Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/18

 6 Southern Historical Society Papers.

army. The one from Harper's Ferry, under General W. S. Han- cock, was composed of 1,500 infantry, four regiments of cavalry and four pieces of artillery numbering perhaps 5,000 men or more. This advance was opposed by Colonel Munford with a part of the 2d, yth and i2th Virginia cavalry. He was supported by one gun of Chew's battery, and three of the Richmond Howitzers under Captain B. H. Smith, Jr.

Captain Smith lost a foot in this fight, and Lieutenant H. C. Carter, of this city, was badly wounded. By one of those curious mistakes that sometimes occur, Colonel Munford mistook this Car- ter for J. W. Carter, who was in Chew's battery. McClellan in Life of Stuart follows this report. So, we are engaged to-night in correcting, as well as preserving, history.

REORGANIZATION OF THE CAVALRY.

On the loth of November, 1862, the cavalry brigades were re- organized and W. H. F. Lee and W. E. Jones were promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, Colonel Thomas T. Munford who had so ably commanded Robertson's brigade as we have shown, was transferred with. his regiment to Fitz Lee's brigade, which he afterwards commanded in so many engagements. The officers and men of his command soon learned to appreciate his soldierly bear- ing and gave him loyal support, while his excellent qualities of head and heart endeared him to all who were thrown in social in- tercourse with him. In winter quarters and around camp fires the non-commissioned officers and privates conversed as freely with him as they would have in the social circle of their own homes.

A private of my own company, who was detailed as a courier to Colonel Munford, when he returned to his command, never tired of telling his messmates how kind and considerate the General was to the private soldiers of his command. Perhaps in this respect the Confederate army differed from every other army in the world, and was in striking contrast with the Federal, chiefly because that army was composed in good part of foreigners. In a regiment captured by my brigade, a half-dozen different languages were spoken, and it was a ludicrous scene to witness their efforts at conversation.

FROM FREDERICKSBURG, 1862, TO THE END OF THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN, JULY 31, 1863.

The Fredericksburg field offered little opportunity to the cavalry. In the Chancellorsville fight, at Burnt Furnace, and Ely's Ford, as