In honor of those men from West Virginia, the brave soldiers of McClausland’s Brigade who cut thru the Union lines at Appomattox and refused to surrender….these “Unreconstructed Rebels” (as McClausland called them) will be honored and remembered as we recreate this unique and epic event at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park in Summersville, WV on May 24th-26th, 2015 in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary Commemorative Events of the Civil War. This event was proposed and organized in 2013, and is hosted by Wise's Legion in collaboration with the Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park. Other units are welcome to attend as long as they abide by Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park rules, policies, and regulations, as well as the rules for this event.
When Lee surrendered at Appomattox on Sunday, April 9, 1865, Brig. Gen. John McCausland again refused to say that "damned distasteful" word, just as he had at Fort Donelson in 1862. Of his brigade, there were but one officer and twenty-six men paroled at Appomattox. As Sheridan surrounded Appomattox Court House with three cavalry divisions, Brig. Gen. John McClausland’s western Virginians, MArylanders under Brig. Gen. Thomas Munford, and Brig. Gen. Bryan Grimes’ North Carolinians attempted to cut through the Union cavalry and make their way to Lynchburg. Of course McClausland and Munford were successful, but because Gen. Grimes delayed his movement, he was then completely surrounded and unable to march with McClausland to Lynchburg.
McCausland described Lee's surrender as follows:
“My command by that time a mere skeleton, reduced to not more than 200 men -- was next to General Tom Mufolrd's [Munford], on a hill above the town. Suddenly there was a lull in the fighting, which for days raged with the fury of hell. I noticed the men along the battle line below stacking arms. Just at that moment, General Fitzhugh Lee came charging by on his horse.
"High Fitzhugh, what's going on out there?" I asked.
"Uncle Bobby has surrendered," he shouted back, spurring his horse to speedier flight.
I turned to Munford and said, "Let's get out of here."
We made our way to Lynchburg where we disbanded our forces. I went to Wytheville and coming through McDowell county, made my way down New River and back home here.”
McClausland and Munford did not surrender at Appomattox. On the 9th of April a heavy force of the Federal cavalry was seen moving along Munford's front, parallel to it. Col. Dorsey of the 1st Maryland Cavalry mounted his men and, pulling down a fence in his front, was moving through the gaps in it toward the enemy. As soon as his first section had passed through, they saw the Federals in full charge at them not a hundred yards off. “We must charge them,” said Capt. William J. Raisin, “that's our only chance.”
“Draw saber, gallop, charge!” was Col. Dorsey's order, and the Marylanders hurled themselves on the advancing foe and drove him back. This was the last cavalry charge made in the army of Northern Virginia. William C. Price, Company E, was killed. His was the last bloodshed in the war in Virginia.
In ten days Colonel Dorsey got an order to move up the valley to Salem. When they arrived at Cloverdale in Botetourt county, they received this parting address from Munford, titled “The Bravest of the Brave”:
When Lee surrendered at Appomattox on Sunday, April 9, 1865, Brig. Gen. John McCausland again refused to say that "damned distasteful" word, just as he had at Fort Donelson in 1862. Of his brigade, there were but one officer and twenty-six men paroled at Appomattox. As Sheridan surrounded Appomattox Court House with three cavalry divisions, Brig. Gen. John McClausland’s western Virginians, MArylanders under Brig. Gen. Thomas Munford, and Brig. Gen. Bryan Grimes’ North Carolinians attempted to cut through the Union cavalry and make their way to Lynchburg. Of course McClausland and Munford were successful, but because Gen. Grimes delayed his movement, he was then completely surrounded and unable to march with McClausland to Lynchburg.
McCausland described Lee's surrender as follows:
“My command by that time a mere skeleton, reduced to not more than 200 men -- was next to General Tom Mufolrd's [Munford], on a hill above the town. Suddenly there was a lull in the fighting, which for days raged with the fury of hell. I noticed the men along the battle line below stacking arms. Just at that moment, General Fitzhugh Lee came charging by on his horse.
"High Fitzhugh, what's going on out there?" I asked.
"Uncle Bobby has surrendered," he shouted back, spurring his horse to speedier flight.
I turned to Munford and said, "Let's get out of here."
We made our way to Lynchburg where we disbanded our forces. I went to Wytheville and coming through McDowell county, made my way down New River and back home here.”
McClausland and Munford did not surrender at Appomattox. On the 9th of April a heavy force of the Federal cavalry was seen moving along Munford's front, parallel to it. Col. Dorsey of the 1st Maryland Cavalry mounted his men and, pulling down a fence in his front, was moving through the gaps in it toward the enemy. As soon as his first section had passed through, they saw the Federals in full charge at them not a hundred yards off. “We must charge them,” said Capt. William J. Raisin, “that's our only chance.”
