Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-01-20
From the Baltimore Herald.
MossY,s GREENsACK RAID.

MOSBY'S GREEN6ACk RAIO.
The reunion of the survivors of the
old Forty-third Virginia Cavalry, bet
ter known as Mosby's Command, re-
Gently held in this city, like all other
gatherings of former Confederate SOL
diers, recalled incidents of fighting
days, and threw new lights on histor-
cal occurrences during those trouble
some times
Though history fairly teens with de-
scriptions, narratives and comments
of the battles, charges and skirmi.heS
Of the Civil War, the stories, when told
by those who were in the thick Of the
fight, have an additional interest, not
only to those veterans who participa-
ted in the armies of either side, but
are entertaining to the younger gener-
alton who are fond of tales of deeds Of
bravery and the adventures Of soldiers
in the field There was dash and
absolute fearlessness about these rough
riders under the leadership Of Colonel
John S. Mosby that gave touch of
romance to much that they did when
the famous command was in the sad
die. The reunion held in this city oc-
Cured on the 33d anniversary Of the
"Greenhack raid, and an interesting
coincidence was the presence OF the
leading spirits in this attack on train
and the capture of Federal paymasters,
a few nights ago several of these
former Mosby men met informally at
the home of DR.. J. G. Wiltshire, West
Madison street, and talked interesting
ly of old campaigns, relating in detail
the story Of the historic raid near Duff
fields Depot, W. Va IN the party
were Lieut.. Charles L. Grogan, OF Bal
timore, one of the brayest and coolest
men of the command; J. West Al
drich, Of Orkney Springs, Va, who
was always foremost in all of the cav
airy S undertakings, and DR.. Wiltshire,
who was one of Mosby S best and ner-
West scouts. These gentlemen were
all in the raid, and the following ac-
count is made up from their stories of
the memorable incident.
The "Greenback raid - took place on
October II, 1864. Information had
reached Col. Mosby that train car
rying AZ United States paymasters had
left Washington with an immense
amount of money to pay off the soldiers
Of Sheridan's army Mosby's men re-
ceived no salary, and consequently the
opportunity Of getting into so much OF
Uncle Sam money aroused consider
able enthusiasm. This train, however,
passed through in safety before the
command could reach the railroad, but
the same fate which had carried these
through had left still another chance
for the rough riders. Two paymasters
had missed the first train, and had to
follow on the next 1t was this train
the Mosby men met.
A detail of about 60 or 70 of the
best men in the battalion were de-
tailed for the raid, and the leader,
Colonel Mosby, was in command. DR..
Jas. G. Wiltshire, native of Jefferson
county, to whom the Valley of Virgin
ia and the surrounding country were
as an open book, was the guide, and
capital place for such capture was
picked out. 1t was between Dufields
Depot and Kearneysville, in the vicin-
ity of Martinsburg. The ride was
made under cover of night, and the
point chosen for the attack on the train
was in cut, Strange enough, this
vicinity was the same place where
detachment in command Of Major A.
f. Richards had failed on similar
mission. This second raid was skill
fully conducted, and it was eminentiy
successful.
The men hitched their horses to the
trees nearby and the greater number
stretched out before the campfres to
await the coming of the train. A de-
tail of about 20 men was sent to the
railroad track to arrange such details
as would make the stopping of the
train at that point an absolute neces-
sity. One of the party was sent in
search of a crowbar. He returned,
however, without the implement, and
the plan of pulling up the rails had to
| be abandoned. Lieutenant Grogan,