Church Road in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

"Among my gallant officers…":

Colonel Thomas Munford

— Petersburg National Battlefield —

"Among my gallant officers…": Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021

1. "Among my gallant officers…": Marker

Inscription.

"Among my gallant officers…":. Colonel Thomas Munford. , One of the Confederates trying to stem Gen. Crawford's Union troops was James Breckenridge. Born in Fincastle, Virginia he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and the law school at the University of Virginia. At the outbreak of the war he volunteered, along with his three brothers, rising to the rank of Captain of Company C, 2nd Virginia Cavalry in 1862., Colonel Cary Breckenridge of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry wrote about the events of April 1st, 1865 and the death of his 28 year-old brother,,

"We were ordered to move to the left of his [General George Pickett's] line, the rest of the Brigade remaining near the road. This was a hurry order and we went through the woods as rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit, and in a direction parallel with the line of battle as it was then raging. When probably 1/4th of a mile from the starting point we ran against a column of Federal Infantry moving directly across our front., The men of the 2nd were dismounted as they came up, being in a straggling condition owing to a rapid movement through thick woods, and a weak skirmish line formed which opened on the enemy at close range. The Federals marching in columns of fours right shoulder shift took little notice of us at first, but presently faced to the left returned our fire at the rate of about one thousand shots to one and soon swept us out of the way. This was the beginning of the retreat as far as the 2nd Regt was concerned. We lost some officers and men in this unequal contest., Among them Capt. James Breckenridge, Co. C who endeavored to make a stand on the bank of a small stream at the edge of the woods. He was discharging his pistol into the face of the enemy not over twenty paces distant when shot down."

, Breckinridge was buried on the battlefield. A memorial marker was placed in Longwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia by his family. During the 1950s remains were found by a local resident along Courthouse Road. Research indicates the remains belonged to Captain Breckinridge and, after consulting with the soldier's family, a decision was made to rebury these remains where they were found.,

"His gallantry and dash were universally recognized as second to no other officer in the command." – Munford

One of the Confederates trying to stem Gen. Crawford's Union troops was James Breckenridge. Born in Fincastle, Virginia he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and the law school at the University of Virginia. At the outbreak of the war he volunteered, along with his three brothers, rising to the rank of Captain of Company C, 2nd Virginia Cavalry in 1862.

Colonel Cary Breckenridge of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry wrote about the events of April 1st, 1865 and the death of his 28 year-old brother,

"We were ordered to move to the left of his [General George Pickett's] line, the rest of the Brigade remaining near the road. This was a hurry order and we went through the woods as rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit, and in a direction parallel with the line of battle as it was then raging. When probably 1/4th of a mile from the starting point we ran against a column of Federal Infantry moving directly across our front.

The men of the 2nd were dismounted as they came up, being in a straggling condition owing to a rapid movement through thick woods, and a weak skirmish line formed which opened on
Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online
the enemy at close range. The Federals marching in columns of fours right shoulder shift took little notice of us at first, but presently faced to the left returned our fire at the rate of about one thousand shots to one and soon swept us out of the way. This was the beginning of the retreat as far as the 2nd Regt was concerned. We lost some officers and men in this unequal contest.

Among them Capt. James Breckenridge, Co. C who endeavored to make a stand on the bank of a small stream at the edge of the woods. He was discharging his pistol into the face of the enemy not over twenty paces distant when shot down."

Breckinridge was buried on the battlefield. A memorial marker was placed in Longwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia by his family. During the 1950s remains were found by a local resident along Courthouse Road. Research indicates the remains belonged to Captain Breckinridge and, after consulting with the soldier's family, a decision was made to rebury these remains where they were found.

"His gallantry and dash were universally recognized as second to no other officer in the command." – Munford

Erected by National

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021

2. "Among my gallant officers…": Marker

Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 1, 1865.

Location. 37° 8.827′ N, 77° 37.38′ W. Marker is in Church Road, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It is on Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 627) half a mile north of White Oak Road ( Route 613), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Church Road VA 23833, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:

Paid Advertisement

Crawford's Sweep (here, next to this marker); "Hold Five Forks at all hazards…" (approx. half a mile away); Death of Pegram (approx. half a mile away); The Battle of Five Forks (approx. half a mile away); Five Forks Battlefield (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Battle of Five Forks (approx. half a mile away); "We had moved up to the edge of the timber..." (approx. 0.6 miles away); "While dashing forward..." (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Church Road.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Digging In (was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 486 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.