The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-26

those OF thanks TO me for my efforts in bis
behalf.
{" Youngster,' he said, syou have done
me greater service than you know. But
for you little woman and little boy
would have been deprived OF the love OF a
husband and father.
81 told him / had only done my duty,
and then asked him some questions about
his wife and child who lived in MARYLAND.
He said he bad not heard from them for
nearly year. he having been a prisoner in
Richmond so long, but when he reported
to his regiment he would endeavor to get
a furlough for short time, to enable him
to return home and look after his dear
ones.
IN THE WILDERNESS.
at was about this time, as aiterward
learned, that General Hooker was prepar.
ing for an important movement against
Lee. The April rains / had referred to had
interfered with the plans OF the Federal
commander, but on the Both Of that month
General Crouch had been followed by Gen
eral Hooker to Charlottesville, where the
latter established his headquarters. Aftel
the mishap referred TO nothing OF specia
interest occurred for several days. W.
heard occasionally the sound Of cannon ant
once In awhile body Of Confederate cav
,lry would dash along the highway. bu
we kept ourselves so carefully concealed in
the woods that we escaped observation
until one morning, just after daybreak, ;
mounted company OF partisan ranger'
burst suddenly into view. We were COM
pletely taken by surprise. and seeing the
folly Of making any resistance we at once
surrendered. The commander Of the ran
gers was addressed as Lieutenant Mosby
(afterward known rs Colonel Mosby), and
in answer to question OF his sergeant re-
lative to our disposition he told us that WE
must accompany him toward Fredericks.
burg, and il we attempted to escape We
must expect TO be shot.
MOsBY HAS A BRUSH.
awe submitted to our fate with the bes
grace possible under the circumstances
but we had not proceeded farther than Z
mile or two when suddenly the head ol
our column was struck by a body OF Fede'
raj cavalry that had emerged from the
woods on our left, and in few minutes
fierce fight ensued. Saddle after saddle wa
quickly emptied, and it was soon apparent
that Mosby was getting the worst OF it
He and his men fought desperately, but they
were greatly outnumbereJ, and Gray
and |, who were only lockers on, wer'
counting on the utter rout OF the rangers
when from the right OF the road a large
force OF Confederate cavalry came i'm sight
and in twenty minutes the horsemen II
blue were making n hasty retreat, hOtl'
pursued by the Confederates, who proye(
to be portion OF General AndersOn's com
mand. ! never knew who was the leader
OF the Federal troops. They were proba
bly, detachment sent out by Genera
Stoneman to burn stores, destroy bridges
cut telegraph wires, tear up railroads, AM
inflict all the damages they could upon th,
country they passed over.
THE FINAL ESCAPE.
"In due time Mosbv's rangers and tn
regulars who had come to his ard at th
right moment reported to General Ander
son, who had been ordered to watch th
lords OF the Rappahannock, but not antici
pating 4 crossing Of the Federal soldiers II
force had been compelled to fall back TN
til joined by Lee. 1t was during the grea
battle that followed that my friend Gra
anu Il tStdDtu w tut 'tuNs 10
have said, my chief desire was to get on
OF military life. / had taken a fancy Z
the newspaper business, and had made u
my mind to return to il sooner or later
We made our way to the camp OF Genera
Pleasanton, in company with number o
Confederate prisoners, who were the firs
to inform us Of the probably mortal wounl
received by their great General, Stoncwal
Jackson. Gray could not then return t
hi, regiment, but he rejoined 1t before an,
| important action had occurred. In regart
to myself, | soon made my wishes known t
General Pleasanton. who raroled me ant
gave me a pass to Washington, where, a
you know. | was not long in obtaining em
ployment."
This concluded the history OF my youn
friend. ! continued to take n deep interer
in his welfare as long as we remained o.
the SAME paper. giving him such instruC
tions rs / thought might prove OF seryic
to him in the editorial profession, which h
intended to adopt. When last heard fror
he was editing a paper in Wisconsin.