[The portrait, in oil, of
General Thomas T. Munford,
Confederate States Cavalry, a striking life-likeness, executed by
Bernard Gutman, of
Lynchburg, Virginia, was presented on Friday evening, March 24, 1899, to
Robert E. Lee Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans, in a chaste address by
Major Samuel Griffin of Bedford City, Virginia, who served as
Adjutant-General on the staff of
General Munford.
It was evidently, as stated by the speaker, ‘a labor of love,’ and was in glowing eulogy of the personal virtues and valor of the distinguished cavalry leader.
The description of the disbanding of
General Munford's famous command after the memorable surrender of April 9, 1865, was highly pathetic.
The speaker said, in conclusion, that he could not refrain from a passing tribute to the signal gallantry on the field of battle, he had so often witnessed in his old
comrade Captain Lamb, who was to follow him in accepting the portrait of their beloved commander.
The remarks of
Captain Lamb were in deep feeling and unostentatiously characteristic of ,him.
They embody many details of history of intrinsic value as the testimony of a participant in momentous campaigns and engagements covering the period of the stupendous struggle of the
South for independence.
Captain Lamb the oft-re-elected, efficient and popular representative of the third district in our National Congress, in his exemplified merit is well-known to our people.
The occasion was highly enjoyed by a large and intelligent audience comprehending leading ladies and gentlemen of our city and
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its vicinity, the Society of the Daughters of the
Confederacy, and war-worn veterans, in force.
There was enlivening music under the direction of
Professor Herbert Rees, and a touching solo by
Mrs Walter Mercer.
The paper of
Captain Lamb is now for the first time printed.— editor.]
Mr. Commander, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is a pleasant duty at any time to respond to a request from Lee Camp.
It is further an honor to be detailed for the special duty of receiving another portrait to be added to the splendid galaxy that surrounds us on these walls.
This is a portrait, my comrades, of one in whose command I served; whose splendid form and mein come before my mind's eye even now as I call up the past and see him at the head of his old 2d Regiment, or leading a charge of the brigade he commanded so admirably.
I would ask your sympathy, and invite your friendly criticism, as I attempt to condense in a brief compass that which would require more than an hour to rehearse, in order that justice might be done to the deserts of my old friend and comrade whose portrait I gratefully accept.
Our thanks are due the comrade,
Major Samuel Griffin, the
Adjutant-General of our old brigade, for his eloquent and tasty address in presenting this portrait.
He has relieved, in great measure, the burden which would have rested upon me, for he has told far better than I might of the distinguished services rendered by
General Munford.
These heroes, living and dead, who look down upon us from our walls, have made history.
Let us, their comrades and survivors, as well as the sons whom God has vouchsafed us, see that it is preserved, and the records of these our glorious heroes handed down to the generations that shall follow us. I know of no better way to preserve the truth than through your camp organizations, and that of the Sons of Veterans.
These young gentlemen will to-night learn something of the sacrifices of a gallant Confederate leader, who was among the very first to enlist, and the very last to lay down his arms; who, as commander of the splendid 2nd regiment of cavalry, led the advances and guarded the flanks, and picketed the lines of
Stonewall Jackson, who, after the death of
Ashby, led the men who so often responded to the bugle call of that brilliant commander.
When
General Jackson's command moved to the assistance of
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Lee in the combined attack upon
McClellan, that resulted in the seven days fight around this historic city,
Colonel Munford's regiment 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 delivering 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
Magruder 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 30th, he ordered
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
Gaines' Mill to ‘
Westover,’ see the letter of
General Munford on page 80 of the
Camnpaigns of Stuart, by
H. B. McClellan.
On page 466 of
Dabney's Life of Jackson, we find these significant 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 protected in their outset by the oblique fire of a powerful artillery, so well posted on the right, would not have failed to dislodge
Franklin from a position already half lost.
The list of casualties would have indeed been larger than that presented on the 30th, of one cannoneer mortally wounded.
But how much shorter would have been the bloody list filled up the next day at
Malvern Hill.’
When
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Dabney says, ‘this temporary eclipse of
Jackson's genius was probably to be explained by physical causes;’ the whole story of the
White Oak Swamp is told in a few words.
I wish to emphasize the fact that
Colonel T. T. Munford performed well and satisfactorily the part assigned him that day, for on a little slip of paper
General Jackson wrote to him: ‘I congratulate you on getting out.’
Had
Munford's suggestion been followed,
Franklin would have been forced back to where
Heintzelman and
McCall were barely holding their own against
Longstreet and
A. P. Hill.
The Federal forces, disputing the passage of
Fisher's Run by
Armistead and
Mahone, would have been forced to fall back, and
Huger's whole division would have reinforced
Longstreet; while
Magruder at
Timberlake's store, on the
Darbytown Road, at two o'clock, the 30th, was within two hours march of
Glendale.
To one who understands the topography of this country it looks as if the very
stars in their courses fought against us on the fateful 30th of June, 1862.
A month of inactivity succeeded the seven days battles and then followed the
second Manassas campaign.