Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-20
Mosby, the Guerrilla.

The future historian will accord 10 Masby
bravery and sagacity worthy TO place him beside
Marion and Murat. He began at the foot Of tn,
ladder, having at first enlisted, or rather be too,
up arms on his own account, a. did many other
who were in the first batlle Of Bull Run, where
be rendered good service. His thorough knowI
'dge OF the country soon after attracted the at
tenlon Of jeff. Davis, and be was promoted, and
veil did he earn the rank Of colonel, which he
subsequently held. His command, which at nc
lime exceeded over 500 men, hlra@ed US more
han any other 10000 rebels.
/ Ever snce the first year Of the war, hia raid,
have been the terror ofthe Union people, Though
nominally in orr possession, it has been unsafe
for Union man there to avow ts sentiments
II he did 80 all his horses stock househod
goods, &c., we're sure to be gobbIed up. Mosby
entered our lines with impunily, securing what be
r quired, and returning in safety lie hung, SUI
len, defiant and dangerous on our rear in retreat
driving back and burning our wagon trains and
destroying all the forage which was likely to fall
into our hand' He fought to win, and rarely
entered into an engagement without good chance,
OF success. No prisoners we're treated harsby,
butaIl we're made 10 give up their money and
swap clothes, il bis men were TO be benefited by
the trade.
Ga raid he captured two Of our Paymsster,,
and, as the term is expressed by the prisoners,
they ieent through them. 90 division made
among those VIM were on this raid each one ;
share was S2l6S.
10 person Mosby is not formidable. lie is not
ove i've feet seven inches high, is thin and spare,
aud can clasp his body with hs hand.. Hi, age
IS about thirty years. lie is nseusble to fatigue 4;
know, no such word as fear has the piercing eve
Of an eagle and impressem person with the
idea that he can faihom his nnermost thoughts
Though genial, be is eXacting. lie is skful
horeman and dead shot drinks no intoxicating
liquors, and his hvorate beverage is strong cof.e.
lie allowed no men Of bis comm and to make use
Of ardent spirits, AID destroyed all that came
within bis reach. Strategy was no myth with
him
Oo one occasion, being severely wounded by
our men, be ordered his aid to strip his insignia Of
rank from his shoulders and leave him 70 hlt fate.
lhe Federal soldiers approached him, stripped
him OF his boots, and lefs him, seemingly 10 tie
last ttroes Of life, little dreaming that there lay
one fegnng mortal wounds whose death would
have been worth Thousands OF men to our cause.
But to Lim this was only another exploit.
On another occasion, Gen Lee Wished to deal
With man by the name of Deani,, who had left
the Cohfrdeacy and come within our lines at
AeIsndrls, and he detailed Mo,by to capture him.
Ia the evening, at ended by single orderly, he
made bis way through our lines TO Delanles
house, and knocked al the door, when bis sum
mons was answered by him in person,
Mosby informed him that he was prisoner,
took him through the streets Of AeIindrs, pass
ed The pickets ~ safety, and 10 due time delivered
the man 10 Redmond.
There was no dang rous mission to which be
ordered bis men which he was not willing to share
with them Not man who was 10 bis command
has word to say sgalnN him, and they expressed
the opinion that be has N de nolhibg by his raids.
Hs loved excitement, and sharp contest was the
best place to display bis cooIness aud daring
Before the war he was lawyer, OF no great retu
taIion for dbiiiy. Had not the fortunes Of war
brought MIN out be would not have had a note in
the worlds history. But that has rendered him
Infamous, and he stand, branded as traitor to
that t'g under which he was reared -- Boston
Trdusier.