Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-04-18
"Mosby's Big Raid :"

To the Editor OF the alexandria Gazette:
Arc we ueVer to hive On end of such
nsussatiug aad extravagant rehashipes oi
circumstances connected .ith the forays OF
the OWL war, as the one published from the
New York Herald ia yons issue of April 5th,
puyporting to be sn account Of x big raid by
MosbS's suerillas?" II not, then ii is useless
for Us 10 hope for the extinction It The de-
plorable feud which for generation has
been seriously antagonizing the people of
the northern and southern sections OF our
country.
The "Reminiscences" with which books,
magazines and newspapers have been wide
iy flooding the land have had 40 tendency
to restore the fraternal rea Ions OF ante
belum days, because they have been writ
ten ia partizan spirit, and their only effect
has been to keep alive the feeling OF enmlty
whioh existed while tins sr!fe was going on.
Many OF these "feminiscenoesh have un-
doubtedly had their origin in the distemper-
ed imaginetio,s OF writer's who never faced
loaded musket aud were never near enough
10 q battle or eveo akirmish to realize any
of their sctuaitie4. Nevertheless, no lack
O! credu!ous readers have been found to buy
aud read their romances, and the trade OF
thriven immensely.
While such writer's are encouraged, the
breach Of malignant feelings will not be
narrowed, and the true spirits of social and
business reciprocity cannot prevail.
The war vas great calamity, ae the tens
OF thousands Of widows and orpbsns of the
slain IN the strife mournfully attest. But
the last shot was fred a quarter OF century
age, and the bitter enimosities with which
it was waged ought at this late day to be
buried beyond the possibility OF a resurrec-
tion.
If two neigbbors have had quarrel and
have again become friends, their new friend
ship is best strengthened and perpeluated,
not By one or the o her OF them forever
referring to the aggragating circumstances
of their iete "unpeasantness," but by per-
sis:ent avoidancs by both parties Of any al
uson to their unfortunate differences and
the eaue sensible course ought to apply In
all future time to the relations between the
people of the North and the South.
The ghous on beth sides who are con-
tinualy digging into the graves of the dead,
are bpt opening afresh the old wounds and
should receive as they deserve the condem-
nation of all who have had enough OF con-
tention, and now sincerely desire the res
toration of real peace and harmony through
out the Union.
The recital in the account already referred
TO OF the proves of "Parson Chapman" and
his doughty comrades is suggestive of the
s,ertiing feats of Bluebeard the pirate, in
his palmiest days Of cold-blooded ami re.
entless butcheriee on the high seas, aa told
to US by the old romancera OF his time.
It must have been terrific sight for any
he no. = iaI a
after they bad got Capt. Fint's soldiers we'll
hemmed up in the "bsrn yard" proceed to
lay them out in quick succession by looping
off heads and Kidding hearts with bullets
something after the fashion, we suppose, OF
Cincinnati hog butcher who would slaugh.
ter drove Of swine.
We really think If Parson Chapman should
happen TO read this hrilling "Reminiscences of
that fierce encounter, of which he seems to
have been the mighty 'round head" and
Psalm singing hero" he would surely be
troubled by the narrowing pranks of an
enormous nightmare in the first nap he took
afterwards.
It was the hap of the writer to 60 through
this four wears of the war as O soldier in de-
(euae Of the Union, and though he had no
lack of severe experiences, he thanks his
stars that he never came into contact with
such tender mercies in the field, as were
me.ed out to the lucklesss Yanks in that
Virginia barnyard. Such exaegerstions are
by no means confined to Confederate &C.
counts of war incidents. They are chsrac-
teristic Of many UaioD accounte as we'll, and
ere many generations shall have passed, If
the "reminiscences of item hunters shall keep
on multiplying as they have done during
the last twenty five years, it will be as diff
cult for the student of our history to seps-
rate fact from fable, as it is TO get at the
truth of The early Greek or Egyptisn an
nails.
The great trouble seems TO be in eonvir.
chg many people. and especially some old
soldiers, that the war is over, or ought to
be. and that the deadly tomahawk should
be buried, and that the swords should be
beaten into ploughsharea and the spears IT,
to pinniag hooks, and ell warfare be ct an
end. w. d. o.
BucsSIen's ArNjca SeIve
The BEST SALvE in tho world for Cuts, Bruises