The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-13
FIRST MEETING OF
LEE AND M0SBY.
Was the Cause of the Battle of
Cedar Mountain,
COMMISSIONS FROM LINCOLN.
Accepted by Goth General II. L. Leo
and Fitzhugb Lce---Former OPP
posed TO Secession-Last
Meeting With Pickett.

first saw General Robert 2. Lee on
the day after the battle Of Malvern Him.
He was sitting under the shade OF some
trees in the front yard OF house few
miles from tho battlefield; Longstreet
was sitting by talking to him. was
looking FOR Stuart, the Chief-of- Cavalry,
and. as 1 was passing the place. saw
some Of his couriers there and stopped.
L dismounted and Joined them. While
We were talking about the events OF the
last few days two horsemen rode up. q
general and an orderly. who took a seat
by Longstrcet. The courlcrs told me that
the General talking 70 Longstreot was
General Robert T.. Lee, and that the
saunt looking figure. who had just come
up was Stonewall Jackson.
/ stood . few yards off and gazed at
the group in mute admiration. AZ that
time their fame was resounding through
the world. Malvern Hill was a rear
guard fight OF Mcclellan s. az night he
resumed his retreat 10 James river.
whore he stayed until his army was
ordered back 10 the defence or Washing
ton. This was I'm july 1862. / was then
a private without political influence and
no hope or promotion. 1 had very llttle
idea then that the time would ever come
when / would sit in General Lees tent
and discuss military questions with him.
POPE'S REAR.
4 few weeks after that, when McClel-
Ian was still resting inactive under cover
OF the gun boats. Pope was assigned to
the command Of troop In front OF Wash
ington. He came upon the stage some
what in tho style OF Bombastes Furioso.
when nc hung up his boots and pro-
claimed that no did not intend to look
10 his rear. II seemed TO me that IL
General Pope did not intend to pay any
attention 10 his rear. some one ought 20
do it for him. Here was n tempting
chance for an enterprlsing Confederate.
Jacksons corps had now been detached
and sent TO Cordonsville in observation OF
Pope. Around Richmond there was little
for the cavalry to do; McClellan's army
was resting on the river which was his
lire OF supply. The authorities az WASH
ingtOn seemed 10 hesitate whether to
answer McCIellan'5 cry for reinforce
ment5 and let him move against Rich
mOnd again. or TO transfer his army back
TO the point from which 1t had started In
the spring. 1 suggested 10 Stuart, for
whom [ had done q great deal OF scout
ing, "a scout Is not a spy In disguise.
but soldier IN Uniform) to let me take
a small detachment from his cavalry and
operate In P0ne p rear. Pope's different
army corps we're at that time so scatter
cd that an active partisan force could
give employment to all his cavalry 20
keep NJ communication between them.
Tag frcn I'D CT a. q
cavalry with HIN. Stuart thought II REST
10 rest his OWE cavalry and for me 10 get
a detail from .Tacksons to do the work.
SO no gave mo letter Of Introduction
to Jackson, whom / had never met and
I left his headquarters with one COM
panion 20 deliver IL 20 the great chieft3in.
out Of this conception was evolved the
Partisan Battalion / afterwards com
manded. l felt happy because I knew
there was a splendid prospect in northern
Virginia FOR adventure and a chance 10
realize my ambitious dreams.
MOsBY CAPTURED.
We snent the first night on the way o.
the house Of farmer who lived near
Beaver Dam depot on what is now the
g. & o railroad. The next morning. my
companion. Weaver agreed 70 lead my
horse on 10 Jacksons headquarters,
while 7 would take the cars. 90 on IN
advance and have everything ready when
he arrived. In this way time would be
saved; | was IN a hurry TO get into the
region where tne harvest was plentiful
and the reapers few. We went 10 the
depot: Weaver left me there and started
Off leading my horse. 7 laid down my
havorsack that had Stuarts letter TO
Jackson IN g.: unbuckled my pistol belt
and sat down TO wait for the train.
also had IN my pocket q copy OF Napo-
leone Maxlms, Just published in Rich
mond which Stuart sent as q present 20
Jackson. Weaver had scarcely gotten
out OF sight when a man standing by
halloOed out Here they come" I
Jumped up to see what was the matter.
Not a hundred yards distant was n reg
iment OF cavalry In blue coming up at
trot 7 started 10 run. but IL was no use:
before I got fifty yards several troopers
were upon mo. Ny pistols and havorsack
had been left IN the depot: when thew
took ne back they had them and wero
reading my letter 10 Jackson. II was
published in the northern papers TO let
the world see what John Pone had done
The regiment had marched al night
from Fredericksburg 20 capture the morn
inc train from Richmond.
They fronted into line and put me in
the front rank. called TO an officer ard
protested AGAINST putting prisoner In
the front OF line OF battle, and told
him there would be a brirade Of infantry
on the train and we would all be killed.
They had read Stuart's letter TO Jackson
and had attached some credit - what
7 said. So they concluded 10 let the
train go by unmolested and moved or
by "fours" The train soon arrived with
not a soul on board. my being captured
saved A. / was taken 10 the old capitol
prison in Washington.
RELEASED on EXCHANGE.
The next day. thanks 70 fortune. a
cartel FOR exchange % prisoners was
agreed on. After a confinement OF ten
davs. one evening with several hundred
others. I was taken on steamer going
down the Potomac 10 Fort Monroe; we
were kept there four d.vs waiting FOR
other steamers with prisoners coming
from the North The steamer that
brought US down was chartered i'm Bal
tirnore. and the captain svupathized with
me South. when we reached HamntOr
Roads a large number OF TRANSPORTS
loaded with troops We're anchored or
Newport News. On mourning. I learned
that II was Furnishes corps that had
inst been brought from North Carolina
II was plain that the destination OF these
troops would Indicate whether McCfel-
lan's army would AGAIN advance from
its present base OF operations on Rich
rnond. or he Withdrawn 10 unite With
Pone's. 7 kept M the habits had formed
as q scout. and determined that my time
as a nrlsoner should not be alto~c'her
O.. i'll rl1tr Inc