The National tribune., 1891-07-23
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
MosBYs GUERRILLAs.
A Scouting Adventure Attended By a Narrow


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While the
Second Division, First Corps, Gen. john 9.
Robinson commanding lay at Rappahannock
Station awaiting orders 10 go into WINTER
quarters at CulpepeT Courthouse, II was deemed
necessary 20 learn exactly what Col Johh ,.
Musby was doing at a small hamlet named
Liberty. seven miles from our camp, aud one
aud half miles from Bealton Station. While
Id was evident that Moshy was doing no par
ticular damage 10 pcSet-lines or wagon trains,
his guietuess created desire TO know the
cause OF his silence, as 10 was well known that
Rl his own men, bushwhaCkcrs and scouts-in
fact all the young men lu The surrounding
Counties who could get a horse-Were muster
ing rs this point OF course that meant mis-
chief
ID was q grand spot for the purpose Of get
ting ready for a raid on Uncle Sans wagon
trains The pines grow low and thick, capable
OF hiding hundreds uf horses and men. IL was
Moshy's policy 90 lay low" I'LL say Come"
then gobble up picRetlne, rob and burn tho
wagon trains; fighting OF course where they
must so us 20 gain their end. Thus you see IL
was a prudent act 10 send a man 10 Liberty
aud investigate the actions of Mr., Mostly.
How ID ever reached the ears OF our AdJu-
tnnt General that knew all about Liberty
aud its inhabitants never knew aud OF course
mover shall as the Adiutant sleeps with the
brave. However, ] was ordered 10 report 70
headquarters, where ] WAS told that % was for
the good OF the service that man should
visit Liberty and bring back what news il was
possible TO CLEAN In nights visit. ] thought
then that Il was easier 10 90 than il would be
Go bring back the desired Information. Yet,
feeling that knowing everyone IN Liberty, 40
or 30 people M most, ] thought ] might pay a
friendly visit 10 one, two OF three families, and
as the male portion OF these families were very
fond of our cOmmissaTy whisky, j thought II a
good idea 20 take few cantecns with me.
Therefore armed with four caniccns OF good
Old commissary, and a written pass, giving me
permission TO visit the town Of Liberty, In
Fauuuier County. Va, TO call on friends and
acquaintance ia said town, aud 10 report at
headquarters the next day at r. M. j started
on Iay journey.
ID was useless 10 take horse in that crowd,
unless ] wished TO make them present OF It,
and of q certainty il they took the horse they
would take me; consequently ] walked. i
trudFed along tin ] struck our picket-llnc, the
14th n. Y. The Major commanding the line
had received instructions IN regard 10 me, aud
be told me TO leave my gun with them till
returned, 10 ] ever did said my pass WAS all
right and wished me jolly good time with my
friends. So away j went through the fields
for the good Of the service
Mosby camp was a mile or more back OF the
town. DO the pines. OF course he had his own
camp guard, but 80 yidet or guard about or
near the town therefore a Yankee bad no
trouble 20 get in-the difficulty being 10 get
out II they wanted 10 keep you. ] arrived
there and was heartily greeted by the Olin-
gers and N.l.ises aud Martins and a few
others They drank. j was not greedy, as
] could get more ln camp and would be over
again in few days. They invited me into
the house at once, and, seated before a log fire,
ID being November and the nights cool, ] was
told ] must keep shady, as Col. Mosby's men
were back iu the pines aud il they knew Of my
being there ] would be gObbled up and per
haps hung or shot. OF course j kept shady"
as ID WHs my business 10 keep shady" j had
already found out 10 q certainty what Gen
Reynolds and others only surmised
J had a good supper aud few chosen
neiphbors called, which made il quite pleasant
Really had almost forgotten where ] was. till
Willis said: Mac, SIC over m this corner out OF
the line Of that window" Oliugcr went out
iu the yard and heard loud aud angry talk
ing, the click Of guns and knew that ] lad
been discovered hy some o. Mostly providers.
Willis went out aud returned hurricdlv, saying:
"st stil, Mac. Don't let on you know they are
there. id you do YOU arc a dead man. did
cit STILL and they talked and laughed with nc,
or at me- Mrs OlliuEeT sitting, rs we'll as she
could, between me aud their liHe OF FIRE. FL
nally Oiliuger came in and told Willis 20 give
him one Of those cantecns, aud said they would
80 AWAY huL III kllth lNaAA nc AAtIE alLtE NAF-
break, ! was gOnor.
After they bad gone and VIC got settled down
sEain they told me these men who wanted my
sea p were from L0udoun County, and cared for
nothing but Yankee blood. 0lingcr said two
of them had a bead drawn on me twice, but ne
bad told them that had pass 10 visit him
and Others. aud II j did not return, vengeance
would be- taken on them la the conversation
they said tie men needn't be SO ---- particu.
Iffv All ~ mia Frr
mountains, train catching"
THIS WAS another item Of news. j asked how
many there were OF them, aud was told that
Mostly had together al that time more men
than be ever had before or ever would have
again; which proved correct Although lie
afterwards made few successful raids, vet
not what was supposed he would have done
with the force &C his disposal.
The eth til. Cav. stationed IN and about
FAirtaE was q thorn ID bOsby's side IIe said
himself they were tlIe best fighting cavalry
single handed he had et-g00d horses and
good men. Well. j bad gained all tue news
could. aud now for bed no sleep Of course
OlHgrr Willis aud Martin al sleut so swectls
j coveted their comfort, but they were not sol
digs Rud were among friends. j was a soldier
and among enemies ] could hear men walk
ing aud talking outside. ana knew full wei
that ID was "a hundred chances 10 one III / eve
saw my own camp again. ] knew that ID wa
their delight 10 boast Of low many Yankees
they bad kIlicd-n0t captured aud j began 4,
place myself in the former list Az things be
came little more quiet I aroused OIlinrer ant
told him ] bad better get out OF there. II,
said Mac, IL yOu 90 now. you viii surely Z,
killed I asked why, and lie said that thes
were moving their surplus stores, and IN ] wa
seen. tAcy would not hesitate 10 pull q trippe
on me. J studied the matter over in hurry
aud concluded a. t was near daybrcall that fo
rc moments delay was dangerous. aud ioit
hih 3D. Hnd asked hlm 10 80 0ui aud take
look about, as bad no time 10 larrv. Whih
he was ont ! stepped iuto tic room which
had occupied aud took a revolver which I saw
hanging there buckied Il under my overcoat
aud Sal down, waiting for him. When De re
turned Doe displayed no agitation. but said
bad better 20 now and hu would acc0mugu,
me 10 tHc Spring Branch, 50 that ] would be 81
bis place.
Brlaro we parted ] told him had taken ma
revolver Tor protection, ns tho ono J Lad nigh
not do duty az as great a distance as his. bu
would return b. 10 him if possible lie didn'
llke g. bat what could DE dor i was alone
aud WHs determined 70 get back to camp
Bic Told me tO come again in q few davs n
NosHy.s mon would be- in the mountains am
upper tounIcs ] Waspellectly satisfied in iD
mind ilat he knew an was NOT right for rnf
yet bad o. face The music aud there was n
lelpi1r b. When hc lcit me ] hurried about 80
ora#0yafds stopped and av down. DRemembcl
b was dark yeL listened and heard hors,
meu ahead 81 me and 90 my right. j was h
o snap, ana two miles from our picket-liut
Could pct there OF in sight before daylight q
before they saw mcY ID WAS 10 my right
wanted 10 go, on rather rPht-obliquo The
49, fff Ia md Fr.f a.