Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-09
MosBY AND HIS MEN.

The following interesting account of s.Nos-
by and his Men" is taken from the New
York Nesgs, written by Virginian:
John Singleton Mosby is the son of Alfred
ID. Mosby, formerly of Albemarle county.
Va. He is the maternal grandson of James
McLaurine, SEN, of Powhatan county. in
which county he was horn on the 9th day of
Dec, 1888. He was educated at the Uni
yersity of Virginia.
When quite young man he was, married
to the daughtersof the Hon. Beverly Clarke,
late U. S. Minister to Central America. At
the commencement Of hostilitics between
the North and South, Mosby resided at Bris-
in the practice of law. He Immediately
gave up his profession and entered the army
as private, becoming a member of com
pany raised in Washington county, and COM
manded by Captain Jones-afterwards VIM
Il. Joncs-in which position he served for
twelve months. Upon the promotion of Cap
tain Jones to the Colency of the lst Va. cav
airy, Mosby was chosen as his adjutant.-
He continued in this position but a short
time. Mosby was then chosen by Gen. j.
b B. Stuart as sort of independent scout
Hefirst attracted public attention when
Gen, Joseph +. johnson then in command of
the army at Manassas, fell back. On this oc-
casion desiring to see whether the movements
of Mcclellan was feint, or il he really in
tended to march his army to the Peninsula.
Cen johnson dispatched Mosby to gain the
desired information. Taking five men, Mos
by went in the rear of McClclland's army,
wher he remained several days, spent his
time in converse with the Federal soldiers,
from whom he gained all necessary informa-
ton, and then safely made his way back to
General Johnson headquarters.
During the summer of 1862, Nfosby was
sent from Hanover Court House on a mission
10 Gen. johnson, who was then on the upper
Rapdau. lie was the bearer OF an oral COM
municatiun. and as the rout was dangerous,
had no papers about him except brief note
to serve voucher for his identity and re-
liability. With this note he proceeded on
! his journey, and, stopping at Beaver Dam
/ Station, on the Central Railroad to rest and
feed his horse, was, while quietly sitting on
the platform, at the depot, surprised and bag
gcd by detachment Ut the enemy's cavalry.
Now; 10 be caught thus mapping, in an un-
guarded muu.cnt Was gall and wornwood to
the brave scout. lie had deceived and out
witted the enemy 50 often, had escaped from
their clutches so regularly up to that time,
that to fud himself surprised, filled him with
interim! rage. From that moment his sen:i-
ments toward tho enemy increased in iutGnsi-
ty. They had been all along decidedly un-
friendly. Nov they were bitter They
took him al,uy with thcnI searched him and
ilchcd his credentials and published them as
an item of interest in the Northern papers,
and immured the partzan in the Old Capitol
IN due course Of time he was exchanged, aud
returned with new satchcl and an increase
of affection for his enemies. He laughed at
his mistortuncs but set down the account to
the credit of the enemy, to be settled at
more convenient opportunity.
Previous to the Sth Of March, 1868, Col.
Mosby had put himself TO much trouble to
discover the strength and position of the en-,
emy in Fairfax county, with design of maxi
ing raid in that direction. Aside from his
own efforts, a deserter from the Fifth New
York cavalry, who afterwards became very
dishngu she'd in the command, and was sub
sequcntly killed, vas instrumental in getting
the following information On the Little
River turnpike at Germantown, mile or
two from Fairfax G. L., were three regiments
of the cncmy'G cavalry, commanded by Col.
Wyndham, with his head quarters at the
Court House. Withina few hundred yards
of the town were two infantry regiments
In the vicinity of Fairl;x Station, about two
miles of, an infantry brigade was cncamped,
and at Ccntrcville, there was another inEan-
try brigade, with cavalry and artillery Thus
the way to Fairfax Court House, the point
which Mostly desired to reach, seemed com
plctely blocked.
The " situation" would have appeared des-
perate TO almost any one, however adventu>
rous; but danger and adventure had attrac-
tions for Mosby, and the temptation was
great, for EriGadicr General Stoughton and
other officers of high rank were known to be
at the Court House
The night Of. Sunday, March s, was cho-
sen as tayota5la to the expedition. The wea~
tlcr was infamous, the nightas dark as pitch,
and it was raining steadily With detach-.
mcnt Of tweuty-niuc men, including the de-
serter, who acted as guard, Mosby set out on
his raid.
Advancing through the, woods, pierced
with devious and uncertain paths only, which
the dense darkness scarcely enabled them to
follow, the partisan and his little band finally
struck the Warrenton road between Centre
vile and Fairfax, at point about midway
between the two places. One danger had
thus been ayoided-a challenge from parties
Of cavalry on the Little River road, or dis
covery by the force ut Centreville That
place was now in their rear Fairfax Court
House ras sill four miles distant. and girdled
by Cavalry and iutantry Every approach
was guarded. and the attempt to enter the
place seemed desperate. but Mosby deter
mined to try it.
Making detour to the right. and leaving
the encmy's camps far to the>left. he struck
the road leading from Fairfax southwark to
the railroad. This avenue was guarded like
the rest, but by picket only. and Moshy
knew thoroughly how to deal with pickets.
Before the sic py and unsusPicious Fcderals
were wareof their danger, they found pistols