Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-21
OLD SERIES, VOL. 26, NO. 8

tne lanC., MoseDy was perhaps securing on
on his own private account somewhere
down towards Manassas, Alexandria, or
Leesburg. If his excursions revealed an
opening for successful operations, be sent
off q well mounted courier, who travelled
rapidly to the first nest of rangers; thence a
fresh courier carried the summons elsewhere;
and in few hours twenty, thirty, or fifty
men, excelently mounted, made their ap-
pearGRce at the prescribed rendezvous The
man who disrcgarded or evadcd the second
simmons to raid was summarily dealt
with; he received note for delivery to Gen.
Stuart, and on reaching the cavalry head
quarters was directed to return to the regu
lar service from which he had been trans
ferrcd.
This seldom happened, however. The
men were all anxious to 20 upon raids, to
share the rich spoils; and were prompt at
the rendezvous. Once assembled, the ran
gers fell into column, Moseby said "Come
on" and the party set forward upon the APP
pointed task--to surprise some camp, cap
ture an army train, or ambush some detach-
ed party of Federal cavalry on foraging
expedition.
Such a life is attractive to the imagina-
ton, and the men came to have a passion
for it. But it is dangerous service. 1t
of wits between the opposing commanders.
The great praise of Moseby was that his
superior skill, activity, and good Judgment
gave him almost uninterrupted success,
and invariably saved him from capture. An
attack upon Col. Cole, of the Maryland
cavalry, near London Heights, in tie winter
of 1864, was his only serious failure, and
that appears to have resulted from disobe-
dience of his orders. He had here some
valuable officers and men killed.
He was several times wounded, but never
taken. On the last occasion, in 1864, he
was shot thruugh the window of house in
Fauquier, but managed to stagger into
darkened room, tear off his stars, the badges
of his rank, and counterfeit a person NOR
tally wounded. His assailants left HIM
dying as they supposed, without discover
ing hIs identity, and when they did discover
1t hurried back, ne had been removed beyond
reach of peril. After his wounds, he always
reappeared paler and thinner, but more
active and untiring than ever. They only
seemed to eXasperate him, and make him
more dangerous to trains, scouting parties,
and detached camps than before.
The great secret of his success was un-
douGtedly his unhounded energy and en-
terprise. General Stuart came finally to re-
pose unlimited confidence in his recourccs,
ana relied implicitly upon him. The
writer recalls an instance of this in June,
1868. General Staurt was then near Mid
dleburg, watching General Hooker, who
was about to move towards Pennsylvania,
but could get no accurate information from
hls scouts. Silent, puzzled and doubtful,
the General walked up and down, knitting
his brows and rejecting, when the little
figure of Moseby appeared, and Stuart
uttered an exclamation of relief and salts
faction. They were speedily IN private con-
sultation and Moseby only came out again
to mount his quick grey mare and set out,
. in heavy storm, for the Federal camps.
| On the next day he retured with iIforma-
ton which put the entire cavalry in motion.
He has penetrated General Hookcr's camps
ascertained everything and safely returned.
This had been done in his grey uniform,
with his pistols in his belt; and believe 1t
was on this occasion that he gave a charac-
teristic evidence of his GOODNESS. He had
captured Federal cavalryman, and they
were riding on together, when suddenly
they struck a column Of the Union cavalry
passing. Moseby drew bis oil cloth around
him, cooked his pistol, and said TO his COM
panion, If you make any sign or utter a
word to have me captured, l will blow
your brains out and trust to the speed of
my horse to escape, Keep quiet, ard We
will ride on without troubling anybody"
His prisoner took the hint. believing doubt
less that it was better to be prisoner than
a dead man; and after riding along careless
ly for some distance as though he were one
of the column, Moseby gradually edged of,
and got away safely with his prisoner.