The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-20
Read Better than Pension 4" on page Z.
MOsBYs GUERRILLAs.
HoW Loudoun County Rangers Got Away with
Pair OF Then.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The writer
belonged To Co. A. L0udoun Rangers, the only
loyal troops that Virginia furnished during tie
war. While stationed at the Point Of Rocks,
Nd returned TO camp FROM picket duty one
bright Sabbath morning aud went TO the Cap
tain Of my company, hoping TO get a pass 10
visit TO my home, which was not very far
distant. The Captain az first refused my re-
guest and l returned to my tent and resolved
to 20 without the necessary pass, but my com
rade was too timd 10 attempt tho taking II
French leave, and 80 again approached the Cap
tain and told him that i would thank him very
kindly if he would permit Tripap0e aud my
self 10 20 over into Loudoun County and visit
our relatives. This last request was granted,
aud we saddled our horses and in less time
than il takes the writer 20 tell 10 we were
rambling over the hills Of old Virginia. I
called upon sey eral Of my friends, but having
no business Of Importance, did not linger any
length OF time.
From cIiG Of the Catoctin Mountain we
could see our route, which was in the direction
Of Harper's Ferry, a noted place in history.
Between iiarpcrs Ferry and where We obtained
our view we had 10 pass through the quiet viii
lage Of LoYett5yille, on the famous Valley pike.
ln passing through Loycttsville ] noticed sew
cral pretty girls waving their handkCrchiefs al
Us, aud we saluted them and rode lcisurely
along for several miles, when we met an old
c0l0red woman, whom we stopped aud inquired
II she had seen any rebels in that vicinity, as
! had beon warned that the country WAS lull OF
h05by's Eucrrilas. About six miles from Har-
pcr's Ferry we came upon two Of MO.by's
guerrilla band. When We i2sl saw them we
could hardly think that they were rebels, al
I though told my comraae, Here comes two
4 Johnny rebs," aud as they approached rs we
1 halted them and asked them what their bust
ness was They very quietly told as that they
4 were looking for some cattle that had been
1 taken from their father during Sheridan's raid
4 through the Valley, They paid but little attcn-
4 tion 10 me- bat ! noticed that they were scruti-
u nizing very closely the noble borss i rode. On
4 the other hand, scanned these men from head
\ 90 foot. Ny eOmmae then rode on and left me
4 in conversation with the two men. / noticed
Z thai one OF the men had good Government
4 horse blanket n bis possession, and asked him
/ to swap with me, which be did willingly.
j remained Tor some time with these two
murderUus rebels, and one Of them held my
saddle on the rHmp Of my horse until j had
4 fixed the blanket i had exchanged with him.
4 All this time my c0mFade lad been going to-
wards Harpcrs Ferry, leaving me alone with
the two men. finally mounted by horse aud
gallOpCd down the road 0vcrtaking my com.
! rade Ia q short time, when < turned around
aud commended the two rebels who were fol.
lowing us not 10 follow us farther, for If they
4 should they would be taken 10 Harpors Ferry
as prisoners.
They continued 70 follow as. however, until
VIC came to q arge barn by the roadside, and
here they attempted 70 make my c0mrade aud
myself prisoners. ] bad watched closely every
/ movement they had made. and as one Of them
rode up 10 me a dash with pistol IN hand,
and demanded tue surrender Of the damned
/ Yankee or my brains would be blown out, /
| was prepared for him. ] had no intention Of
surrondcrine, aud then came the chance Of my
life. grabbed bis pistol, chung 10 il, and Crap
pied him with q grip which was never 10 let 70
until be or should sucCumb. i dragged him
from his horse, and A. be still clung 10 his re-
v0lyef gave him another wrench which jcrked
4 the weapon from his hand. During this time
my horse was cnvOrtiRE around. Several pistol.
shots told me that my conrade and the other
I rebel had been exchanging shots, but UafGrt u
Hateiy Iripap0es shots had taken effect out
4 once. i then ran % my cOmFade aud demanded
the surrender Of the rebel he had been fighting
with, bot be started TO run, and mounted my
4 horse and pursued him, with his partners pis-
tol still in my hand. / called upon him 10
surrender three times, and he falling 10 do 10
! hred AZ him, but the shot strack the poor
horse In the neck. then fred again, aud this
time the bullet did Us duty too we'll ms ID
crashed through bis head and he fell from ia
horse mortaliy wounded.
j caught the mans horse returned and got
the horse Of the man " ho bad attacked me aud
then fastened them all 10 the fence, and went
back to the battle-ground after the man had
snatchod from his horse, but be jumped over
the fence, ran into the barn and out Of the back
door, and made good has escape. This had been
a lucky day for the writer, and by this time the
sun was hiding behind the western hills and a.
THIS WAS a favoritc resort Of Mosby's gucrrilias
We thought ID would be wise Go return 20 camp
bat As our victim lay MORALLY wounded in the
road before US, We carried him to y shelter
made him as comfortable as possible, and left
him 10 join the angel band. Then rs darkness
had drawn her friendly mantle over the scene
We with both horses and pistols Of the gucr.
rllias started back 20 the camp 1t Point OF
Rocks, where we arrived about midnight
The next morning ] reported to my Captain
told him al the circumstances aud he was
overjoycd al the result Of our scout, called me
TO bis tent aud made me q present Of the noble
horse had ridden, remarking that " Hereafter
yon can get pass any time you desire one
Al "a n