COL. MAURICE'S LANGHORNE
Was born in Cumberland county, Virginia, on March 27, 1823. He is
the son of Col. Maurice Langhorne, who was born in Warwick county,
Virginia, served in the war of 1812 as lieutenant of the "Cumberland
Troop Cavalry," and died in February, 1865, at the age of 78 years.
The mother of Col. Maurice S. was Elizabeth Allen, born in Prince
Edward county, Virginia, died in 1840, at about the age of 50 years
Colonel Langhorne entered the Confederate States Army, April 23,
1861, Company A, 11th Virginia regiment, rank of captain. He was
the first to tender to the Confederate Government the service of an
armed company of Virginia troops. On the 17th day of April, 1861,
this company was detailed by Gen. Longstreet, with nine others (making
regimental strength) to hold Munson's Hill, which had been captured
from the Federals the day before, and Captain Langhorne was appointed
by General Longstreet to command of the detail, which, as he then
ranked only as captain, occasioned some surprise. The event justified
the appointment, the detail under Captain Langhorne, with two guns
under Captain Rosser (afterwards Gen. Rosser), repelling three charges
in which the enemy made desperate effort to recapture the ground, and
holding it until the battle was over. About this time Captain Langhorne
was promoted lieutenant-major of his regiment, after
battle of Seven Pines received commission as lieutenant-colonel and
afterwards colonel of same, but received in that battle a severe gunshot
wound in left leg which incapacitated him for field service. He was
assigned in the same year (1863) to Lynchburg as post commander,
but retired in the latter part of the same year. Then took charge of
and organized for the reserves under General Kemper. Later was put
in command of a brigade of reserves and convalescents, and sent with
them to confront Stoneman and check his advance at the time Stoneman
made the raid into Virginia and burned the salt works. In February,
1865, Colonel Langhorne was detailed to the secret service, a
service made up of three colonels whose duties were to consider plans
of action against the enemy. He was so serving at the close of the
war. Since that time he has been engaged principally in handling
tobacco in many forms. His brother William was in service one year
of the war, first sergeant in the 2d Virginia Cavalry. Daniel A. Langhorne,
another brother, now a practicing physician, was one year in
service, lieutenant-colonel of the 42d Virginia regiment.
