Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-01-10

MosBy's BATTALIoN.-It is very
well-known fact that from thirty TO
ffty thousand troops of all arms OF SER
vice were kept from the front to-pTo-
tect Mary and, Washington city and
Alexandra, during the last eighteen
months of the late civil war, by Col.
John 5 Mosby's battalion OF six COM
panies OF cavalry, Notwithstanding the
heavy line Of forts and miles Of breast
works extending from the foot hills Of
the Blue Ridge mountains to QlanIico:
the very streets of this city were bArri-
caded by stockades and strong gates TO
prevent sudden attack. Once string
of government wagons was placed
with tongues run under each other
from Cameron run to Four-mile run, a
distance of fully three miles, when
General Lee directed Mosby to do
everything in his power to prevent
General Anger, who was then III CON-
mand of the federal forces in this sec
ton, from rebuilding the Manassas
railroad from Piedmont TO Front Royal,
as ordered by General Sheridan. Col.
Mosby divided his little command in
three or four parts, and fought the
enemy at far distant points at almost
the same hour. He took two compa-
MES across the Shenandoah and cap
tured train of cars at Dutlield station,
bringing back number of prisoners,
among them two paymasters with one
hundred and sixty eight thousand dol
lars, while Lieut.. Col. w. H. Chap
man crossed the Potomac and de-
s5royed number of canal boats at
WILLIAMSON Maryland, loaded With
government supplies. Still another
squadron der Capt. Wallis Franklin
was SEN ,Oack Of Sleridan's lines at
Front Royal. franklin with his 10
men made battle on what he supposed
to be wagon train leaving camp, but
what proved full regiment of General
Clusters brigade. The fight was hot,
and many Union soldiers were killed,
bat the small body of Conlederates were
of course put to route, seven OF them
were taken prisoners and ruthlessly
hung in the woods near the town. One,
handsome boy, was tied between two
horses by his hands to the siirrups straps
and dragged to the place Of execution
Col. Mosby only Il day or so later sent
the same number OF prisoners over aud
had them hung in retaliation, very close
to the camp or the enemy, and wrote
General Sheridan why it was done
General Sheridan denied that he had
raised ";he black flag" and everything
ran as smooihlyatterwards as war would
allow. 1t is well that it did. Tor Mosby
captured one brigadier general, many
minor officers and over four hundred
private soldiers before single
man Of his after the hang
ing fell in the hands of the Union sol
diers. The plan of Gen. Grant was 20
open the Manassas road and have Gen.
Sheridan send him two or more army
corps by water transportation via a.
exandria where transportation was
waiting) quickly, to aid in an extension
of his lines south of Petersburg so as to
cut of supplies for Richmond. Mosby
certainly prevented this, as Sheridan
wrote Grant it took 800 men to take
even message. and several thou:-
and to guard and protect every wagon
train; hence, he was compelled to re-
main in the valley aud, indeed, wns
forced to retreat 10 the face of Early :,
army which had driven down the val
lev after the battle of Cedar Greek.
Both Lee and Grant regarded Mosby as
military genius. and Gen. j +. b
Stuart esteemed him highly and
loved him as brother.