Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-10-26
COL. MosBY AND COL. FORBES.

Both mad been soldiers, but had met
On the battlefield, not merely as units
in two great opposing military ma.
chimes, but as foes within a contracted
area, each seeking the others life.
Theirs was friendship formed on the
battlefield and cemented during years
IF pacific comfy. Therefore, when the
news was received of the death of Col.
William H. Forbes, at Milton, Mass, a
few days ago, to no one did the passing
away of the Yankee officer cause a
deeper pang than to Colonel John S.
Mosby, the Confederate guerrilla chief
;ain. Thrilling was his recital of the
circumstances under which they we're
Drought together, grateful we're the ut
.erances for the kindness shown him by
the now dead man, and mingled in his
narration of the strange events was the
part played by the California battalion
in the civil war.
ATTACHED to the federal troops guard
ing Washington on the Virginia side OF
the Potomac" began Col Mosby, Twas
the Second Massachusetts Cavalry. With
that regiment I came into more fre-
q1ent collision than with any other in
le northern army. In its ranks, in
act making up great portion of the
c ,mmand, was the California battalion
.rganiz ID by Major De Witt Thomp
q, subsequently of the Soldiers
Home at Yountville. 1t was The best
body of mounted fighting men that
encountered during the war that IL,
the men fought better in the saddle. As
rule they had seen much Of camp lite,
were accustomed to privations, habitu
ated to face danger and skilled in the
use of arms and in mounting horseback.
"O1e of the majors of the regiment
was William II. Forbes. He was a
member of one of the leading families
of Ma ssachusetts His father was one
of the princes Of the China trade resid
ing in Boston, and he himself married
daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
i'he regiment was commanded by Col.
Charles Lowell, nephew OF James
Russell Lowell, the poet, after
wards minister to Eogland. In
me of my fights with those troops l
vas twice shot. One bulleG passed
around my ribs and did me no special
aarm. The other transported my
right leg and was serious. That was
III August 25.h, 1868, at Gooding's
Tavern, in Fairfax county. met a
op.of the Cslifornians driving body
IF horses 10 General Meade's army and
.ttacked then. Two of my msn were
killed aud the bullet that went through
my leg killed my horse, but | secured
he horses all the same. After l came
20 California, Major Thompson showed
me report of the Assistant-Adjutant-
General of the regiment, giving the
uame of Californian who was pro-
noted by Governor Low for shooting
Mosby.' Colonel G. Mason Kline was
he aojutant OF the regiment, and |
nave often laughed with Governor Low
At his home at his rewarding man for
footing me.
sit was on July 6, 1864, at
Aldie, on the farm wnere Presi
dent Monroe lived, that Forbes
ana made our acquaintance. l shall
never forget the occasion, and l
Know he never did. 1t was black gum
.ainst thunder. Forbes commanded
the Union forces and was at the head
f my men. We were about equal in
numbers. Forbes acted with great
sallantry in the fight. Its most NOV
ing episode was this: With his saber
Major Forbes had wounded in Il g
shoulder Captain Thomas W. Richards,
now resident of Los Angeles. l. was