The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-22
M0SBY'S RANGERS.
Daring Guerrilla Company Which Greatly
K1arrassed the Army
FROM che Philadelphia Times.

which took place last week IN Balti-
more, recalls most wildly the stirring
times OF war. when these same men
were not the peaceful citizens of TO-
day, but the muSh-feared bcld spirits
that spent theif days and nights in
barrassing the boys that Uncle Sam
sent out to capture them. It is a
long time since the lads in gray had
b in a fight: many Of those who
had been boon companions are now
sleeping undisturbed by the sound oe
strife, and over the heads Of all Faith
err Time had cast frost that, while
It ailvered the hair, touched &c: .ha
heart Of those who met around the
fes.al board to talk Of the adventures
of the days Of old.
The band known as the Mosby Ran
gers was in fact the Forty-third Vir-
ginia Battalion. regularly organized
troop, in which the officers were COM
missioned and under the personal SUI
pervision of Mosby, who was subordi-
nate to General Lee, just as were the
other officers of the Confederate army.
These rangers, however, wsro gather
ed for species of warfare which,
being exercised in an independent
way, was the means of harrassing the
enemy and Of keeping the large armies
of the Union constantly on the alert.
AS line is only as strong as it weak
est point it sometimes took several
thousand Federal troops to guard
road or communications, when they
were in truth menaced by only few
hundred. The Rangers, who were
composed of the young men of the
State, received no compensation from
the Confederate government for their
services, other than the spoils Of war
taken by their own efforts from the
enemy. Many of the soldiers were
but boys, some scarcely out Of school,
but the flower Of tho South could be
found in their ranks, while for daring
and absolute fearlessncss they had no
equal.
Thst 2srt Of Virginia which is in
cluded in Fauquier and Fairfax Coun-
ties became known as Mosby's Con-
feaeracy, and in a short time was
practically under the control of his
men. Ceaseless were the skirmishes
which took place, the thrilling adven-
lures and hair;breadth escapes they
encountered, but none perhaps are as
remarkable as the affair in which they
went boldly into the center of Union
camp and took out from its midst
Numbering general, escaping with
their PREF md ~ the very frown ae .he
guns in the Federal forts.
Ehis adventure occurred in March,
1855, just as;ar the battle Of Chan
eelloysville, and about the time that
fee had begun 20 marshal his forces
for an intended invasion OF the North.
Rs;ggsd;er General Stoughton and
large force were encamped at the lit
tie village Of Fairfax, which is the
County seat Of the vicinity, and num-
bers few hundred inhabitants. The
@ea ef the force. we're qua. tte1eaa about
the place, while the General had his
headquarters, with his staff, at the
brick house which is now Used as the
rectory Tor the Episcopal clergyman of
the town. This residence is large
one, standingin the midst Of lot Of
soodly size. just about 100 yards from
the Ilsiu road, and the front room in
the second story was occupied by the
commanding General.
The night selected by the rangers
was cold, drissling one, and they set
eat on their, journey from their start
ing poins, which waa several miles
outside the enemy's lines abors the
:ewn, at near night. The lines OF the
Sederals extended in every direction
about .he ces:H:.--yy, so;as Ssf shhs Union
forces being ct Centerville, III tiny
hamlet six miles from Fairfax. In
order to escape the pickets the rangers
made detour, and striking off from
the main road on which they were
travelling managed to approach the
town in suck way that the Federals
could not but suppose the troop was
part Of their own force. The road was
anything but Q pleasant one to ride,
for the mud was deep as only Virginia
mud can be, but the men plodded on,
nuffled up in their cloaks,. till they
saw in the misty distance few lights
family cleaning through the trees.
The soldiers Belonging 70 Slough
toms force were soundly sleeping,
artillery. cavalry and infantry beiag
quartered about in the citizens hors-
es. The General was in the center of