Confederate Patriot and Congressman: A grandson of an American Revolutionary War soldier, he responded at the very first call for shoulders when southern succession was accomplished and war was declared. He volunteered as a private in the Bainbridge Independent, First Georgia regiment. At the time the American Civil War began, he was probably the wealthiest plantation owner in Decatur County, Georgia, yet he enlisted into the private ranks. Being an only child, he had inherited the beginning of his wealth with his father Charles Lewis Munnerlyn's death in 1857, a successful plantation owner. He was educated and studied law at Emory College, Oxford, Georgia and was admitted to the bar. He found that he had other desires and never regularly practiced law. In 1861 he was a delegate to the succession convention representing Decatur County, Georgia, voting for Georgia's succession from the federal union. He favored the formation of the southern confederacy and advocated the election of Jefferson Davis to confederate presidency and was always one of that great statesman's admirers and closets friends. During the Lauret Hill retreat from northwestern Virginia he and a large portion of the First Georgia regiment were lost for a week without food in the Allegheny Mountains. This terrible incident broke down his health and he retired from the army. After returning home to Decatur County, Georgia, he was elected to the confederate congress serving as a representative from 1862 to 1864. He was defeated for re-election the next term due to his having voted for the conscript act, an unpopular law at the time amongst the majority. Continuing to serve his beloved south, he once again enlisted as a private soldier in Colonel Scott's battalion, Florida cavalry. Finding out about his patriotism, President Davis, who knew and appreciated his merit appointed him a major's commission and ordered him to Florida to organize a regiment south of the military line. The regiment's duty was to keep a steady flow of supplies, especially cattle to the starving army in Virginia. This duty he devotedly performed, securing his promotion to lieutenant colonel, a position he held at the end of the war. This regiment he commanded was eventually combined with others and formed in to the First Battalion Florida Special Cavalry which he commanded as lieutenant colonel. The battalion often referred to as the "Cattle Battalion", "Cow Calvary", "Commissary Battalion" or "Munnerlyn's Battalion," composed of nearly 800 soldiers.

The Confederates organized a special battalion of the state militia with the sole purpose of stopping the Union raids. The battalion, commanded by Col. C. J. Munnerlyn, was made up of cattle drovers who were exempt from the Confederate Army. Among them was Capt. Francis A. Hendry. They became known as the Cattle Guard Battalion or "Cow Cavalry."

BATTLE OF FORT MYERS:

In early February 1865, the Cattle Guard Battalion was deployed at Fort Meade. They were ordered to attack Fort Myers because it was learned that the fort might soon be abandoned. Three companies (between 275 and 400 men) and one 12-pounder artillery piece arrived at old Fort Thomson (LaBelle, Florida) on February 19. They marched down the river and camped near Billy's Creek. The next morning, they surprised several black Union soldiers on picket duty and shot or captured them as they tried to flee.[4][5]

The firing had alerted the fort, so the Confederates fired a warning shot from their cannon, followed by a messenger demanding the Union troops surrender. The fort's commanding officer, Capt. James Doyle, sent back a refusal: "Your demand for an unconditional surrender has been received. I respectfully decline; I have force enough to maintain my position and will fight you to the last." Doyle wheeled his own two cannons outside the fort. A battle began with the black Union soldiers firing the artillery and the white Union cavalrymen firing their carbines. Throughout the day, both sides continued sporadic firing, which finally ceased at dark. One black Federal soldier had been killed in the skirmishing.

The next morning, the Cattle Guard Battalion returned to Fort Meade. Even though the attack had been repelled, Fort Myers was abandoned by its garrison in early March.

Source: Wikipedia - Battle of Fort Myers - February 20, 1865

At the end of the war under advisement of General Sam Jones commander in Florida, he was asked to lay low and be ready to facilitate the escape of any officers of the late Confederate government who might wish to leave the country. He assisted in the escape of the confederate secretary of war, Judah P. Jones. The war over he returned home a poor man, his wealth swept away, he had risked all and lost all for his country. Without any complaints or disparaging word he accepted this outcome like the valiant gentleman he was. In the years to come after the war, Colonel Munnerlyn was elected ordinary of Decatur County, Georgia and held the office for 14 years until his death. In this office, he was instrumental in building the Atlantic and Gulf railroad, called the Savannah at the time of his death, to Bainbridge, Georgia. This southern gentleman was put to rest with Masonic honors in the family graveyard near "Refuge" the family home.