Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-29
Ia DARING EXPLOIT.
HOW MOSBY CAPTURED A UNION
GENERAL AT FAIRFAX c. n.
General stourhton Was Quietly Sleeping
Surrounded by Federal Troops-he
Had sworn 10 Take Mo-by.
fWrI,,en for the Dispatch)


fiction. And even those who have leit
the shock OF charging men. and heard
the lannon's roar that seemed TO snake
the very foundation OF the ear'h' III
after years look back with certain ten
derness on those days that are no
more"-cven though those days were
passed In the crampcd bed OF dirty
n,ison hosnital or on the long. hot
marches OF midsummer. But bravery
ever commands our admiration. and the
deeds Of the men who fought IN the
civil war often rival the dauntless cour-
age Of Cbarlcmange. and are as exciting
AZ the EXHIBITS OF Richard on the sunny
plains OF Palestine.
Perhaps one of the most unique adveh-
tires OF the war was the capture Of Cen
eraI Stoughion by Mosby. and the affair
reads more like the raids OF Robin Hood
than ~ event In the prosaic times OF
the present.
In the spring Of 1863 General Stoughton
was encamped at Fairfax Courthouse
with large body OF men, and the
doughty warrior hid determined TO put
a stop to the depredations Of Mosby
who kept the Federal troops in Northern
Virginia in q continual 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 unpleasant surprises in
the shape Of raids on sleeping cncamp-
ments. the capture Of their wagons. and
the destruction OF their railroads used In
supplying them with men and food.
StoughtOn had grown weary OF the fruit-
less efforts Of others TO capture the swift
moving rebel. and he was decided that he
would bag Mosby or lose every man ne
had in the attempt.
TURNED IN EARLY.
One night. early in March. Stoughton
had little supper at his headquarters-
"A neat little supper that sent the gallant
General TO bed in an excellent humor,
and made him quickly forget that wars
alarms were ever likely TO disturb the
sumbers OF a vOtary Of the laughing
vine-crOwned god. 1T was a cold night,
and the rain that had set in early in the
day continued 10 come down in cease
less pour that made the world one dredry'
watery waste. The Union men never
dreamed that any one would venture out
on such nigh1. and they turned IN
early. after setting the usual sentinels
10 plod through the mud at their posts
about town.
by II O'Clock the little village was 81
lent and the Federal camp wrapped IN
stun Der but down the road near the IA
NOUS field Of Chantilly party or
men on horseback were stealing through
the woods. No one spoke a word. ana
the only sound in the darkness was the
splash OF the horses hoOfs i'm the sort
mud and the sweep Of the polling ram
through the tossing trees And - they
4, l., ha ftir UTlTnHI
heavy cloaks. and with hats pulled low
over their brows. they looked like some
band Of conspirators creeping On their
way TO asssssinate sope sleeping foe.
CUT THE WIRES.
on nearing the town one Of them cut
the wire that ran to the station near by.
and thus the Union troops were severed
from all communication with their friends
at a distance. II was midnight when the
caValcade entered the village. and as they
tramped down the muddy road no one
saw them or heard a sound from the foes
thus daring to rile into the very face
Of the slumbering enemy. There was 10
light i'm the town streets. and only every
now and then faint CLEAN from a half
shut window would tremble for a mo-
ment on the smoking sides Of the Rangers
horses. or b. reelected back from the
pistols in their belts.
on reaching the centre Of IN" village
Moshy halted his men. and. dividing them
into two attachments, sent on" ont To
quietly secure the horses while with six
men ne took his way 10 the headquarters
of the commanding general This house
was an old fashioned southern mansion.
about hundred yards from the road, and
set back in q pretty grove Of trees. The
Rangers quietly opened the gate. and trot-
81 q, 10 d cd
up on the porch. Win a iierca jerk Mosby
rang the bell.
THE RTSE.
4 window in a room above flew up.
and a sleepy voice demanded who was
below.
~ courier with dispatches for GenerIl
Stoughton." replied Mosby. as lie mo-
toned to the mon not to move.
The window fen. the officer ran down.
and in moment the door stood open.
"You are my prisoner whispered
MOshy to the astoui~hrd Federal who.
being unafmed. dare not make any r.
sistance Then leaving one man to guard
the captive. the Ranger dashed upstairs
and strobe into the room where the Gen
cral lay sleeping. With a rough shake
Moshy aroused him.
what in the devil is the matter?' in
quired Stoughton. as he sirdng UP in
bel.
"Stuarts Cavalry 10 In possession Of
the town" MoSby quietly replied.
stuart in town." Stoughton exclaimed
in establishment. still installing the men
about his bed for his own troops. why.
| thought you had captured Mosly.'
THE CAPTURE
ooh. no: You have not captured Mostly"
coolly remarked the Chief. but Mosby
has captured You; you had best get up
quietly and come with me"
Finding himself prisoner in the hands
of the very man 10 whose capture ne was
sworn. and believing that Stuarts troops
had the town, the Union General made
no attempt To resist. but dressed lulajly.
In few minutes he and Mosby descended
the steps. and. mounting hors that
stood outside, they soon joined ;he rest
of the rangers. who were awaiting
Mosby's arrival at the meeting-place in
the centre of the town.
OTHER PRISONERS
Here it was found that the nights
work had secured fifty-e light horses Al 4
thrty-tWo pris0ners-ani all this had
been accomplished without a GLOW beng
struck, shot fired. or any alarm being
given TO the rest of the camp. IN fact,
as the rangers pushed noisely out ~. town.
with their prisoners and horses. not 4
soul dreamed that the guerrilla chief was
stealing away with their comrades from
beneath their very noses. BY daEbredk
the troop was miles away.
on passing the enemy's last OUTPOST.
Mosby mounted bluff that overlooked
the road, and gazed anXiously In the
direction Of Fairfax. But not foe was
in sight-there was nothing in view, oX-
cept the water-sOaked hills and the gray
light creeping down into the brown valleys
below. And with a sigh of relief. the
troop again took up its march 10 the
South.
40 pursuit was made. and by noon the
next day the men and horses were turned
over to General FitZhugh Lee. who was
then stationed at Brandy Station. And
so closed one Of the most amusing Incl
dents and daring exploits OF the civil