Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-11-30
Letter from Colonel MosbY.

commenting on tho conduct of CnlnnAl LII
S. Mosby in tr,e v alley of Virginia during the
late war, that gentleman las replied:
Sir,-I nm really amused at the piece in
your valuable pnper from GA Union Soldier"
for it shows how hard pressed my enemies are
for something to say against me, when they
can find nothing worse than the stuff lie has
published. i will notice them in their order.
First. The capture of the train in October,
1861, on the road between llarper's Ferry
and Martnsburg, Virginia. This was on a
military road-and used by the Federal army
which was then in the Shenandoah Valley
for transporting troops and supplies. I was
in command of about three hundred men, and
was charged with the duty of impeding the
advance of the Federal army by interccpting
their communication.
IF I opposed Sheridan in front, my small
force would count for nothing; but by throw
ing it in his rear and on his communication it
became tremendous power, because 800 men
under skilful commander, operating in the
rear Of an army, are equivalent to 10, 900 in
front 1t was just as legitimate for me to
attack Sheridan in his rear as for Early to
attack him in front; and Sheridan in his re-
port to the Committee on the conduct of the
war has testified to the efficiency of my com>
mand, for he says that after the defeat of Early
lie could have gone on to Richmond, but that
he.shad to detail two thirds of his force 10
guard his communication against my attack.
The train I captured was on the way to
supply Sheridan's army. 1t lad on it, besides
largo number of officers and soldiers, a con-
siderable number of passengers. Among the
officers were two paymasters with $4,000,
going to pay off Shcridau's troops. OF course
it was just as Legitimate ,wat TO capture ind
destroy this train as to kill or capture Sheridan
and his men. I penetrated FAR in rear of the
Federal army, and captured this train within
q mile of large camp and burned it. The
object of my command was not so muck to
capture trains as to cothpel Sheridan to detach
heavily from his front to gtiard his rear. II
Mrs. Tolles and the other passengers on this
train were '.turncd out destitute and unpro-
tected," as this Union soldier AYERS, it was
Shcridan's fault, and not mine. for he ougkt
to have had it properly guarded.
Again These female passengers only suf-
fercd little inconvenience. Ono violence was
offered thcm,) and if they choose to subjec
themselves TO the hazard Of riding OH a mill
itary railroad they had nobody to blame but
themselves; otherwise, Sheridan might haze
guarded all his trains by putting few females
on board lie might as well have put women
shooting at the men. l was myself present
when this train was captured, and there is no
incident of my military life to which 1 refer
with more pride and pleasure. 1fit was right
for Sheridan to capture railroad trains, why
shouldn't | do it? Sherman justified the
burning of the city Of Atlanta, and, in reply
to Hoods complaint said that "war meant
cruelty" Is there more wrong in burning
train Of cars, and suhjecting few passengers
to a temporary Inconvenience, than in the de-
sruction of whole city, and turning whole
population out of doors?
Second Cdrge.-He says: cat the
same time Colonel Tolles, General Sheridan's
duariermaster was shot by this same outlaw
at Cedar creek" etc. Now, small detach:
ment of my command net Colonel TOllcs with
a small detachment of cavalry near Newto#n,
on the Valley turnpike. Tolles and his party
rctrcatcd. and were pursued by my men,
T"lles, while running, was shot in the back.
All right he took the chances of escape in
preference to surrender. suppose ifColoncl
Toles could have had the opportunity he
would have shot me. That is what men 20 to
war for, and I cant see how there is any
greater crime in killing Colonel Toles in the
rear of Sheridan than in his front.
Third Poiht.-'This outlaw hanged Eve
stragglers at Berryville." In September,
1864, General Custer captured and hanged
seven of my men in the street of Front Royal,
Va. Immediately on hearing of this having
lot of thirty prisoners on hand made them
draw lots for seven to be hanged, as a measure
of retaliation to protect my men. These men
were hanged on the Valley pike, along which
Shcridans troops travelled every day, as a
warming of what they might expect if any
more of my men were hanged. at the same
time l wrote q letter to General Sheridan
(Which was published in the newspapers OF the
time, and can be found in tle memoir of my
command by Scott, y avoIing my responsibility
for the act, and stating my reasons Tor IT.
Sheridan acknowledged the justice OF tnI
deed. by ordering my men to be trea'eu W..
the humanities of war. l have never peeh
called in question for this act, a!thoHASsH!sA as
sumcd all the responsibility jor IT.
The Union Soldier prefcnds that these
uexploits Of the chvalric Mosby Lave never
been given to the world If he will only
consult the memoir of my command, BY Scott,
he will see that the death of Colonel Iolles,
the capture of the train. and incidents con-
nected with it, and the hanging of the pris>
oners. are all spoken Of They were all legit-
innate acts of war. l think it high time for
people who glory in ''Shcrmau's march from
the mountains to the sea-" in which he made
desert of the country that lay in his track
who received with huzzas Sheridans trims
plant dispatch ''that he had burned three
thousand barns and mills. and made the Valley
of Virginia so desolate that crow could not
fly over it without carrying his rations
cease Ohjecting that anybody did not observe
the rules of mitigated war. r.
Very truly, JOHN S. MosBY.
Warrentou, November, 6. e. e5a=ra-s- a...
A ysung rascal named Frank Waddin
has acquired $4,000 BY begging in the dis