ROBINSON CIVIL WAR HERO-MAJOR HORACE P. MUMFORD VICKSBURG, MS. DAILY HERALD-June 1864 Major H.P. Mumford, of the 5th Regiment Illinois cavalry, Volunteers, was made the recipient of a very valuable sword, sash, and belt, a few evenings since, by the men of his old company (F-all from Crawford county) of said regiment. The presentation was made by Capt. William Wagenseller (also of Robinson), in behalf of his men, in a very neat and appropriate speech, the Major in receiving this token of respect and remembrance addressed the boys as follows: Comrades of Co. F. It is with a deep feeling of gratitude to you that I am made the recipient of these most valuable tokens of respect and regard, I receive them from you, and I assure you, they will ever be kept by me, as tokens of remembrance of you. Coming to me as they do, from old companions in arms, with whom I have spent two years in close affiliation, and with whom I have shared all the hardships and privations; mingled together with all the pleasures of a soldiers life, coming too from those whom I had the honor and there pleasure to command as their Capt. I cannot help but receive them with the deepest feelings of gratitude and pleasure. Boys, I thank you, most heartily, for your tokens of respect, and in receiving them allow me to assure you I will wear them in defense of my country, with the hope that I may never bring disgrace upon them or to cause you to regret this presentation. Boys, your company and our regiment are entering, a new arena and your country has called upon you for your help, and you have responded to the call. You had the fortitude and bravery to respond to the call of your country near three years ago when everything looked dark and gloomy. You then rushed into the field indiscriminately, under inexperienced officers, and at the time too, when our government was almost unable to arm and equip you. You have withstood all the hardships and privation soldiers could stand and have seen your companions dwindle away by the hand of disease in our hospitals. You have endured that which was almost beyond endurance. Yet when our government again calls upon your assistance, you respond with unbounded devotion and promise to fight it out to the bitter end. The prospects are fair, a dawn of light begins to break forth from the clouds, which have been so long overhang our glorious country. The papers come to us laden with best of news with cheer and encouragement from our recent engagements with the rebel hoards in Virginia. Our noble, valiant, persevering warrior, Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant, is winning new lands while with the old veteran heroes of the Potomac he is steadily sweeping on in direction of Richmond. Old Butler (Gen. Benjamin F. Butler) is on the alert below the James (river), watching his chances and harassing the enemy at every point; while those who fight mit Sigel (Gen. Franz Sigel originally from Germany who led a Division of mostly German Volunteers and the preceding quote became a famous slogan) hold the reign of power on the west, and thus you see boys, we are gradually approaching the rebel stronghold at Richmond, with the same undaunted courage, skill, and strategy with which their stronghold at Vicksburg was approached a year ago, and we can now safely predict the same fate for Richmond as that befell Vicksburg. While this is all going on, we see old Sherman (Gen. William T. Sherman) too, sweeping steadily forward into the very heart of the would be Confederacy, with his old Vicksburg veterans, led by McPherson (Gen.James Birdseye McPherson-would be killed in battle near Atlanta about a month after this speech) and Logan (Gen. John A. Logan from Illinois), mingled together with those old heroes of the battles of Stone River, Chattanooga, and Mission Ridge. With these brave armies marching on, lead by these brave and experienced Generals, we cannot but feel that the day of retribution has surely come. With my best wishes for your welfare in your new term of service, with the hope that it may be as pleasant as your past term. I again thank you for your kind remembrance of this evening. (they had just reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers) The Major retired amid rounds of applause and cheers, after which Col. McConnell (Col. John McConnell of Springfield), was loudly called for, and spoke a few years for the boys. STATE SENATOR-MAJOR MUMFORD-Argus-Aug 25, 1864 At our county convention, held the 11th inst., a resolution was passed instructing for Major Horace P. Mumford, of the 5th Ills cavalry, as our first choice for candidate for the State Senate. We have been personally acquainted with the Major since he had come to Crawford county, and we think no better choice could at this time be made for the position. Mr. Mumford first came to this place in the summer of 1860, and established the CRAWFORD COUNTY BULLETIN, a paper supporting Douglas for president. (Stephen A. Douglas) His paper immediately took rank among the first of the district. He remained a firm and steady follower of that greatest American statesmen up to the time of his death after which he did not find fail to heed his dying counsel. On the breaking out of the war his paper took a firm and decided stand in favor of crushing out the rebellion, for which he and his paper were most severely denounced in some resolutions passed at a meeting held in the vicinity where the enrollment papers of this county were captured about a year ago. (southern part of Crawford county) Mr. M. also took an active part in the raising men for the first three infantry companies that went from this county, going to work personally as a recruiting officer, spending his time and money, without any reward whatever save the welfare of his country. In the fall of 61 Major Apperson (Thomas Apperson of Makanda), of the 5th cavalry regiment (then being organized at Camp Butler) came here to see if a company could not be raised in this county. Some of the leading and influential men of the county said it could be done, and that he would do it himself. He at once went to work with a will and raised the company, and on its organization he was unanimously elected captain, which position he filled with honor and credit to himself, frequently being in command of the regiment on a raid. Last winter, a vacancy occurring in the majorship of the regiment Mumford was promoted to that position, and sent home on