Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-09-06
A Letter From Col. Mosby.

DEAR COURIBR:-The modesty of
the old Confederates often stands in
the way of procuring valuable data
concerning the late war. secured
The following letter from az old SOL
der by dint of begging and persua-
sion. He was as modest as he was
brave, aud secured il by the hard
est effort, as be did not wish publci-
ty- If the old "Confeds' would but
remember that it is our right and
our heritage to know everything that
is to be known about the Civil War;
that ours is the duty of recordation
and preservation, they would aid us
in getting such data as is furnished
by the following letter: A Son.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Aug. %, '99.
Mr.. JOHN 5. RUSSELL, Berryville,
Va.
Dear John:-I hope that you have
not forgotten me. | can never fer
get you. | have often said that you
did double duty and more work than
any man in my command; for YOU
not only secuted and found out
where there was a weak point TO
strike, but you were with me and was
one of the first TO strike. This was
particularly the case at Berryville.
We had halted at Mr.. Il. Il. Smiths
barn and YOU were sent over TO the
pike to find out what was there.
When you came back was asleep:
you woke me mp and told me Sheri-
dams train was passing. The com
mnud was ordered to mount; Won and
| rode on 70 recOnnOitre When We
saw the long train moving in the
morning mist sent Won at gallon
TO tell Chapman 10 move up quickly.
The world knows the result. You
are entitled to more credit for our
success that day than any one else.
Gou may remember that ON the same
day when we got to Bectortown | had
Won made a Lieutenant You had
worthilv won the rank: my last or
der to attack the enemy was given TO
You and on my last raid discovered
at night that there was "a small pick
ct on the pike leading from Berry
willie 10 Millwood. | told YOU to take
"A few men and capture ID: | wanted
to give vOu "a chance; remember
that Was getting cup of coffee at
/ David NcGuire's. when we heard
,rrai shots. la.rhed and said:
''.l"hn has GOT en- so Won had:
You soon brought in your prisoners.
! recall the sam as yividlv as if il
hud been Yesterday.
NV daughters have been spending
the summer in Charlestown. One of
them wrote me that she was going TO
the reunion of the 9th Va Cavalry
at Berryville. So | sent her nv
photo, and told her to find YOU and
give it to you. Two interesting events
of my life are connected with Berry
Vile: the capture of Sheridan's wag
on train there on the morning of
August 18th, 1864, when with less
than 800 men and little howitzer
we stampeded the guard of 5000.
They didn't seem to think. from the
way they complained of having been
surprised. that it was fair for 500
men to attack 5000 in fog: the 9TH
er event TO which | refer is that
camped there on the night of July
18th, 1861, when | was private in
Stuart's regiment-the lst Va. Cav
airy. 1t was the first time had ever
been to the place; We had marched
from Bunker Hill where we had been
observing Patterson and were tired
and hungry. / still remember how
bountifully the citizens fed rs. | had
very little idea then that would
ever rise above the position of a pri-
vate, or that my name would be as
sociated with the Shenandoah. dc
not expect to go East this year, but
next year | hope to spend several
months in Virginia and to revisit tn
old scenes of the Valley. | am sorry
that | can't be at the unveiling OF
the monument to our men at Front
Royal on the 23rd of September. You
will of course be there. Maj Rich.
ards writes that he is to deliver the
address. | have written an article
, and sent it to the Richmond Time:
which for the first time tells the
( whole truth about the hanging of our
men and my retaliation. In it state
, that sent my letter to Sheridan by
You. 1t ought to appear next Sun
day-Sept. 3rd. Give my love to al
of my old men and tell them that
still wear their image in my heart OF
| hearts" Yours sincerely,
| JNO. :. MOSBY.
PRIVATE SALE OF PERONAL PROP
ERTY.-Owing to my removal from