The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-05
RECOLLECTIONS OF
FLAG OF VIRGINIA
One Presented to Second Regl
ment Virginia Cavalry, and
How 1t Was Received.

This story, connected WIFI oai $500
| flag, will bring back memories Oh
scenes enacted by the survivors OF our
dear old regiment, the Second virginia
Cavalry of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia.
| Late in the evening of the l2th OIL
\ December. 1868. when the chilly WINDS
| were blowing fresh over the snoW-claa
hills of Culpeper and Albemarle. we
1 arrived near charlottesville. expecting
1 to go into winter quarters, ana 70
build huts, as had been done by COL
onel C. o. Theodore Bland Tor the
British prisoners of General Phillips's
army, captured at Saratoga and located
| here in sight of the home Of the Sage
! OF Monticello in 1876. Hopes ran high
| for a pleasant respite, and the cheer
| ing reception accorded to us by the
| fair ladies' in welcoming Company K
back to their homes in Albemarle
| made pleasing impression. The next
| day the mail boy was crowded with
| letters to the dear ones at home, tell
| ing of hopes of quiet and visits antici-
pated, with comforts to be, sent to US,
| long since almost forgotten. The pre-
liminaries had been arranged. but in a
few short hours mighty change came
/
The following morning, the 14th OF
December. when many of the men had
| been granted leave to visit the city, n
| telegram arrived at headquarters an
nouncing Averill's raid, but 1t had been
so well arranged as to myctify our ofii-
Gals Bugle at headquarters pealed
long and loud. Saddle up; saddle up;
water your horses; give them some
hay, and get them all ready for NOV
ing to-day
Next came a circular order, Draw
three days rations, and be ready to
move at the earliest moment practical
lbIe: each trooper to provide himself
with full complement Of ammuni-
ition.'
Each regimental and company bugler
was posted off to the city to sound the
| assembly, to call the men to camp. In
q few hours everything was packed, and
| off we started over the Blue Ridge at
Browns Gap, and down and across to
the Valley Pike, and on to Mount Crlw-
ford. Here conflicting orders came, which
started Us back towards Stanton. When
within six miles of that point we were
counterElarched to Mount Crawford
again. The diversion made by the enemy
had thrown our command of the track.
Then came q rushing order heading
us for Lexington, and after good, hon
est meal we moved to Colierstown, at
the foot of the Allegheny Mountains. Up
that iceberg, for the road was covered
with ice and snow and as slick as glass,
the men were compelled to dismount,
, and the danger from the horses slipping
; above you, sliding and scrambltng, was
t worse than being In a cavalry melee,
: | where there was a chance to defend your
self with arms. A sadder plight was
! never seen, and soldiers were never in
: | worse condition, even when Napoleon
, retrea ted In Russia.
Arriving at the top of this terrible
ascent, a still worse fate seemed to fol-
low us. Being ordered back again down
this chasm, we had q rough tumble tc
the bottom of the mountain. BY this
time rilis We're swollen into raging and
! dangerous waters. Many splendid old
!. steeds had their legs broken, many
sprained, cut and bruised and made pit
y eously lame. Back we moved to Buch-
> anan and Fincast!e. and then on towards
, Covington; thence to Callehan's and thu
:, Warm Springs, where. meeting with Gen
= eral Imboden's cavalry, the wild chase
;, was given up.
:, Half dozen commanders had beer
= foiIed, Ayerill had doubled and eludet
them all under good guides, and hac
9 made good his escape Horses TO tnt
1
IS avail than men. Not a drop Of blood
IS had been split by our men, but oul
C suffering beyond description from colo
;, and rain, snow and high waters an(
), scanty rations for men and beasts, IL
- the saddle sometimes whole day ant
n most of the night; we had marched
] over three hundred miles In twelve
h days and had not drawn a trigger, bu
If our brigade was absolutely used up
and hundreds of horses we're ruined
= Taking u day of rest at the Warn
Spring, where hay in plenty was TO b.
l. had, our regiment. being near ou
homes, was wisely allowed to disban,
ut for a month to recruit, with orders II
i'd rcassemble at I.ynchburs IL not undo
g. an emergency call to the front,
~ At Eincastle the regimental mai
- was found, and in 1t came the follow
o. ing letter from that Cd Roman. homes
10 John Letcher, Governor Of Virginia
VI to our Colonel T. Z. Munford with hi
J. reply on behalf of his commando
G, Executive Department.
y Richmond Va. Dec. II, 1863,
II. Colonel 7. r. Munford, Second Rcgi
= ment Of Virginia Cavalry, Army o
Northern Virginia:
IT Sir,--I have the pleasure OF present
IS ing to you flag for the Second Regi
m ment of Virginia Cavalry, which hn
r so long, 80 faithfully. and with sucl
1t distinguished ability been commando
s. by YOU. The gallant services rendere
O. by yourself and men from the incep
err ton of the war to the present dn
~ have inspired in me as Virginia.
~, and Ms the Executive of the Common
~ wealth, the liveliest feeling of prid
:, and appreciation,
y ! have always felt confident that pir
~ GINA officers and priyates In this wa
u would prove themselves equal to tn
e. best troops that ever graccd n seryic
lis or honored battlefield, have no
Ng been disappointed, and now that 81,
in about to retire from office feel prid
OF in declaring that the Virginia Of tn
ng Revolution Of 1870 Will not furnish
~. nobler or brighter history Of hersel
n and her sons than the Virginia Of ia
pb BEFORE this war shah end we nxpo,
~ to endure yet moro suffering. more d,
-. pfivaton, than hay" fallen 10 us
the past and we Will enIlirc them an
win eventually triumph. I commit iii
pg nag u you with the assurance thai
IS Will be entrusted to brave and mob
H. lauQa who VIII defend N ,yi,h -,