The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-08
= CONFEDERATE PARTISAN CHIEF
Gen. NTosby's Rangers and the Work
They Did.


They Did.
From James J. Williamsons Narrative
'Mosbys Rangers"
Thirty years have done much toward
clearing away false impressions created
during the war and cherished afterward
as truth, from constant itera ton; yet to
| day many people think of Mosby and his
| rangers as a sort of guerrilla band infest-
ing the Virginia mountains. owing alleg
lance to no one but themselves, living by
occasional foraging against outlying
yankee posts, holding up trains, captur-
ing baggage wagons, and in short making
war an excuse for pillage and plumber
Like many other popular prejudices,
however, II is wholly incorrect and the
blood-curdling rOmances of federal mag
nation must sucCumb TO the hard facts
contained in the straightforward narra-
tive of James J. Williamson Zone of Mos
by's own, entitled "Mosby's Rangers
and published by Ralph b. Kenyon of New
York. in which he gives a record of their
operations from the date of their organic
dion 10 the time of their final disband
ing.
Mosbys command was regularly organ
lied and mustered into the confederate
service on the same footing with other
troops, except that being organized under
the partisan ranger law, an act passed
by the confederate congress, they were
to maritime prizes. All cattle and mules
were turned over to the confederate gov
eminent, but horses captured were dis
tributed among the men making the cap
ture.
Mosby was a scout his business was to
gather information, to cut on communi-
cations, to intercept dispatches, and by
destroying supplies in the rear of adj
Nancing armies to force men TO be sent
back from the front that the rear might
be protected. When the federal soldiers
We're pushing on TO Richmond their lines
became more extended, and greater num-
bers were required to guard them from
his attacks. In this way Mosby, with a
few horsemen kept thousands of men
from active duty in the front, TO say
nothing of the damage inflicted by his
After he had attracted attention by
| his daring achievements, men came from
all parts of the country to join him.
Officers resigned positions in the regular
army TO come and serve with him as pri-
Yates. Although dangerous service,
there was a fascination In the life of a
ranger that attracted many to the side
of the dashing partisan chief. MOsby, in
fact, was pestered by~men in the regular
army seeking to know If he would re-
ceive them in the event of their resigning
| their positions. Often they came person.
ally. At one of these meetings a young
man walked up to Mosby, and extending
| his hand said:
How are you. majOr?"
/ up, thrusting his hands into his pockets
/ and surveying him from head to foot.
= came here to join you, major"
| Where are you fromg'
| Il belonged to Mcneil
! What are you doing here?" said MOsby.
Want to join your command At the
same time the young man mentioned
| something about a transfer of furlough.
Where's your paper?" said Mosby.
Let me see it."
1t was handed him, and looking at the
date he raised his eyes. saying:
Where have you been all this timer"
| He said he had been getting horses and
| that he had several.
Il don't want YOU said MOsby. go
| back to your command, and don't tell peo-
/ pie you are one of Mosby's men-that you
/ belong 10 my command. I heard you
robbed a yankee deserter of $3.50. l don't
want you with me
Il never did such a thing" said the man.
| Don't you live at Smiths?"
Eyes"
Then you are the man. 1 don't want
| you" and tearing up the paper. Mosby
turned his back and walked away
! "Mosby men," when met on duty, were
| mostly scattered through the counties OF
Loudon and Fauquier. There were few
| indeed, even among the poorest mountain
| GERS, who would refuse shelter and food TO
/ Mosbys rangers.
Having no camps, they made their homes
| at the ram house, especially those along
the Blue ridge and Bull Run mountains
! Certain places would be designated al
which to meet, but If no time or place had
been named at a former meeting or II
necessary TO have the command together