The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-12
A DARING EXPL0IT.
HOW MOSBY CAPTURED a UNION
GENERAL AT FAIRFAX.

A Trus Tale of the Confe dsrate War That
Rsads Like F.ction-Some Confederates
Eater the Union Camp and Capture a
Numbsr of Men aud II orses.
RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 6.-To those
who know nothing Of the hardshlps OF
war, there ever hangs over battlefield
mist of romance, shrouding its most
hideous details in the poetry of fiction.
And even those who have felt the
shock of charging men, apd heard the
cannon's roar that seemed to shake the
very foundation of earth, in after years
look back with a certain tenderness
upon those "days that are no more
even though those days were passed IN
the cramped bed Of dirty prison hos.
pital. or on the long, hot marches OF
midsummer. But bravery commands
our admiration, and the deeds OF the
men who fought in the Civil war often
rival the dauntleSS courage OF Charlie
mango and are as exciting as the ex-
ploits of Richard On the sunny plains
of Palestine. Perhaps one of the most
unique adventures of the war was the
capture of General Stoughton by Mosby
and the affair reads more like the raids
of Robin Hood than an event In the
prosaic times of the present.
In the spring of 1863 General Slough
ton was encamped at Fairfax Court
I7T6use with large number OF men, ana
the doughty warrior had determined
to put a stop to the depredations OF
Mosby, who Kept the Federal troops in
Northern Virginia in constant state
of terror by his numerous and sudden
raids. All this part of Virginia was
known as "Mosby's ConfederacY." Here
the ranger chief gave the enemy some
unpleasant surprises in the shape OF
raids On sleeping encampments, the
capture of their wagons and the de-
structlon of their railroads, used in sup
plying them with men and food.
lStoughton had grown weary of the
fruitIess efforts Of others to capture the
swift.movirg rebel, and he was decided
that he would bag Mosby or lose every
man he had in the attempt.
One night, early in March, Stoughton
had q little supper at his headquarters
Ia neat little supper that sent the gal
liant general to bed in an excellent hu-
NOR, an1 made him quickly forget that
wars alarms were ever likely to disturb
the siumbers of a votary of the laugh.
ing, vine crowned god. 1t was a cold
might, and the rain that had set in ear
ly in the day continued to come down
in ceaseless pour that made the world
one dreary, watery waste. The Union
men never dreamed that any one would
venture out after setting the usual SEN
tinels to plod through the mud at their
posts about town.
By IL o'clock the little village was
silent and the Federal camp wrapped
in slumber, but down the road near the
famous field of Chintilly party Of
men on horseback were stealing
through the woods. No one spoke a
word, and the ONLY sound in the dark
ness was the splashing of the horses
hoofs in the pelt1ng rain through the
tossing trees. And as they stole along
in the night, wrapped in heavy cloaks.
and with their hats pulled low over
their brows, they looked like
some band or conspirators creeping on
their way to Sssassinate some sleeping
foe.
On nearing the town one Of them cut
the wire that ran to the station near by
and thus the Union troops were sew
cred from all comm lnication with their
| friends at distance. 1t was midnight
when the cavalcade entered the village,
and as they tramped down the muddy
road no one saw them or heard sound
4fyom the foes thus daring to ride into
| thS-xery face of the slumbering enemy.
| There TaSno light in the town streets,
and only NJ land then faint gleam
from half shL.. vindoW would tremble
for moment on ~ -moking sides of
the rangers horses, o. be reflected
back from the pistols in their belts.
Oa reaching the center Of the village
Mosby halted his men, and dividing
them into two detachments, sent one
quietly to secure the horses, while with
SIX mon he took his way to the head
quarters Of the Commanding General.
The house was fashioned Southern
mansion, about 100 yards from the road
and set back in pretty grove Of trees.
The rangers quietly opened the gate,
and troting up to the house, dlsmount-
ed and ran up on the porch. With a
fierce jerk Mosby rang the bell.
A window in a room above flew up
and sleepy voice demanded who was
below.
"a courier with dispatches for Gen
eral Stoughton," replied Mosby, as he
motioned to the men not to move.
The window fell, the officer ran down
and in moment the door stood open.
"You are my prisoner, whispered
Mosby to the astonished Federal, who,
being unarmed. dared not mske any
resistance. Then, leaving one man to
guard the captive, the ranger dashed
upstairs and strode into the room
where the General lay sleeping. With
a rough shake Mosby aroused him.
What in the devil is the matter -
inquired Stoughton as he sprang up in
bed.
"Stuart's cavalry is in possession of
the town." Mosby quietly replied.
'Stuar.. in town." Stoughton eX
claimed in astonishment, still mlstak-
ing the men about his bed for his own
troops. why, l thought you had cap
tured Mosby."
"Oa, no; you have not captured Mos
by" coolly remarked the Chief, "but
Mosby has captured you; you had best
get up quietly aud come with me"
Finding himself a prisoner IN the
hands of the very man to whose cap
ture he was SWORD, and believing that
1 iStuart'S troops had the town the Union
General made no attempt to resist, but
dressed quietly. In few minutes he
and MOsby descended the steps, and,
mounting horses that stood outside,
they soon joined the rest of the rangers
who were awaiting Mosby's arrival at
the meeting place in the center OF the
town.
Here it was found that the nights
work had secured SO horses and 32 pris-
loners-aud all this had bean accom-
plished without blow being struck, a
shot fired or any alarm being given to
the rest Of the camp. In fact, the
rangers pushed noiselessly out of town
with their prisoners ana their horses,
not soul dreamed that the guerrilla
chief was stealing away with their
comrades from beneath their very