Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-16

COLONEL JOHN s. MOSBY.
formed OF Pope's movements. Pope had
announced that he only intended to look
to his front that "shame and disaster
lurked in the rear" ] saw that here was
a splendid chance for partisan war, and
that he needed somebody TO look after
his rear. Jackson would take care OF
him in front. while i could keep nm
stirred up behind. But my plans were
all married by my capture, as it was SIX
months before / got another opportunity
Of trying my luck.
After returning from prison TO Rich
mond | went TO my fathers. up in Pied
mont, Virginia, 10 get horse. knowing
that Jackson would be the active force in
the coming campaign, / went straight on
TO Join him.
FAITH IN JACKSON.
I always had the grandest admiration
for his genius ana the most unbounded
faith in his star Just ms / reached his
camp / met General Stuart with two or
three Of his staff. OF course / was de-
lighted to see him--he had come that day
on train from Richmond, leaving Fitz
Lee to bring on the cavalry. He had just
then left the headquarters Of Jackson
who was almost as great mystery even
to the soldiers of his own corps as the
Yelled Prophet Of Khorassn. Not that
he employed any artificial means 10 Gre
ate such n feeling. On the contrary, he
was plain ard simple in his tastes, with
out any kind of ostentation, accessible to
every one. and with no thought Of any
thing but doing his duty. When the
world was filed with his fame he was the
same modest soldier who as a lieutenant
Of artillery, had stood to the last by his
guns at Chapultepec and he seemed ever
unconscious of the great deeds that have
made his name immortal.
General Grant, who was at West Point
with Jackson, once said 10 me that Jack
son was the most conscientious human
being he ever knew. But great as was
the genius of Jackson, he had an almost
chidlike trust in General Lee There
was not a more perfect accord between
Eugene and Marlboro than between these
two great masters of war. General Long
street has expressed a doubt whether
Jackson ever said that he would be will
ing to follow Lee blindfoded. L have no
doubt that he said it.
\ HIGH COMPLIMENT.
As have said. when ! met Stuart he
had just left Jackson's headquarters. We
rode together to a signal station on a
to get a sight of Pope's army that was
occupying the northern bank and had be
gun its retrograde movement that eve
ming. Stuart, who had less jealousy in his
nature than any man | ever knew, except
General Lee. was talking as we rode along
about the interview he had had with
Jackson. Turning to one Of his staff ON
GERS who had been present. he said:
what high compliment that was that
General Jackson paid to General Lee
that he would be willing TO follow him
blindfolded" Stuart told it in such a way
as TO make upon me the impression that
he was repeating what Jackson had just
said To him. After making the recOnnois-
sance where we had seen the long col
umns of Pore's army moving backward to
the RappahannOck. we rode down the
flank to place called Nerdlersvile. in
Orange county. where Stuart expected 10
meet Fitz Lee with the cavalry corps.
When we reached there II was or 10
| o'clock at night, and there were no signs
| Of any cavalry about. There was house
| by the wayside which | suppose at some
| time had been a country store or tavern.
We were some miles outside OF the pickle,
| lines of our army. and as il had been n
hot day we were tired and sleepy. Stuart
| determined to stop there ana await F1tz
| Lee. lie sent his adjutant general. Major
| Fitzhugh. to find Lee, and We unsadGled
| our horses. spread our saddle-blankets
| on the front porch, and lay down to sleep.
| In a few minutes in our dreams
I'VE flew TO the pleasant fields traversed
so oft
In hfe's morning march when our brows
| were young"
Instead of finding F'itZ Lee, Major Fitz-
| hugh some time during the night ran into
a body of the enemy's cavalry that had
| crossed the river after dark on recon
| noissance. They made him prisoner. 1t
was the Harris Light Cavalry, "A New
| York regiment. the same as had captured
me. 1t was commanded by Colonel
| Mansfield Davies. son Of Professor
| Davies OF West Point lie had gone on
| the steamer that had carried me a
| prisoner to Washington. and we had be-
| come we'll acquainted. Instead OF war we
| talked about his father and his mathe-
matical works, which | had studied du-
| ring my collegiate course. He had visited
| Professor Courtney when | was student
| at the University of Virginia. and once
| came into the classroom to hear us dis
cuss before a blackboard mathematical
| problems. Colonel Davies was a very
| polished gentleman.
BODY OF CAVALRY.
| After laying hands on Major EItZhuPn,
| the regiment moved on up the Plank
| road and about sunrise came to a house,
! which they halted TO search. There was
| young lieutenant. Pierre Gibson, with
| us, who had been an inmate OF the old
| Capitol prison with me. and we had been
| exchanged at the same time He. too,
| had returned to the army the day be-
| fore ard was waiting for his regiment 70
| come with Fitz Lee. He happened TO be
| the first one awake. and heard the tramp
| of cavalry on the Plank road. He woke
| me and told me of II. and we concluded il
| must be FitZ Lee. but at the same time
| II was possible IT might be the enemy
| Having just come from captivity we did
| not care to take any chances so we
/ saddled up and rode down the road to find
| out what IL was. We had gone not over
| two hundred yards when We saw short
distance ahead of us a body of cavalry
| halted In the road. There was dense
| fog. and II was impossible 10 distinguish
| whether they were enemies or friends
| We halted and were looking at them In
| state Of uncertainty, when two Of them
| rode towards US: they had on black over
| coats, and were evidently officers, so we
| could not tell in the mist who they were
until they got within fifty yards of us
| and began firing. Neither Gibson nor
had sabre or a pistol-this same regi.
ment had taken mine from me a few
49,.