War Between the States envelope addressed to Mrs. D.S. Stocking, Charleston, S.C., with C.D.S., Richmond, Va., Oct. 17, 1861, and hand stamped Due 5. Endorsed at the upper left, Priv. Jno. D. Munnerlyn, Georgia Hussars, Capt. J.F. Waring. Scarce and very desirable war date cover from the elite "Georgia Hussars."


The Georgia Hussars. Organized 13 February 1736. This troop of Mounted Rangers was raised by General Oglethorpe to patrol and protect the Colony of Georgia from the Spaniards and Indians. It fought at Bloody Marsh in 1742 and at the Siege of Savannah in 1779. Its record during The War 1861-1865 is unsurpassed as was its service in Mexico, World War I, World War II and Korea. It remained Horse Cavalry until October 1940. From Colonial times to Vietnam, Hussars have represented Savannah in all our Wars. It is still an active unit in the Georgia Army National Guard. [Inscription on The Georgia Hussars Marker located in Savannah, Georgia].

During The War Between the States, The Georgia Hussars, raised two companies to fight for the Confederacy; Company A, became Company F of the Jeff Davis Legion, and Company B, served as Company D, 2nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry.

Private John D. Munnerlyn, served in Captain Joseph Frederick Waring's company in the Jeff Davis Legion. Munnerlyn enlisted as a private on September 17, 1861, and served with the unit until being discharged on December 26, 1862, by reason of physical disability.

Captain Joseph Frederick Waring, was born in Savannah, Ga., on February 13, 1832. He graduated from Yale in 1852, studied law, and became a successful planter in Georgia, as well as being an Alderman in Savannah. When the war commenced in 1861, Waring was a Captain in the Georgia Hussars, and he took his company to Richmond, Virginia to report for duty. Originally assigned to the 6th Virginia Cavalry, this assignment did not last long. Captain Waring was seriously wounded in the face on December 4, 1861, near Annandale, Va., when he led a night raid in an attempt to capture a Union picket post. He received a gunshot wound to his right cheek, another bullet grazed his head, and he had a dozen holes shot through his cape and uniform coat, but he managed to survive. A few days later, Waring's company was assigned as Company F, of the Jeff Davis Legion. He was promoted to major in early 1862, and after seeing action in both the Virginia Peninsular campaign and the Maryland campaign, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Jeff Davis Legion, on December 2, 1862. When Colonel William F. Martin, the original commander of the Legion was promoted to brigadier general, and transferred to the western theatre of the war, Waring was appointed commander of the Jeff Davis Legion. His unit then served in General Wade Hampton's command where Waring led his troops through all of the major cavalry battles of the eastern theater of the war, including Brandy Station, Gettysburg, where he was wounded for the second time, and Trevilian Station. He was promoted to colonel in July 1864, and when General Hampton was ordered to South Carolina in February 1865, the Jeff Davis Legion commanded by Colonel Waring accompanied them south. They participated in the 1865 Carolinas campaign against General William T. Sherman, and Waring and his remaining troops surrendered at Bennett's Place, on April 26, 1865, with the army of General Joseph E. Johnston.