Morning journal and courier., 1891-04-27
GUERRILLA NIOSBY.
His "Reminiscences of Peculiar
 Branch of the Confederate Ser
3 Atlanta Constitution.l

vice.
 From the Atlanta Constitutionl
 "1t's all over now," Colonel John s. Mosby said to party of gentlemen in his room at the Kimball, "snd I am glad of it. But must say that those days in the saddle and the camp were the happiest days of my life"
 Then, after a pause of a second, his face brightening up, he said:
 "It was fun, I tell you, to lead hun dred or two bold, reckless riders right into an organized army of twenty or thirty thousand, and with sword and pistol in hand, cut our way out. Of course it was dangerous-extremely so-and no one knew it better than we. But, then, we loved the excitement, and we loved the cause for which we were risking our lives"
 "But did these dashes do any good, Col onels Did they accomplish anything'" he was asked.
 "They never failed to do good. Even when we got licked, and that did happen once in while, it did good. Take, for instance, Sheridan, when he would start up the valley with forty to fifty thousand | troops to join the main army on the east | of Blue Ridge. We'd jump into his rear, and, while we could not whip his whole army, we could keep him from leaving the valley, and by that Lee would have that many less men to fight"
 "How did you happen to go~ into the armya"
 | 'I was prompted by the same feeling that actuated every true southern man. l saw my country at the mercy of the north, and I went into the army to defend her. joined the First Virginia cavalry, under J. E. B. Stewart, then the Colonel. '
 "But the partisan warfare, I meani'
 "Oh, well, that was at first an expert ment. I was in the regular army, as they chose to call it, in '61 and '62. In that winter Stewart was in winter quarters in east Virginia. I had always felt that art and unfolded a little plan I had con ceived. The cavalier heard me through and lent me fifteen men. At that time London, Fauquier and Frederick counties, | Virginia, were overrun by the Yankees. The scouting parties went everywhere and anywhere, and helpless women and chil- dren were at their mercy"
 Suddenly the colonel almost leaped from the chair in which he had been sit. ting and began striding rapidly up and down the floor. His face was clouded I Wltu 1lOWh
 'I thought, as the Confederate govern ment couldn't protect them, I'd try; and did try"
 "With fifteen mem"
 "Yes, with fifteen men at first, and they were all borrowed, for I had promised tt return them to General Stewart on de mand. Well, with the handful got int
 that section of Virginia, and in 8 shor
 time the Yankee scouting parties became more cautious. Tho work of my mel reached the headquarters of the two gov
 ernments, and in 8 short time Presiden
 Davis gave me commission as a heuten : ant, and about the same time Presiden , Lincoln began clsmoring for the posses sion of that paper and it's owner" The colonel paused in his walk. bright smile had driven the frown away Pleasant recollections had taken the plac { of ugly, disagreeable memories.
 "Of course, had attained what I want ed-the respect and confidence of tn Confederacy and the hatred and distrus of the Union. It is no wonder, then, tha 5 I soon found my force greatly augmented . Young men who were fond of adventure
 and brave and daring, came to me to en list. Kindred spirits in the regular ser 2 vice secured transfer to my department : and in short time had big company Then was given regular commission g
 captain, and Colonel Chapman of you city here was made my lieutenant. Wit Q the company we dashed through the Yar