Thomas T. Munford

Thomas Taylor Munford (March 29, 1831 – February 27, 1918) was an American farmer, iron, steel and mining company executive and Confederate colonel and acting brigadier general during the American Civil War.

Early life and education

Munford was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Colonel George Wythe Munford and Lucy Singleton Taylor. He was descended from Lewis Dyve who fought in the English Civil War. On July 30, 1849, Munford enrolled at Virginia Military Institute and graduated in July 1852, standing 14th in a class of 24. He married Elizabeth Henrietta Tayloe, daughter of Mary Langhorne and George Plater Tayloe, in 1853. Prior to the Civil War, Munford was a cotton planter in Mississippi and farmer in Bedford County, Virginia.

Civil War With the outbreak of the Civil War, Munford was mustered into the Confederate States Army on May 8, 1861 by Colonel Jubal A. Early and served as a lieutenant colonel with the 30th Virginia Volunteer Regiment, When the cavalry was reorganized under J.E.B. Stuart, he was promoted to colonel of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry as the 30th Virginia Volunteer Regiment had been redesignated. and fought at Five Forks, High Bridge, and Sailor's Creek. However, hearing that Johnston had since surrendered, Munford dispersed his force after reaching Lynchburg, Virginia.

Personal life His first wife died in 1863, and Munford was remarried to her cousin, Emma Tayloe, daughter of Henrietta Ogle and William Henry Tayloe, in 1866.

Postwar career After the war, Munford inherited his father-in-law's plantation, Oakland, in Perry County, Alabama and became a cotton planter in Alabama. He returned to Virginia and worked as a cotton planter and as an iron manufacturer and writer. He was Vice President of Lynchburg Iron, Steel & Mining Company. He served as President of the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors from 1884 to 1888.

Death and legacy On February 27, 1918 at the age of 86, Munford died at the home of his son in Uniontown, Alabama. He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia.