Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-21

Germantown, a mile from Fairfax; and to-
wards the railroad station another brigade
Of infantry. Fairfax thus appeared to be
incosed wi.hin a Gordon Of all arms, rem
dering it wholly impossible even to ap-
proach it. Those who know the ground. AS
many of my readers doubtless do, will easily
understand how desperate the undertaking
appeared o. penetrating to the town, and
safely carrying Off the Federal eommandant.
1t was one of those schemes, however, whose
very bodncss is apt to cause them to sue
coed. Men rarely guard against dangers
which they do not dream it impossible can
threaten them. Moseby doubtless based his
calculations upon this fact; at any rate hc
decided upon the movement, and with
twenty-nine men SET out one dark and driz-
zling November night for the scene of opera
tions..
The party had to steal off with their cap
lures, if any were made, to cut their way
through, and on that black night no uniform
was discernible. Moseby approached Ger
mantown by the Little River turnpike, but
fearing Wyndham's cavalry, obliqued to the
right, and took the woods skirting the War
renton road. Ccntrevile was thus, with its
garrison, on his right and rear, Germantown
on his left, and Fairfax, winged with infant
ry camps, in his from. 1t was now raining
heavily, aud the night was like pitch. The
party advanced by bride paths through the
woods, thus avoiding the pickets on the
main avenues of approach, and the incessant
patter of the rain drowned the hOofstrokes
of the horses.
a mile from Fairfax'thc CLEAN of tents
greeted them in front, and finding the ap-
proachcs barred in that direction, they 81
lently obliqued to the right again, crossed
the Warrenton road, aud gradually drew
near the town on the southern side. Again
the wet and rain served them. Their ad-
vance WAS undiscovered and at last they
were close upon the place. An infantry
picket was the only obstacle, and this was
soon removed. The sleepy vidette found "a
pistol at his breast, and the picket was COM
pelled to surrender without firing a shot
The way was then clear, and Moseby enter
ed the town at gallop. His object was to
capture the Federal officers known to be in
the place, burn the public stores and carry
off as many horses as possible.
His party was accordingly divided for
purposes, and Moseby himself proceeded to
Gen. Stoughton's residence. /: was after
wards said that young lady of :he place,
Miss Ford, supplied him with information,
and led him personally to the house. This,
Col. Moseby stated to the present writer,
was entirely a mistake he received informa-
tion neither from Miss Ford nor any one
else except his own scouts nor did any one
accompany him in his visit to Ger. Slough
ton. He found ar orderly at the door, who
was taken charge OF by one of his own men,
and then mounted to the Generals bed
chamber, the occupant Of which was fast
asleep At Moscby's unccrcmonious Get
b,S S1a or, ,nr
started erect and demanded, "Do you know
who am sir?" apparently indignant at such
q ceremony. 'Do you know Moseby, Gene
rall' was the reply. YES" was tie eager
response, "have you got the - rascnll'
No, but lie has got you" And to tho
startled what does this mean, sirlh of Gen,
Stoughton. Moscby replied, "lt means that
Gen. Staurt's cavalry are in possession OF
the court house, sir, and that you are my
prisoner" This disagrecable state of affair;
slowly dawned upon the aroused sleeper
and he soon found himself dressed, mounted
and ready to set out-a prisoner. Several
staff officers had also been captured, and q
considerable number of horses. Coils. Wynd
ham aud johnson eluaed the search fol-
them. Deciding not to burn the public
stores which were in the houses, Moseby
then mounted all his prisoners thirty
! five, believe, in number, including about
! hall.a-dozen oiiicers-cautiously retraclna
his steps, passing over the very same ground
| and stealing along, about dawn, under the
muzzels of the guns in the works at Centre
! vile, so close that the sentinel hailed the
party, swan Cub run. struck sou,hward
and at sunrise was safe beyond pursuit.
! The skill and boldness exhibited in the
! conception and execution of this raid con
ferred upon Moseby just fame as partisan
| officer; and the regular organization of his
command commenced. He was made cap
| tain, then major, then lieutenant colonel, and
colonel, as his force and operations increas
cd. From the solitary scout, or humble
! parii"an operating with small sGn.l1,, III
had grown to be al officer of rank and dis
! tinc,ion, iutrusted with important duties
and eventually with the guardianship OF tht
| whole extent o. country north of the Kappa
! hammock, and east of the Blue Ridge. The
people of the regiun speak Of 1t with
| laugh, us "MOsehy's Cuntederacy," aud tht
name will probably adhere to it, in th'
popular mind, for many years to come. lie
US pass to these latter days when "Colonel'
Mosehy gave the Federal forces so mucl
trouble and aroused 50 much Indignation il
General Custer, General Sheridan, ant
others, whose men he captured, and who's
conveys he SO frequently cut off and des
troycd.
Moseby was born to be partisan leader
and as such was probably greater than an
other who took part in the war. He ha'
by nature all the qualities which make tn
accomplished ranger; nothing could daun
him; his activity of mind and body-call il
if YOU choose, restless eternal love OF move
ment-was something wonderful; aud tina
un.iring energy which is the secret OF hal
the great successes of history, drove hin
necessarily to plan, to scheme, to conceive
and to execute. He could not rest whe
there was anything to do, and secuted 70
his amusement, charging pickets sotuS b
way of sport. On dark and rainy nights
when other men aim at being comiortabl
housed, Moseby liked to be moving with
detachment of Lis men to surprise and al
tack some Federal camp, or to run IN
some picket, and occasion CONSERVATION,
not inlict injury.
The peculiar feature of his command wa
that the men occupied no stated camp, ano