Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/17

 Address of Captain John Lamb. 5

of the fight. Munford led the charge, and was dismounted by a sabre stroke, and his horse killed.

In a few moments, five of his men were killed outright, and over forty wounded. The yth and i2th regiments the latter com- manded by Colonel A. W. Harman supported the charge. In this fight more than 300 prisoners were captured.

THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.

Stuart's cavalry cro'ssed the Potomac on the 5th of September ; Fitz Lee moving on the New Market, Hampton on Hoyattstown roads, while Munford covered Sugar Loaf mountain, with his pickets extended as far as Poolesville. The 6th regiment had been detached, and the iyth battalion sent on some special duty ; so that Munford had only three regiments, the yth, I2th and 2d. On the yth of September, Pleasanton's cavalry drove in Munford's pickets, and on the next day attacked his command with superior numbers, driving the I2th regiment before them in some confusion. The sharp shooters of the 2d regiment checked this advance near Barnesville. On the following day, the gth of September, occurred the fight at Monocacy Church, in which the yth again suffered loss. On the loth Pleasanton attacked Munford on Sugar Loaf Moun- tain, but was repulsed ; on the I4th Franklin's corps advanced in force, and Munford retired to a point near Frederick. The critical situation of the Confederate army on the i4th of September is well known to the old soldiers, as well as to the students of history.

The dispatch to D. H. Hill that fell into McClellan's hands re- vealed the position of our troops, and accounts for the vigor of the Federals at Crampton's Gap and other points the defence of the former by Munford, with his two regiments, and a fragment of the two regiments from Mahone's brigade, under the gallant Colonel Parham, deserves a more extended notice than can be given here. With less than 800 men he held in check for three hours three bri- gades of Slocum's, and two of Smith's divisions. As the Federals closed down upon Sharpsburg he was assigned to the right of Lee's line of battle, and on the i2th and i8th was actively engaged in skirmishing with the Federal cavalry. I regret that time will not permit even extracts from his report.

FROM THE VALLEY TO FREDERICKSBURG.

On the loth of October two columns of the Federal army ad- vanced with the view of ascertaining the position of General Lee's