Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-10-28

set forward upon lHo "pF"''
sunrise some camp capture some army .r"in
or ambush some detached party oil feueFaI
cayalry ont on fOraging eNpedinon'
Such life is attractive to the ilnag'na'
ton and the men came to have passion
forit. But il is a dangerous service. IL
may with propriety be regarded as ti"l
of wits between the two opposing eomman-
ders. The great praise of Mcsby was that
his superior skill, activity and good Judg-
mont gave him almost uninterrupted sue
cess and Invariably saved him from cap
ture. An attack upon Col. Cole, of the Ma
ryland cavalry, near Loudon Heights in the
winter of 1864, was his only serious
failure, and thu, appears 10 have resulted
from a disobedicncc Of his orde's. nc hau
here some valuable officers and men killed
lie was several times wounded but never ia
ken. On the last occasion in 1864, he was
sbot through the window Of a house in Eau
ouier, but managed to stagger into dark
ened room, tear of his stars the badges OF
his rank, and counterfeit person mortaily
wounded. His assailants left him dying as
they supposed, without discovering his
identity, and when they did discover it and
hurried back, he had been removed beyond
reach of peril. After his wounds, he al
ways reappeared, paler and thinner, but
more active and untiring than ever. They
only seemed to exaspcratc him, and make
him more dangerous to trains, scouting
parties and detached camps than before.
The great secret of his success was un-
doubtedly his unbounded energy and en-
terprise Gen. Stuart came finally to re-
pose unlimited confidence in his resources,
and relied implicitly upon him. Tho wri-
ter recalls an instance Of this in June, 1868
Gen. Stuart was then near Middlebury,
watching General Hooker, who was about
to move toward Pennsylvania, but could
get no accurate information from his scouts
Silent, puzzled and doubtful, the General
walked up and down, knitting his brows
and rejecting, when the 1.-the figure OF Mos
bv appeared, and Stuart uttered on excla-
nation of relief and satisfaction. They
were speedily in private consultation, and
Mosby only came out again to mount MS
quick, gray mare, and set out in a heavy
storm for tho Federal camps. On the next
day. he returned with information which
nut the entirely cavalry in motion. lie had
penetrated General Hooker's camps, ascer'
taincd everything, and safely returned -
This had been done in grey uniform, with
his pistols in his belt, and belicvcit was or
this occasion he gave characteristic evidence
of his coolness. He had captured Fcdc
raj cavnlryman and was returning VIII
him, when suddenly they struck column
of the enemy's cavalry passing. MosoJ
drew his oil cloth around him, cooked MS
pistol and said to his companion. "lf yot
make any sign or utter word TO nave mi
captured will blow your brains out, ant
trust to the speed of my horse to escape
Keen quiet, and we will ride on withou
troubling anybody" Hisprisoner took the
hint, believing, doubtless, that it was bet
ter TO be prisoner than dead man; anc
after riding along carelessly for some dis
tancc as though he we're one of the cclumI
Mosby gradually edged of, and got away
safely with his prisoner.
But the subject beguiles us too far. INT
hundreds of adventures in which Moso.
bore his part must be left for that EXTENDED
record which will some day be made. NJ.
chief object in this brief paper has been tr
anticipate the sanguinary historians OF TN
nIieutenant- Colonel -" order: to shov
that Col. Mosby was no black-browed ruff
fan, but a plain, unassuming officer of par
tizans, who gained his widely-extende'
reputation by that activity and energ.
which only men of military ability possess
This information in regard to the man !
intended as have said, for Northern read
ers OF fairness and candor, for that clas
who would not willingly do injustice evel
to an advesary. In Virginia Mosby is per
fectly we'll known, and IL would 30 uAhce
essary to argue here, that the person VIII
enioyed the respect and confidence OF Lee
Stuart and jackson, was worthy OF it,
Mosby was viewed by the people Of Virgin
ia in his true light, as man of great cour
age decision and energy, who embarke'
like others in q revolution whose principle
and objects he fully approved. In the har
struggle he fought bravely, exposed hi
person without stint, and overcame his or
ponents by superior military ability. 7
stigmatize him as ruffan because he wa
a partizan, is to throw obloquy upon tn
memory of Marion, Sumter, and Henry Lee
of the old revolution.
As long as war lasts, surprises of an er
emy will continue to be part of militar
tactics, the destruction Of his trains, mum
tiops, stores, and communications, legit
mate object of endeavor. This Mosby di
with great success, and he had no other o'
iect in view. The charge thathe fought f'
plumber is singularly unjust. The writ'
OF this is able to state Of his own know
edge that Colonel Mosby rarely appropri'
ted anything to his own use, unless II wei
arms. a saddle, or q captured horse, whe
his own was worn out-and, to-day, u
man who captured millions in stores ar
money. is now poorer than when heentere
upon the struggle.
This paper, written without the know
) edge of Col. Mosby, who is merely an a.
quaintance Of the writer, and attempted
a simple delineation of the man, has,
some manner, assumed the form OF q
, apology for the partisan and his career
He needs none, and can await without ie
that verdict Of history, which the late Pre-
ident of the United States justly declar'
Z l,oould not be avoided" In the pages viii
chronicle the great struggle Of lsb2, .
and '64. Colonel Mosby will appear in b
true character as the hold partisan, the "a
9 ing leader Of cavalry, the nntiring, neVe
: resting adversary Of tho Federal Forces !
!. yading Virginia.
The burIy rufian view Of him will \
r hear inspection; and If there are any W
II cannot erase from their minds this faneif
o figure of a cold, coarse, heartiess ADVENT
h rer, would beg them todwellfor q nome
d upon the picture which the Richmond C
!. respondent of Northern Journal drew !
r other dav. On a summer morning MI
e tary man was seen beside the grave Of u
A art In ths Uoi1vuood cemetery. near hic