“Draw saber, gallop, charge!” was Col. Dorsey's order, and the Marylanders hurled themselves on the advancing foe and drove him back. This was the last cavalry charge made in the army of Northern Virginia. William C. Price, Company E, was killed. His was the last bloodshed in the war in Virginia.
In ten days Colonel Dorsey got an order to move up the valley to Salem. When they arrived at Cloverdale in Botetourt county, they received this parting address from Munford, titled “The Bravest of the Brave”:
Cloverdale, Botetourt Co., Va., April 28, 1865.
Lieutenant-Colonel Dorsey, Commanding First Maryland Cavalry:
I have just learned from Captain Emack that your gallant band was moving up the valley in response to my call. I am deeply pained to say that our army cannot be reached, as I have learned it has capitulated. It is sad indeed to think that our country's future is all shrouded in gloom. But for you and your command there is the consolation of having faithfully done your duty. Three years ago the chivalric Brown joined my old regiment with twenty-three Maryland volunteers, with light hearts and full of fight. I soon learned to respect, admire and love them for all those qualities which endear soldiers to their officers. They recruited rapidly, and as they increased in numbers, so did their reputation and friends increase; and they were soon able to take a position of their own.
Need I say when I see that position so high and almost alone among soldiers, that my heart swells with pride to think that a record so bright and glorious is in some part linked with mine? Would that I could see the mothers and sisters of every member of your battalion, that I might tell them how nobly you have represented your State and maintained our cause.
But you will not be forgotten. The fame you have won will be guarded by Virginia with all the pride she feels in her own true sons, and the ties which have linked us together, memory will preserve.
You who struck the first blow in Baltimore and the last in Virginia have done all that could be asked of you. Had the rest of our officers and men adhered to our cause with the same devotion, to-day we should have been free from Yankee thralldom. I have ordered the brigade to return to their homes, and it behooves us now to separate.
With my warmest wishes for your welfare, and a hearty God bless you, I bid you farewell.
Thomas T. Munford, Brigadier-General Commanding Division
McClausland’s intentions were to meet up with Brig. Gen. Thomas Munford’s and Brig. Gen. Bradley T. Johnson’s Maryland Brigades, then in Christiansburg, and possibly execute guerilla operations from the safety of the Valley, and possibly attacking Washington while all eyes were fixed on Lee’s surrender in Appomatox. McClausland marched to Lynchburg and cleared the streets of roving bands of looters and people destroying the city until local civil authorities were able to resume control. He then met up with Gen. Bradley T. Johnson and Munford in Christiansburg, southwest of Roanoke, where they disbanded and went home at the end of May 1865.
I have just learned from Captain Emack that your gallant band was moving up the valley in response to my call. I am deeply pained to say that our army cannot be reached, as I have learned it has capitulated. It is sad indeed to think that our country's future is all shrouded in gloom. But for you and your command there is the consolation of having faithfully done your duty. Three years ago the chivalric Brown joined my old regiment with twenty-three Maryland volunteers, with light hearts and full of fight. I soon learned to respect, admire and love them for all those qualities which endear soldiers to their officers. They recruited rapidly, and as they increased in numbers, so did their reputation and friends increase; and they were soon able to take a position of their own.
Need I say when I see that position so high and almost alone among soldiers, that my heart swells with pride to think that a record so bright and glorious is in some part linked with mine? Would that I could see the mothers and sisters of every member of your battalion, that I might tell them how nobly you have represented your State and maintained our cause.
But you will not be forgotten. The fame you have won will be guarded by Virginia with all the pride she feels in her own true sons, and the ties which have linked us together, memory will preserve.
You who struck the first blow in Baltimore and the last in Virginia have done all that could be asked of you. Had the rest of our officers and men adhered to our cause with the same devotion, to-day we should have been free from Yankee thralldom. I have ordered the brigade to return to their homes, and it behooves us now to separate.
With my warmest wishes for your welfare, and a hearty God bless you, I bid you farewell.
Thomas T. Munford, Brigadier-General Commanding Division
McClausland’s intentions were to meet up with Brig. Gen. Thomas Munford’s and Brig. Gen. Bradley T. Johnson’s Maryland Brigades, then in Christiansburg, and possibly execute guerilla operations from the safety of the Valley, and possibly attacking Washington while all eyes were fixed on Lee’s surrender in Appomatox. McClausland marched to Lynchburg and cleared the streets of roving bands of looters and people destroying the city until local civil authorities were able to resume control. He then met up with Gen. Bradley T. Johnson and Munford in Christiansburg, southwest of Roanoke, where they disbanded and went home at the end of May 1865.
