Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-03-08

Extract from Letter OF Ia. tlZan Life IN the
South or Three years with Mosby and his Men.
By John Scott, of Fauquier In the press Of
Harper & Brothers, New York.
x x 4 x X 4 x
A few days after the occurrence just rela-
ted, Miss Roberta P, from the neigh
borhood of Warrenton, displayed, in an en-
terprisc which she voluntarily undertook,
courage not inferior to that of Lieutenant
Turner. record it not only as an instance
of female heroism, but because it wildly dis
plays the romantic devotion of the ladies Of
the upper Potomac to the Southern cause
A cold December morning the young la
dy vailed to Warrenton, in and around which
was stationed considerable detachment Of
Federal troops. Upon her arrival she was
informed by Miss Il, who was ever on
the alert to contrive information to her friends
without, that she had seen negro, evident
ly new conner, pass towards the Office of the
provost marshal, accompanied by several Of
ficers. The two ladies at once concluded
that the negro was the bearer Of intelligence,
and Miss Roberta determined to get possess
sion of it. In execution of this purpose, she
went to the house occupied by the provost
marshal, and by bride induced the sentinel
on duty to allow her to enter the basement
under the pretext Of wishing to transact bus
mess with the woman who occupied it. AS
soon as she entered the building, however,
she turned into dark, uninhabited apart
ment, Immediately under the provost's office !;
and there heard the negro propose to conduct
a party of cavalry to house in which he said
Mosby and his men could be captured, and
where in addition a large quantity Of corn
could be seized. About the grain the Off
GERS cared nothing, but Mosby, they said,
would be indeed a prize. With this thought
they waxed warm, and speaking in loud and
confident terms, informed the fair listener
that an expedition for the capture Of the guer-
rila chief would start that night, if certain ex-
pected reinforcements arrived, or certainly
the next night.
Her resolution was promptly taken; to
communicate this conspiracy to Mosby or
some Of his men, and having control Of no
agency. she was compelled to bear the IT,
dings in person.
It was late in the afternoon, when, unac-
companied, she mounted borrowed steed,
and sailed forth. AS night approached, the
weather became intensely cold; the wind had
risen and the face Of the sky was covered
with masses Of black cloud, which cast their
gloom over the landscape. She stopped at
the house of a neighbor and friend. whose
little son Walter agreed to bear her company
on the perilous enterprise before her, for, in
order to reach the Salem road, which would
conduct her to Mosby, she would be COM
pelled to pass through the Watery mountain,
on the lofty summit Of which, at the far
famed View Tree, was established an obser-
vatory, guarded by detachment Of Federal
soldiers. In prosecuting this part of her haz-
ardous journey, darkness overlook her, and
ignorant of the route, she was compelled to
grope her way through the forest In the
midst of her bewilderment, the henighted la
DIV came suddenly upon fire, at which she
paused to enjoy the genial warmth, not re-
Numbering that the light might reveal her to
those whom she wished most to avoid. Soon
she again set forth to attempt to thread the
labvrinth in which she was involved. But