The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14
RANGERS
Thrilling Adventures of the Famous Body
of Confederate Troops-How They Cap
tured a Yankee General-A Pay Train
Captured and $4,000 Secured
philadelphia Times.)

(Phlladelpnla IlmeS.)
The reunion of Mosby's Rangers, which
took place last week in Baltimore, recalls
most vividly the stirring times Of war,
when these same men were not the
peaceful citizens Of today, but the much
feared bold spirits that spent their days
and nights in harassing the boys that
Uncle Sam sent out to capture them. 1t
is a long time since the lads in gray had
been in a. fight; many Of those who had
been boon companions are now sleeping
undisturbed by the sound of strife, and
over the heads of all Father Time had
cast a frost that, while it silvered the
hair, touched not the heart of those who
met around the festal board to talk Of
the adventures of the days of old.
The band known as the Mosby Ran
gers was in fact the F'Orty-thlrd Virginia
battalion, a regularly organized troop, IN
which the officers We're commissioned
and under the personal supervision OF
Mosby. who was subordinate to General
Lee, just as were the other officers OF
the confederate army. These rangers:
however. were gathered for a species or
warfare which, being exercised IN an IN
dependent way, was the means OF mar
assing the enemy and OF Keeping the
large armies of the union constantly on
the alert. AS a line is only as strong as
Its weakest point. II SOIIelIlIIeS tooh y
eral thousand federal troops to guard a
road or communications, when they were
in truth menaced by only a few nun
dred. The rangers, who were
of the young men Of the state, received
no COMPENSATION from the confederate
government for their services, other tnan
spoils of war taken by their own efforts
from the enemy. Many OF the soldiers
We're but boys, some scarcely out OF
school. but the flower Of the south could
be found in their ranks. while for OAR
ing and absolute fearlessness they had
no equal.
That part of Virginia which is includ-
ed in Fauuuier and Fairfax counties be-
came known as Mosby's confederacy
and in a short time was practically un-
der the control of his men. Ceaseless
were the skirmishes which took place
the thrilling adventures and hair.
breadth escapes they encountered, bu'
none perhaps are as remarkable as the
affair in which they went boldly into tnt
centre of a union camp and took on
from its midst a Slumbering general, eS'
Gaping with their prey under the very
frown of the guns in the federal forts.
This adventure occurred in March, 1858
just after the battle of Chanceilorsvlne
and about the time that Lee had begun
to marshal his forces for an intended in
vasion of the north. Brigadier Genera
S]toughton and a large force We're en-
camped at the little village Of Fairfax
which is the county seat of the vicinity
and numbers a few inhabitants
The men of the force were quartere'
about the place. While the general ha'
his headquarters. with his staff, at tn
brick house which is now used as tn
rectory for the Episcopal clergyman o
the town. This residence is a large one
landing in the midst of & lot OF good
size. Just about 100 yards from the mai
road. and the front room in the secon
story was occupied by the commandin
general.
The night selected by the rangers wa
a cold. driZZling one, and they set out o
their journey from their starting poin
which was several miles outside the er
emy's lines about the town. at near mid
hight. The lines of the federals extende
in every direction about the countr,
some Of the union forces being at Ger
~terville. a tiny hamlet six miles frol
Fairfax. In order to escape the picket
off from the main road on which the
were travelling managed to approach II
town in such a way that the fedora
could not but suppose the troop was pa
of their own force. The road was am
thing but a pleasant one TO ride. Tor n
mud was deep as only Virginia mud ca
!, be, but the men plodded on. muffied U
in their cloaks, till they saw in the mis-
J distance q few lights family gieamin
: through the trees.
5 The soldiers belonging to Sroughton
: force were soundly sleeping. artiller
) cavalry and infantry being Quarters
e about in the citizens houses. The gener
! was in the centre OF the town, and b.