Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-10-03

charge, and without further testimony, Mos
by and his band entered the town. The late
ness of the hour compelled him TO make his
dispositions rapidly, and, eDjoiung complete
silence, be set to work in earnest The small
band was divided into detachments, with
special duties assigned to each. Two or
three of these de.achments were sent to the
public stables, where the fine horses of the
General and bis staff officers were kept. An
other party was sent to Gen. Wyndbam's
headquarters to take him prisoner Another
to Col. Johnston s, with similar orders. Ia
king six men with him, Mosby, who pro-
ceeded upon sure information, went straight
to the headquarters Of Brigadier General
Stoughton, Vermonter, and terrific son of
Mars, a graduate of West Point, and sup
press,the-ra bellion-in-ninety day s man. He
had just been assigned to the command ofthe
post, and much was expected from a briga-
dier of such ardor and good to the service
.'T was midnight, in his guarded tent,
- The turk was dreaming of the hour. =
When Greece, her knee in suppliance bent.
~ Should tremble at his power. y -=-=sz--
Mosby entered his chamber without cera-
mony, and found him reposing in all the Dig
nifty and gravity Of a Brigader General Com
mandiug, whose person and slumbers are
sacred. Making his way toward the bed, in
the dark, the partisan shook him suddenly BY
the shoulder.
"Who is that.?" growled che sleepy briga-
dier.
"Get up quick, 1 want you" responded
Mosby
''Do you know who am? 'cried the briagdier
sitting pin bed with scowl. EI'll have
you arrested, Sin" a
fDo you know who [ am ?" retorted Mos
by.
''Who are you? ?" -
"Did you ever hear of MOsby "'
"Yes! Tell me, have you caught the -
rascaI?" .,9
enc; but he has caught you " And
Mosby chuckled.
"Wbat does all this mean, Sir ?" cried the
furious brigadier. aa ,a5754..
sit means. Sir" Mosby replied cooly.
",hat Stuart's Cavalry have possession of this
place, and you are my prisoner. Get up and
come along, or you dead man." ~
The general groaned in anguish of soul,
but was compelled to obey, snd the partisan
and placed him under guard His
staff and escort were captured without diff
Guilty, but two of the former, owing to tho
darkness and confusion, made their escape
The other parties were less successful. Col.
Wyndham had gone to Washington, but his
A. A. G.. and aid-de-canp were made priso- =
ners Col. Johnson having received notice
Of the presence Of the party, succeeded in ma
king his escape.
1t was now half past three in the morning;
barely time left him to get out of the enemy's
lines before daylight, and none was to be lost.
He had intended TO destroy the valu bio
commissary and suffers stores in the place,
but time was wanting, and the band incum-
bered by three times as many horses and pris-
oners as it numbered men. The prisoners,
thirty Eve in number; .Brigadier General E.
II. Stoughton, Baron r. Wordener, an Aus
trian, aid de-camp to Colonel Wyndham;
Captain A. Barker, Fifth New York Cavalry,
Colonel WIS Assistant Adjutant General
thirty prisoners, chiefly of the Eighteenth
Pennsylvania and First Ohio Cavalry, and
the telegraph operator. These were placed
on the captured horses, and the band set out
in silence on their return. He had peuetra-
ted to the very heart of the enemy's position,
captured there pickets, seized the ofirers in
bed; bore off their horses, laughed, befooled
and outwitted them completely; and had not
lost man in the enterprise.