Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-12-18
sIOsby,s War "Reminiscences and
Stnari's Cavalry Campaign.

Now that the animosiiies bstween the
North and the South have near.y fnbsi6ed
and IS the angriest clash Of srmcr 2ecomea
but O reverberation in tho lapse Ct qua.ter
of century, the deeds of dariug on both
sides of the contest are ccocsdei their true
place in the records of intrepiilty. The
color OF the uniform n which u succeeefui
military exploit has been performed. no
longer dims its strategy or prowesa. Both
confederate and federal records hear Wit
ness to the activity of Colonel A1osby as
partisan ranger along the lines OF hostility,
inspiring e1ultaion and hope in Southern
hearts, and causing uneaslOess-, los, and II
scattering of forces among the union fsuks.
1t ia not 10 be wondered a thsl This portion
Of his career, when ho recalls il, through
the mist OF yesrs, seems az unreal as he
lives Of the Paladins ~ or that bis 'Remin
lscenses" have al attraction equal 70 that
OF the Memoirs" of veterans II The regular
type OF COURSE extravagauL fn!no;s good
and evil have clustered arcuad the liame Of
the leading spirit Of such adventurous raids /;
but in these pages ho takes SONS pains to
explain, not only the true Incidents of his
career, but likewise, the real natule, aims,
and effects of his chosen tactics He began
his military career as q private 10 Virginia
cavalry regiment, commanded by Colonel J.
L. B. Stuart, for whom he evinces warm
esteem, and under whose auspices he iifst
adopted tbe role Of a guerilla Chief. He ex
plains copviDcingly that his hostile depreda-
tiops were fully understood and approved
BIZ bis superiors, from whose authority be
never detached himref, bu who, recoguiZ
ing his aptitude for his selected mode Of oy
GRAFTON, Eeirained from hampefing him with
official interference. Sill, though promoted
for his services, he admits that he always
had 10 sustain a confederate fire in his rear,
as we'll as that of the Uniou lines in front.
This was chiefly the dissatisfaction OF ur-
holders Of red tape, who objected TO his ac
cepting the services Of ConsGrip's and de-
serters, many OF whom preferred the greater
lisks OF his mode OF attack to the routine Of
camp life. Among the numerous important
letters which be introduces is IA extract
from one in which Colonel Stuart advises
an attack on the trains, and alludes 10 the
benefit of information about the position of
the enemy's main forces. 81 COULD offer"
Colonel Mosby adds, mo better proof than
this letter of the useful services that may be
rendered by an active partisan corps in CO.
operation With the movements Of an
army. 1t not only crppIes an adver,
sary, but communicates intelligence of
his movements" On this subject be
remarks elsewhere: 1.-THE military value
Of partisan's work is not measured
BY. the amount of property destroyed or the
number of men killed or captured. but by
the number he keeps watching. Every SOL
dier Withdrawn from the front to guard the
rear of sn army is so much taken from its
fighting strength"
To prove the legitimacy of his efforts he
reminds his ceDsors, from whose attacks he
has evidently suffered, that Platoff, the lead
er of the Cossacks against Napoleon, Vas
ionized in Europe for the same kind of war
fare, and that the appropriation and divis
ion of spoils have also presidents in the GUS
tom of English armies in India aud else
where. But the main theme of these inter-
estng "reminiscences, the spasmodic attacks
on the weak points of the enemy'5 line with
a few score of men, recall the romances Of
medieval times rather than the incidents of
modern war. The astonishing success
that attended these raids was surely no
chance element, but the outcome of rare
combination in the leader of forethought,
warinesa, energy, and an intrepidity amount.
ing almost to recklessness. The latter por-
ton of the volume is devoted to Col. Stuart's
military movements, and some official and
popular misconceptions as to his successful
detour around the army of Mcclellan are
strenuously ontrsdicted.-ALta California.