Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-23
MOSBY. THE GUERRILLA.

The future historian will accord TO Mos by
bravery and sagacity worthy to place him
beside Marion and Murat. He began at the
foot Of the ladder, having at first enlisted or
ruther he took up arms On his own account,
a, did many Others who were in the first battle
Of Bull Run, where he rendered good service.
His through knowledge Of the country soon
after attracted the attention of jeff Davis,
and be was promoted, and we'll did he earn
his rank of colonel, which he subsequently
held. His command, which at no time ex-
ceeded over 500 men, harassed us more than
any other 10 600 IT bells.
Ever since toe first year of the war, his
raids have been the terror of the Union peo-
pie. Though nominally in our possession,
IT has been unsafe for Union man there to
avow his sentiments. If he did so, all his
horses, stock, household goods, &C., were
sure to be gobbled up Mosby entered COR
lines with IMMUNITY, securing what he requir-
ed, aud returning in safety. He hung sulleD,
defiant and dangerous our rear in retreat,
driving back and burning our wagon trains,
and destroying all the forage which was like
ly to fall into our hands. He fought to win,
and rarely entered into an engagement with
out good chances of success. No prisoners
were treated harshly, but all were made to
give up their money and swap clothes, if his
men were to be benefited by the trade.
On one raid he captured two of our Psymas-
ters, and. as the term ia expressed by the
prisoners. they 'oent through them. On di-
vision made amorg those who were on this
raid each ones share was S2l6s.
In person Mosby is not formidable He is
not over FIVE feet seven inches high, is thin
and spare, and can clasp his body with his
hands. His age is about thirty years. He
is insensible to fatuige knows no such word
as iesr has the piercing eye of an eagle /;
and impresses a person with the idea that
he can fathom his innermost thoughts.
Though genial, he is exactng. He is skill
full horseman and dead shot; drinks no in
toxoating liquors, and his favorite beverage
is strong coffee. He allowed no man of his
command to make use Of ardent spirits, and
destroyed all that came within his reach.
Strategy was no myth with him.
On one occasion, being severely wounded
by our men, he ordered his aid to strip his
insignia of rank from his shoulders and leave
him to his fate. The Federal soldiers APP
preached him, stripped him of his boots, and
left him, seemingly in the last throes OF life,
little dreaming that there lay one feigning
mortal wounds whose death would have been
worth thousands of men to our cause. But
to him, this was only another exploit.
On another occasion, Gen. Lee wished to
deal with man by the name Of Delanie, who
had left the Confederacy and come within our
lines at Alexandria, and he detailed Mosby
to capture him. In the evening, attended by
a single orderly, he made his way through
our lines to Delanie's house, knocked at the
door, when his summons was answered by
him in person.
Mosby informed him that he was prison
er, took him through the streets of Aexan-
dria, passed the pickets in safety, and in due
time delivered the man in Richmond.
Thare was no dangerous mission to which
he ordered mis- men which he was not willing
to share with them. Not man who was in
his command has word to say against him,
and they expressed the opinion that he has
made nothing by his raids. He loved ex-
element. and sharp contest was the best
place to display his GOODNESS and daring. Be
fore the war he was lawyer, of no great
reputation for ability. Had not the fortunes
of war brought him out he would not have
had note in the worlds history. But that
has rendered him infamous, and he stands
branded as traitor to that flag under which
he was reared.-Boston Traveller.