Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-09-04
For The Rpselioa
One of Grants Supporters,


Mr.. EDIToR AS nearly sll papera
are discussing tho merits and demer-
its, not only Of the several candldatce
nominated for Office, but also Of those
who fcarlessly advocate reform, al
low me to give a sketch of one OF Col
Mosby's, Zone Of Grants backersl
very nice operations This was rela.
ted TO me in 1864, while at City Point,
Virginia, by the victim Of tho fou! act
himself Owen McDermott was en-
ployed on the Orange and Alexandria
Rail Road, in Virginia, by the U. s.
Government, in 1868, as Assistant
Foreman of track on division near
Catletts Station. One day while at
work near Catletts, being few rode
in advance Of his men, he was seized
by Two men, who sprang from the
bushes, dragged into the woods, COM
PEELED TO silence by six shooter
being held in close proximity to his
head, hurried off through the woods
about two miles, where they came
upon two more men with four horses,
Mr.. McDermott was confronted by
one of the men, who he was told was
Mai Mosby, who commanded him TO
take off bis coat, vest, pants, boots and
hat. All cxpostulations were useless.
The grinning muzzle of the pistol
commanded obedience. Being disrob-
ed, his pockets and clothing were
thoroughly searched, disclosing some
thing over one hundred dollars in gold,
aud a similar sum in green backs,
which the generous Maj pocketed, his
coniederates dividing the clothes be:
tween them. Then The valiant Maj,
commanded the shirt and drawers TO
be taken off Of the already nearly
nude and well nigh distracted man.
He got down on his knees and begged
them not to strip him entirely naked,
He was told that he had bu. very
short time TO live and they preferred
wearing clothes taken from a living
man 10 those taken from the dead.
He asks what his offence was, and was
answered "The id yankees a few
days ago killed two OF my men at
Fairfax Station, and wo intend to kill
you TO retaliate" He begged and
prayed for his life, but was told he had
but ten minutes to live. The ten
minutes of grace had nearly expired,
when at some distance through an
i, opening in the woods, man was seen
riding leisurely on horseback. Mosby
pointed him out to two of bis men,
saying, "Bring me that horse" The
two men mounted and rushed with all
speed in pursuit, soon capturing both
horse and rider, and brought them in.
The captured man proved to be Mr.,
who resided near McDermott's quar-.
ters. AS soon as he came up and saw
McDermott he said TO Mosby, "what
are you doing with that man " His
reply was, ave captured him and
intend to shoot him" "You shall do
no such thing" was the reply of the
farmer. "Why not" says Mosby,
"you are not going back on us ara
youl' "No, sir, am not, but this
man know. lie has been getting his
washing done at my house and has
bought some little things of Us. |
know him to be nice man, and he
has not done you or our cause any
harm. You must let him go free
he does not return he will be missed,
and before to morrow night | will not
have roof TO shelter me. My horses
ard all my property will be destroyed
in consequence AT first Mosby was
determined McDermott should die,
but tine uthct told him him, ss!. could not be,
; that if he killed McDermott he would
have to kill him first" Finally, he
consented TO spare his life, provided,
he would not tell until the following
morning where he had been or who
had captured him. This he readily
promised to do, when he was allowed
to put on the cast off rebel rags and
find his way back TO camp. This is
no fabricated sketch, but every word
of it is true, as related to me by
McDermott himself 1t is an old say
ing and pretty true one, that birds
, of feather flock together" Moshy,
,, the guerrilla, in robbing prosecuting
Z and numbering Unfortunately du.
ring the rebellion, did nothing moro
than Grant as President has done
since the war So it is quite natural
that Mosby should take the stump for
Grant. A DEMOCRAT.