the recruiting service. The ranks of all the old regiments had become much decimated and recruiting officers had been sent home from most of them; and now while the majority of our old regiments contain only four or five hundred men the fifth cavalry is a full regiment for which fact it is indebted to the zeal and energy of Major Mumford, who superintended the recruiting of it. To show in what opinion the Major is held by his commanding officers, we present the following letter from General Dennis (Gen. Elias Dennis) to Hon. Jesse K. Dubois. (Dubois, a former resident of Palestine and personal friend of President Lincoln and widely known by all Craword county citizens and soldiers) Headgrs !st Div. Vicksburg, Miss-July 24, 1864 Hon. Jesse K. Dubois, Springfield, Ill. DEAR FRIEND: I have recently returned from an expedition to Jackson, Miss., in which we were extremely successful accomplishment all we expected fought the enemy in superior numbers and whipped them. The well led force by Major Mumford, 5th Ills. Cav. Vols. The major has been in my command for the past four months and the greater part of that time he had command of the regiment. In the late expedition from Vicksburg the Major had command of the entire cavalry force, composed of parts of four regiments. He commanded as well and done better fighting than any cavalry officer I have met in Mississippi, it will be endorsed by all the old officers who were with the late raids. Maj. Gen. Slocum (MG. Henry W. Slocum of Gettysburg fame) was so well pleased and satisfied with him and the good discipline of his command that he continued him in command, not withstanding his superiors were present with him with the expedition. I learn from the Major that he is unbelted to you for his present position, for which he feels very thankful. You may well be proud of the selection you made, for without I am greatly mistaken, in a very short time he will rank among the first cavalry officers in the service, if his daring, and I might say reckless, exposure of his life in battle does not cause his friends to mourn his early death. I am sir, Your Friend, ELIAS S. DENNIS, Brig. Gen. Should Major Mumford receive the nomination he will be permitted to come home for a short time, and he will make a most able canvass. He is a good speaker, and speaks boldly and fearless, handling secession sympathizers without gloves, and should he receive the nomination and be elected he will make a most able representative in out State Senate. ARGUS Oct 20, 1864 STATE SENATOR It turns out that Major Mumford, the Union candidate for State Senator, has not attained the age required by the constitution of a senator. The convention which nominated him had no knowledge of this fact, and nominated him solely as a compliment for his well known patriotism as a citizen, and bravery as a soldier. This created the necessity of the Major retiring from the present contest; but when the war is over and he with his brave comrades, shall return, with victory and peace giving new lustre to the stars of our national banner, the people will richly reward him for his brilliant services in the field. Col. Isaac L. Lieth, of Effingham, has been placed on the ticket as the candidate of the Union party for State Senator. Col. Lieth is an old citizen and a life-long democrat; having repeatedly been honored by the democratic part of his county with positions of trust and confidence. He was a democratic delegate to the late constitutionals convention; only severed his connection with the party when convinced that those who controlled its action had utterly abandoned the party that sustains the army, and that policy which will save the country from utter and hopeless ruin. The nearness of the approaching election will not allow Col. Lieth to make a canvass of the district, and we hope Union men will give him that support which his worth as a man, and patriotism as a citizen merit. If we fail to elect him this time we shall surely succeed in the next trials. ARGUS-Nov 3, 1864 DEATH OF MAJOR MUMFORD It is with the most painful regret that we announce the fact that Horace Preston Mumford, of this place and Major of the 5th Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, died at Springfield, Ills., on the morning of the 26th ult. We know nothing that has cast so general a gloom over this community since the outbreak of the rebellion as this news of the death of the Major. It seems but a day ago that he was among us so full of health and bright prospects of a long life and glorious future. How truly and forcibly it remains us that God is no respecter of persons, and that in the midst of life we are in death. The Major left his regiment about the 4th of October, in charge of the non-veterans, who were to be mustered out at Springfield, on the 15th. He also had a furlough extending until after the election, to enable him to make the canvas for the office of State Senator from this district, for which position he had been nominated by the Union party. On reaching Springfield, and learning that he was constitutionally ineligible to that office-he being but in his 24th year-the position was immediately declined. It was his intention to come home and labor for the cause of the Union during the time of his furlough, but ere he could leave Springfield, he was stricken down with disease, and after lingering ten to twelve days, he died. It seems hard to lose so brave and good an officer-so noble a young man-who had so many bright prospects for the future, thus, after he passes through the dangers of many a hard fought battle, but we must bow in meekness to the will of Him who doeth all things well. It has been but a few weeks ago since we gave a short history of the Major, on the occasion of his being chosen as the candidate of the Union party for Senator, and it is not necessary for us to repeat the same now. Little, however, did we think then that we should be soon soon be called upon to write an obituary of him. We presume the remains of the Major will be taken to Kenton, Ohio-the residence of his mother for interment, and though his host of friends in Crawford county may not be permitted to look upon his last resting place, his memory will ever remain green in their hearts. NOTES: Photos Major Mumford, Jesse K. Dubois and Pioneer Cemetery, Kenton, Ohio
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:27:52 +0000
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