The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-17
4 NOVEL OF 1854.
ny GENrRAr rnLIX AGNUs.

! fully III its winter quarters around Wiuchcs-
ter and Stevenson's station,
Snow had fallen for many days.
The whole valley was 4 field of whitoness.
| Roads wcro badly blocked and tho pathways
through the Blue Ridge and the surrounding
mountains were almost impossible. Down
the valley, beyond the picturesque NIassanut-
ton group, the confcdorates, under EARLY, had
retired to secure quarters ut Stanton.
Ii looked like u season of quiet camping and
| peace.
Yet the celebrity and watchfulness which
! Early had displayed at Cedar Creek had taught
! Sheridan that unvarying vigilance must be his
only protection against surprise and danger.
| Consequently, cavalry was used literally in
| small attachments to scour the country from
mountain to mountain. Ii was lively work
! and IT was hard work; but tho reports brought
| in by tho accommodating parties added to our
satisfaction of mind and promised us Christ
mas fall of peace and plenty The indications
were all against winter campaign.
Ourestablishcdqu quarters were so Welllnown to
our friends, ana were so fortunate in having rail
road connection with the north, that when tho
! Christmas tide drew near loads of boxes fun Of
dainies from homo camo rs blessings To us all.
Amy conrado who failed TO receive one of
these substantial messages was made to share
| iii the general prOiuSiOn of good things Follow
ship is the religion of army life. and on such an
occasion there was no stint III the generosity of
| the men.
&c. all in all, we were in for merry Christ
mas.
But there was Mosbyi AS you know, he and
| his cavalry were the big bugaboo OF the union
forces in the valley. He had not strength
| enough to do us any serious injury, but he had
that style OF men that kept a constant warfare
on our wagon trains, and it looked at one time
as if the war issues had completely changed.
Instead of secession M0sby had all Mt once
become Russian general, and wanted nothing
| but Turkey.
4; 4 l. 4,
Why couldn't he let us alone and leave us 60 the
| enjoyment of those good things from home2
| That was the question We asked between re-
| grets, for he kept another brigade tramping
through the snow. And those who spent that
cold Christmas in the saddle will never forget
! their experience or forgive Mosby for his dis
regard Of their comfort.
Mosby's style of fighting was like that of tho
Indian He seldom attacked in large num-
| ber5 he merely pestered our ranks, and when
we pushed him closely his men would scatter
| TO the four Winds in numbers of three TO ten,
and make successful pursuit almost am impos-
sibility; for in order TO follow and punish these
| small detachnents the union troops were OBJ
ligcd to use the same policy and send squads,
| under both con1sis Aed and nou-t8N T8is-
stoned officers, TO cover the country for miles
| and miles.
Everything had been very quiet in our front,
and Sheridan was Statistical that Early lFgattII
not bother him. Nevertheless, Mosby's great
activity kept suspicion alive, and on Christmas
| Eve our general determined to renew his vigi-
| lance.
He ordered another brigade on scouting duty,
with directions to pay special attention to the
/ mountain gaps.
Ratons for three days and forty rounds of
! ammunition TO each man was the Christmas
| morning order The bOEcS from homo were
/ dcspOilcd Of their bounty. Turkey, pheasant
/ Cooked and uuCOuEcd), daintes prepared by
| loving hands, and substantals without limit,
were the happy lot Of the warrior bold and in
lltst Is.fF Il