Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-01-13
MOSBY AND HIS MEN.

About week after the surrender oil
General Lees army. Col. Mosby receiv-
ed dispatch, via Asg of truce, from Gen.
Hancock, who was then comm anding IN
The Valley. with his headquarters at Win
chester, requesting a surrender Of his
command. Colonel Mosby replied by
saying that he would NEE. him a. Mill
wood. little town half way between
Winchester and his Conlederacy, The
counties Of Loudoun and Fauquler, with
a view 10 understand the terms, etc.
Another message from Hancock was
received, stating tha, Gen. Chapman OF
his army would meet Col. Mosby at the
appointed place. Accordingly Mosby
and about twenty Of his officers and pr
Yates swan the Shenandoah River, gal
Ioped up The turnpike ioMllwood, and was
received by Gen. Chapman and staff with
every mark of courtesy. Another gen.
ersl and slaf,a heavy body guard, besides
many other soldiers, attracted, no doubt,
by courtesy, also met Mosby and his
party.
After some preliminaries. Mosby in
formed the General that he would not sur.
render his command so long as Gen. Joe
Johnston held the field; but, in the mean.
time, he would remain on the defensive
only, and await the disclosure Of the iu-
Iture.
This was accepted by The Federal Off
T.. ka;n, at onI
Mosby repaired with his party 10 The
house Of friend 10 psrlake Of their
dinners.
They had proceeded bu, a few hundred
yards in the distance OF fhe house where
they intended 10 dine. when, TO their sur
prise. full brigade of cavalry lay half
concea aled behind hill.
Without apparently noticing them, the
party rote quietly up,o their friends
house, and dined within full sight Of the
brigade.
Wha, Gen. Chapman meant by this
concealed force, and flag OF truce float
ing a, his door, The writer has never yet
learned, bu, he csnao, help thinking the
General had weak nerves.
Mosby, after par,aking Of sump'uous
dinner. rode down with several OF his
men to inspect the Generals modest
body guard, but before Mosby could reach
them. they couniermarched in the direc-
ton of their camp. as if ashamed Of their
position a. flag Of truce meeting.
Nighrfal found Mosby again in his
Confederacy, and he gave orders to his
command to remain quietly a. their rem
devious until further orders. Soon news
came of Johnston's probable surrender;
and, at the same time, orders from Win
chester for Mosby 10 surrender immedl-
a,ely or every house IN the two counties
above mentioned would be committed 10
the flames.
Mosby sent word back that he would
not surrender his command, but he would
dsband it.
Notice was then sent 10 his men 10
meet him in Salem on the 2lst day Of
April for that purpose. There had been
many meetings Of the battalion at thai
place, bu. this last, for the purpose Of dis
banding the organization. was mere reluc-
tanily carried into effect than any prevl-
Gus, no matter how numerous the enemy
or inclement The weather.
Twelve o'clock, midday of the 2lsl,
found most OF the battalion assembled in
the old dilspidsled village. Various
groups gathered in The rough, stony street
and were composed OF all classes, from
the man whose heart was stone, 10 The
one whose mind teened with tender
concern for human happiness; all classes,
all ages, all ranks. Mosby walked quiet,
ly up and down the street, his eyes bent
upon the ground, scarcely ul,ering word
10 any cne. The battalion, The creation
of his own genious, the best body OF men
and the fnesi equipped in either service.
was 10 be dlsbanded forever, and the
cause in which he used iben so heroically
lost; well might the great partizsn chief
feel The solemniiy of The hour in his sor-
row.stricken bosom, and ponder long in
this hopeless situation. Al length the
command was ordered 10 mount and fall
in. Seven full companies obeyed the or-
der, and each con ander read The follow
ing order:
FAuQUlER COUNTY, April 81, 1865.
SOLDIERS have summoned you TO-
peiher for the lat time. The vsiun we
have cherished OF free and independent
country has vanished, and that country is
now lhe spoil Of a conqueror.
disbana your organization in prefer
ence 10 surrenderiDg 10 our enemies. !
am now no longer your commander.
AGor o., ,ssooi,iion NJ mora Than twn