Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-16
MOSBY AND HIS MEN.

In Inc year o4 MosDy nau become SO
troublesome TO the different ouiposls for
the defrnses OF Washington City. that
Whole brlgades would rest only when sur.
rounded by formidable stock AIDES, and the
cavalry pickets were sent out minus hor.
ses. lest their post should be surprised,
and Uncle Sam be deprived of the beasts
hich he prizrd higher than their tempo
rary owners, especially if lie be Dulch-
tmsn. And here let me remark, that
Pennsylvanians, from the large pre7on-
deranre Of that class, were considered
about on par with our iar.heels, the
North Carolnians, SO far as fighting quail.
tiles were concerned. while the men from
the Western and Northwestern States
were known 10 be the bravesl, and on the
eve Of battle, if their locality was known,
respected accordingly.
Anandale, small village nine miles
from Alexandra, and bu, lillle farther to
Washington City, was, the year we have
spoken Of, occupied by several hundred
cavalry. and fortified. outpost fashion,
entire encsmpment Mosby took two
hundred men and piece of artillery, and
started with The intention Of shelling the
garrison into uHendeI-cavalry her
ses, suffers wagons. Du,chmen. and all
But when reaching the vicinity Of Cen
treville, he learned that detachment OF
cavalry, consisting of forty men, under a
lieutenant, were serving con6scaion no.
llces in the neighborhood, and that they
hailed from Anandaie, he concluded that
i, would be preferable to attack this small
force in an open country than TO risk the
lives Of his men TO superior numbers be-
hind such shelter as would be expert
enced in the attack first contemplated.
Getting on lhe track of the conhscaling
lieulenan, and hi, forty men, the pursuit
was exciIingly eager as The difference in
numbers was great, and soon Mosby had
The satisfaction of seeing the disposition
of the forces under the aforesaid lieutenant
to be thus: Plan OF bdliIe-men dis
mounted, arms on The ground, horses
grazing. The line of battle extended half
nie, the left eating cherries, the right,
the extreme right. up Tree of the sane
fruit, while the centre, which consisted
fy Of the lieutenant, was flat on the
ground with heels extended in the air
But notwithstanding such an admirable
line, The skIIm;sheis were rapidly driven
in from the sunshiny, fency corners, and
the whole force put ia the utmost confu-
sion aud dlsmay by the terrible charge of
Two hundred horsemen, snd one piece Of
artillery. | said The whole force, but no:
One man stood his ground, drove back
several charging parties. and only deliver.
ed himself prisoner when his pistol and
carbine we're empty. That man was
Corbeit-!he same who killed J. Wilkes
Booth, The assassnstor OF the President
of The United States. He wore on the
occasion, green cap, and in answer TO
you've fought well, Sir" said, "Yes,
and will do it again, when | am ex-
changed" Tha, night he knelt and said
his prayers. After much chasing of men
and loose horses, the killed, wounded and
captured were counted, and numbered
ihiriy.nine, but few killed. The centre
made its escape. Now, Mr.. Centre.
wien we whip the French, the Brit
isb, and the Hollentols, and you 20
serving con6scalion noiices-keep your
men mounted and have out pickels-pa.-
llcularly when you are near villa.
Speaking Of Booth, he was once with
party under sergeant Of Ashby's compa-
ny of cavalry during the trial of John
Brown, and helped to guard the Martins
burg Road. Mlstaking the passage of a
train OF cars over the bridge in.the night
for charge Of The enemy, he very loudly
called "halt." and come very near Civ.
ing false alarm thereby. Mosby. after
some time, succeeded in shelling Anan.
dale, ,''bu, his gun was managed SO On.
skilfuIly thai he Withdrew without inaici.
ing much damage, and never afterwards
attempted the same game at the same
place.
A Surprise TO a Wood Thief