Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-04-19
Written tr- the Register.
THE FIRST VIRGINIA CAVALRY.
"Reminiscences BY a Survivor OF This Gallant
Regiment-From the Valley TO AppomattoI.

We Adl the pleasure OF TedI4uE
several letters written by General T
7. Munford, Of Lynchburg, Va, to an
old soldier Of this vicinity, and al
though they had not seen or heard
from each other since they parted at
Appomattox, thirty-hys years ago, it
was truly touching to note how afec-
,ionately they greeted each other.
We are sorry that We are not permit
ted to publish them, as they are very
interesting and would be greatly ap-
prsciated by the many old soldiers Of
Jefferson and Berkeley counties who
belonged to the First Cavalry and
who would be glad to know what their
old commander has to say. They
contain notes of battles and skirmishes
Of Early's campaign in the Shenan-
doah Valley in 1864, in which the
First Virginia Cavalry bore a conspic-
uous part.
General Munford was a hard fight
er His ability as a cavalry officer
was recognized by Generals Lee, jack
son aud Stuart. There was no officer
10 the cavalry that saw harder service
or lid more fighting than Genera. T.
L Muu.grl, particularly in hIs Val
ley campaign. Il was here IN the
Shenandoah Valley, with the hrst,
second, third and fourth regiments
Of cavalry that he met and more than
held his own against Generals Tor
bert, Wilson, and Merritt, whose
forces numbered more than four times
his own.
At the battle Of Winchester, Sep
tembsr 10, 1864, with one small bat
terry and his brigade, be checked and
held Wilson's and Ayerills divisions
of cavalry aud prevented them from
running over Early s defeated lntan-
Try. Again on the 22nd Of Septem-
Der, when Early was defeated at Fish
ers Hill, Sheridan sent Merritt and
Wilson down the Luray valley to
cross over 70 New Market with their
two divisions Of cavalry under Gener-
al Tolj=lt. with orders to defeat the
cavalry and cut of Early's retreat at
New Market. This force was the
flower Of the |. ;. Cavalry aud was
commanded by three OF the best ten
erals in their cavalry service. Nun
ford modes,.y puts their number at
about six thousand. General Shen-
dan a few weeks later puts the ettec-
tive force Of these two divisions at
mine thousand nine hundred and
eighty-seven. Muntord with his
brigade and one little battery met
this force at Milford and held It the
entire day. Ioroert tired hard to
break through Mantord lines but
failed to DO So which undoubtedly
saved Lar.y army from total destTUc-
ton. General Sheridan IN ms report
OF the battle OF FISHERS HiI says:
unfortunately the cavalry which /
mad sent down the LoEay valley TO
cross over to New Market was unsnc-
cesssul' and only reached as tar as
Milford, point at winch the LuFay
valley contracts to a gorge and which
was taken possession OF oy the enemy $
cavalry IN some ioTee' Had General
I0E0sFt driven TINS oaTaIFy or turned
the deh-e ana reached We" Market, l
nave no DOUBT out mat We "0u4a
have captured 'le entire army
Nuntord success at Milford with but
fifteen hundred cavalry and our small
battery IN checking Ioroerts forces
aud preventing him from carrying out
Sheridan order Will ever rank as
one OF the granaest achievements OF
the war BY the cavalry.