Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-10-28
From the New York Worl'
NJ 0S B Y.
ny ONE VINO KNEW hin

From the New York World
M0SBY.
ny ONE WHO KNEW MN
Withou further preface, i; may surprise
some Of our more Northern readers 10 near
that ths man, figuring in the popular eye
as n rutiiGn and low HdHentnrer, was Dorh
and bred, and IL, in character and manners
n gentleman. Ills family is one oi hieh,
standing and intelligence in NiTglhlai nhu
he was educated at the University oI VT
ginia, where he studied the law IL com,
mcnccd the practice, married, ana wo"Ia
probably have passed through life as
county court lawyer had not the war TAX
en- place. When Virginia seeded, he imi-
taicd other young men, and embarked in the
struggle, as q private in regiment OF cav
nlrv- Here he exhibited courage nnd actlV-
ity' and eventually became first Lieutenant
md ndiutant. When the miserable "re'or-
ranizationn system ofthe Confederate States
9;oyern,ncnt went into operation IN the
spripr of 1862, and the men were allowed
to select their officers, Mosby-nover an
easy or indulgent ofiicer-was thrown out,
and again became private. lie returneu
10 the ranks; but his energy and activity
had been frequently exhibited, ana Gen.
Stuart, who possessed remarkable talent
for discovering conspicuous military merit
of any sort in obscure persons, speedily
sent for him, aud from that time employed
him as scout or partisan. II is proper 10
warn the reader here that scout Is not
spy. Mosbys duty was TO penetrate the
region of country occupied by the Federal
forces, either alone or in command OF
small detachment of cavalry; and by hover
inc in the woods around the Union camps,
interrogating citizens, or capturing pickets
or s,ragglers, acquire information OF the
enemv's numbers, position or designs. II
this information could be obtained without
n collision all the bettcr--but if necessary,
il was the duty and the habit of the scouts
to attack, or when attacked, hold their
ground as long as possible. In other words
there was inaugurated in the country occu-
pied by the Federal forces regular system
of partisan warfare, the object OF which
was to harrass the invading force, and IN
every way impair its efficiency.
Col Mosby can afford to wait to have JUS
ticc done him. He WAS respected by JACK
son, Stuart aud Lee and the world wlil not
willingly believe him to have been bandit
The works Of "Lieutcnant-Colonel -
and kindred penny-a-liners will make q
Dopular monster, for the moment OF the
popular partisan; but the writings OF this
class do not last long. 1t is to countcract
their poison at the moment, and dissipate
the yapid mist Of false accusation, that thls
mage is written. The brigand outline OF
the ycllow-covered trash has been alluded
to. and the "bloody baron character attrlo
uted 10 Moshy mentioned. What was the
appearance and character of the actual IN
| diyidual? What manner of personages
were "Mosby and his men" as they really
| lived and moved, and had their beings In
the forests and on the hills of Fauquier, in
| Virginia, in the year 1868 and 64 If the
reader will accompany me, | will conduct
him to this beautiful region swept by the
mountain winds, and will introduce him
remember. the date is l8G4--to plain and
unassumine parsonage, clad in gray, with
three stars upon his coat-collar, and two
nistols in his belt. lie is slender, gnunt
and active in figure; his feet are small and
cased in cavalry boots, with brass spurs
md the revolvcrs in his belt, are worn with
an air of business which IS unml strkaple'
The face Of this person, is tanned, beardiess,
youthful looking and pleasant He has
white and regular teeth which his haoltuai
smile reveals. His pierci eyes flash out
from beneath his brown hat, with Its gold
en- cord, and lie reins III his orse with the
case of Il practical rider.
A plain soldier, low and plain of stature,
ready to talk, to laugh, to ride, to obllge
YOU in any way-such was Mosby, IN out
ward appearance. Nature had given no
sign but the restless, rowing, flashing eye,
that there was much worth considering be-
meath. The eye did not convey false ex,
preston. The commonplace exterior Of the
partisan concealed one of the most active,
daring and penetrating minds OF an epoch
fruitful in such. Mosby was born to be
partisan leader, and as such was probably
greater than any other who took part IN th'
late war. He had by nature all the quah'
ties which make the accomplished ranger
nothing could daunt him; his activity o
mind and body-call it, if you choose, rest
less, eternal love Of movement, was some
thing wonderful and that untiring energ,
which is the secret of half the great sue
ccsses Of history, drove him incessantly Z
| plan, to scheme, to conceive, and to execute
He could not rest when there was anything
10 do, and secuted for his amusement
char ging pickets SoLus by way Of sport VI
dark and stormy nights, when other mel
aim at being comfortably housed, Mosb
liked to be moving with q detachment
his men to surprise and attack some Fede
raj camp, or to "run in" some picket, an
occasion CONSERVATION, if not inaict inju
ry.
The peculiar feature Of his command wa
that the men occupied no stated camp, an
in fact, were never kept together, except O
an expedition. They were scattered through
out the country, especially along the sma
farm houses in the spur of the Blue-ridg'
and here they lived the merriest lives IN
aginablc. They were subject to none Of tn
hardships and privations of regular so
, diers Their horses were in comfortabl
stables, or ranged freely over the e1cellar
pastures; the men lived with their familie
slept in beds, and had nothing to do wit
} sIrations' or hard bread and bacon. Mill
butter and all the household luxuries {
peace were at their command; and not VI
. iii their chief summoned them did the
buckle on their arms and get to horse.-
While they we're thus living on the fat I
the land, Mosby was perhaps off scoutir
on his private account somewhere down Z
ward Manassas, Alexandria or Leesburg.-
II his excursions revealed an opsning 4
successful operations, be sent on va
: rnoun,ad courier who Travelled rapidly