Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-05-14

MUsBY AND HIS MEN BY JOHN SCOTT, OF
FAUQUIER-IN THE PRESS OF HARPER AND
BROTHERS, NEW YORK.
A few days after the occurrences just related,
Miss Roberta P, from the neighborhood of
Warrenton, displayed, in an enterprise which
she voluntarily undertook, courage not inferior
to that of Lieutenant Turner | record it not
only as an instance of female heroism, but be-
cause it vlvidly displays the romantic devotion
OF the ladies of the upper Piedmont to the
Southern cause.
A cold December morning the young lady
walked to Warrenton, in and around which was
stationed considerable detachment of Federal
troops. Upon her arrival she was informed by
Miss L@, who was ever on the alert to con-
trive information to her friends without, that
pass towards the office of the provost marshal,
accompanied by several officers. The two la
dies at once concluded that the negro was the
bearer of intelligence, and Miss Roberta deter
mined to get possession of it In execution of
this purpose, she went to the house occupied
by the provost marshal, and by bribe induced
the sentinel on duty to allow her to enter the
basement, under the pretext of wishing to trans
act business with the woman who occupied it.
As soon as she entered the building, however.
she turned into dark. uninhabited apartment,
Immediately under the provost's office, and
there heard the negro propose to conduct
party Of cavalry to house in which he said
Mosby and many of his men could be captured,
and where in addition a large quantity of corn
could be seized. About the grain the officers
cared nothing, but Mosby, they said, would be
indeed 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 guerrilla chief would start
that night, if certain expected reinforcements
arrived or certainly the next night.
Her resolution was promptly taken to com
municate this conspiracy to Mosby or some of
was compelled to bear the tidings in person.
1t was late in the afternoon, when, unaccom-
panied, she mounted borrowed steed, and sal
lied 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 perious en-
terprise before her, for, In order to reach the
Salem road, which would conduct her to Mosby,
she would be compelled to pass through the
Watery mountain on the lofty summit Of which
at the far-famed View Tree, was established an
observatory, guarded by detachment of Fede-
raj soldiers. In prosecuting this part of her
hazardous journey, darkness overtnok her, and
ignorant of the route, she was compelled to
grope her way through the forest. In the
midst of her bewilderment, the benighted lady
came suddenly upon fire, at which she paus
ed to enjoy the genial warmth, not remember
ing that the light might reveal her to those
whom she wished most to avoid. Soon she
again set forth to attempt to thread the laby-
rinth in which she was involved. But, the fur
ther the wanderer proceeded upon her trackess
way, the deeper in the intricate mazes did she
plunge.
"a thousand phantasies began to throng into
her memory
Of calling shapes, and beck ming shadows
dire,
And airy tongues that syllable mems names
On sands and shores and desert wilderness
Weakness would have sunk by the wayside,
but the braced nerves and daring spirit of this
heroic girl carried her forward amid all dangers
and in spite Of all obstacles. Her faith was in
her high purpose, and she trusted to unseen
moon shone forth, and revealed to the quick
eye of little Walter party of Federal soldiers.
aud as suddenly passed again under a cloud
Sheltered by the friendly darkness the lady
pursued her way until ordered to halt by a
horseman standing Immediately in her frout.-
With rare presence OF mind she determined to
work upon the dread of surprsal with which
Mosby had inspired the Federal pickets, and in
a voice hoarse from exposure she ordered him
to surrender There was no reply; but only the
sounds of retreating hoofs greeted her ear
Her spirits rose with this adventure, and sup
posing this to be the only picket she would en-
reaching further point Of the road she be-
held with disnlay the lights from the town of
Warrenton, and discovered that instead of pro-
crossing in her journey she was returning to the
point from which she had started. Bat the
town lights, if they discovered her mistake, yet
furnished the traveller with the means of recti-
flying 1T, anu as from new point Of departure,
she started again ill the direction of Salem.-
But her adventures were not yet over tor she
had proceeded but a short distance when she
beheld horse and standing by it's side sol
dier. He approached, and laying his hand on
her bride, said Stop, lady, you can go no
further. To what place are you bound2"
In tone of innocence and candOr, which so
well became her youth and beauty, she replied
that she had LETT home to visit sick friend in
Salem, but that owing to the darkness she had
lost the road. The soldier then informed her
that it would be his painful duty to conduct her
to the reserve, where she would be detained till
morning.
Il will not CO." she replied "You may
shoot me, but | will not go. | am not willing
for you to perform your duty"
Nor will perform it, generously respond
ed the soldier. No one could be so cruel as
to detain or turn you back on such night as
this.
He then pointed to light, which for the first
time she saw cleaning from neighboring farm
house, and bade her go there, and then led her
horse for a short distance by a circuitous route,
to prevent her from running into the reserve.
AS he was about to return TO his post, he said :
'Good-byel have yet three. hours on
picket to think OF a freezing lady.
That sentinel was not made of common earth.
Miss Roberta soon reached the friendly shell
ter to which she had been directed, and COM
municated to the lady of the house the object
of her midnight adventure who, the next
morning, accompanied her visitor-to a rendez-
vous Of Mosby men, in one of the gloomy re-
cesses Of the mountain.
The next day Federal soldier descended
from the observatory to the residence of the
farmer, and gave the ladies an animated account
of the alarm which, the night before, they had
had in consequence of threatened attack from
the guerrilas. They sent one of their num-
ber, he said, I'm advance to capture the vi
dette, but he was sharp enough to escape the
trap.
A French journal tells little story about a
lady, or rather she is made to tell it herself
when | was married | was on my knees be-
fore my husband from morning till night. 1t
was perpetual alteration, an ncessant deIirium,