Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-12-02
Jhe Shsaaaaoah Gerald
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Letter from Colonel Mosby.

ultf, commenting Gu tue c0DQucL CT
Colonel John S Moshy in the Valley of
Virginia during the late war, that gentle
man has replied through the same journal
to he following effect:
Sir: | am really amused at the piece in
your valuable paper from "A Union Sol
aier," for it shows how hard pressed my
enemies are for something to say against
me, when they can find nothing worse
than the staff he has published. | will
notice them in their order First-Ihe
capture Of the train in October 1864, on
the road, aud between Harper's Ferry and
Martinsburg, Virginia. This was on
military road. and used by the Federal
army-whch was then in the Shenandoah
Valiey-for transporting troops aud sup
plies. | was in command of about three
hundred men, and was charged with the
duty OF impeding the advance of the Fed
eral army by intercep.iag their c9mmuni-
cation.
Ill opposed Sheridan in front, my
small force would count for nothing but
by throwing it in his rear and on his
COuIID uIlCAilOu 1t UGCduic tiGIlCuQpuS
power, because three hundred men under
sklilful commander. operating i'll the rear
of an army, are equivalent to ten thousand
III front. 1t was just as legitimate for me
to attack Sheridan III his rear as for Early
t. attack him in trout aud Sheridan in
his report to the committee on the conduct
of the war, has testified 10 the efficiency of
my command, fer he says that after the
defeat Of EARLY he could have gone on to
Richmond, but that he had to detail two
thirds Of his force to guard his communl-
cation against my attack.
TIE train [ captured was on the way
to supply Shcridau's army. 1t had on it,
besides IA large number Of officers and
soldiers, a considerable number Of passen-
gors. Among the officers were two pay
masters wish Sl75, 900, going to pay off
Sncridan's troops. OF curse 1t was just
as leg innate war ID Ca ture and destroy
this train as to kill OF capture Sheridan
and his meu | penetrated tar in rear of
the Federal army, and captured this train
within a mile OF large camp. aud burned
it. The object OF my command was not
20 much to capture trans as to compel
Sheridan 80 det.ch heavily from his front
10 guard his rear Ii Mrs. Toiles aud
the other passengers on this tram were
turned out destitute and unprotected, as
this Union Soldier AYERS, it was Sherldan's
fault, and not mine, for he ought to have
had it properly guarded
Again These female passengers only
suffered little Inconvenience, Quo VIC.
lence was offered them, and II they chose
to subject themselves to tie hazard OF rid,
ing on military railroad, they had no.
body to blame but thems, Ives otherwise
Sheridan might have qua. deI ali his trains
by putting few females on board He
mig hG as well have put women III front
OF his lines Of battle, to keep US from
shooting ut the men. | was myself pres
ent when this train was captured, aud
there is no incident of my military life to
which refer with more pride and pleas
ure. Ii it was right tor Sheridan to cap
ture railroad trains, why shouldn't | do
it? Sherman justified the burning of
the city OF Atlanta, aud, in reply to Hoods
complaint, said that 'war meaus cruelty"
Is there more wrong III burning a train of
cars. aud subjecting few passengers to Il
temporary Inconvenience, than III the de-
struction of a whole city, and turning
whole population out OF Goofs
Second CHARGE lie says: At the
same time Colonel ToiIes, General Sher-
dams qaartermaster, was shot by this
same outlaw at Cedar Greek" &c. Now.
i small detachment OF my command met
Colonel TolIes, with a small detachment
OF cavalry, near Newtowu, on the Valley
turnpike Toles and his party reireated.
aud were pursued by my men; Tolles
while running was Shot i'll the back. -All
right be took the chance Of escape in
preference to surrender. | suppose if
Colonel Tones could have had the oppor
tunity he would have shot NE. This is
what men 90 to war for, aud | cant see
how there is any greater crime in killing
Colonel Tolles in the rear of Sheridan
than in his front.
rnIRD poINT.-"This outlaw hanged
FIVE straggers at Berryville." In Sep
tember, 1864, General Custer captured
and hanged seven of my men in the streets
of Front Royal, Virginia. Immediately
on hearing of this, having a lot OF thirty
prisoners on hand, made them draw lots
for seven to be hanged, as measure of
retaliation to protect my men. These
men were hanged on the Valley pike,
soae which Sheridan's troops travelled
every day as warning of what they
might expect ii any more ofmy men were
hanged At the same time wrote a
letter to General Sheridan, (Which was
published in the newspapers at the time,
aud can be found in the memoir of my
command by Scott )svoving my rcspon-
sihilitY for the act, and stating my reasons
for it. Sheridan acknowledged the JUS
,ics Of the deed by ordering my men to
be treated with the humanities of war.
have never been called in question for
this act although assumed all he respon-
sibility for it.
The Union Soldier pretends that these
.exploits Of the chivalric Mosby have
never been given to the world" If he
will only consult the memoir Of my COM
mand, By Scott, he will see that the death
of Colonel Tolles. the capture Of The traia.
and incidents connected with it, and the
hanging of the prisoners are all spoken
of. They were all legitimate acts fwar.
think it high time for people who
glory in ''Sherman's march from tho
mountains to the sea-" in hich he made
a desert of the country that lay in his
track, who received with huzzas Sheridan's
triumphant dispatch sthat he had burned