But how much shorter would have been the bloody list filled up the next day at Malvern Hill. ' ' When