Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-21
WITH MOSBY'S MEN.
To the Editor of the Madison, Ind.
Correct. Ind. Oct. 8


To the Editor of the Madison, Ind.
Courier.
Correct, Ind, Oct. 8
General John S. Mosby was really
The greatest cavalryman of the civil
war, considering the number of men in
his command. He bothered Gen. Phil
Sheridan so in the Shenandoah Valley
that he could not make his intended at
tack on the railroads north and west of
Richmond, and really kept the South
on it's feet for one year longer than it
would otherwise have been. Mosby's
cavalry, as we'll as our own, have not
received the recognition they should
have, commensurate with what they
performed.
Visiting some friends 10 Washington,
d. c., members of the Lincoln Post, |
went with them to Philadelptia ia and at
cur hotel | roomed with Colonel T. L
Chapin, formerly of the United States
Signal Corps. After the war he settled
At Cbaotllly, Va, and he said one of
Mosby's men was working for him aud
hat Lieutenant Wrenn of his command
was in business in Washington, and that
Nosby's men would have reunion at
Front Royal on September %. ! made
up my mind to attend if possible, but
1n my return from Gettsburg by way
Of Frederick, Md, found railroad con
uections very bad, and only got on the
| B. s. 0. near dark and very near made
up 10y mind to go straight home. as
could be in the dark getting to Front
ROYAL and knew no one there, and not
sure how Yank would be received by
hat crowd. But as I passed up the
car, which was nearly full, l saw one
vscaut seat and asked the Southerner
it was occupied be said no, and
moved over and as | went to sit down
saw him laugh. looked and saw on
ais coat confederate badge, and l
said: Il am in the hands of Mosby's
men again, and birds of feather will
DICK toge her." 1 found them Jolly
crowd. DR.. J. ]. Williams, COZ N
Charles street, Baltimore, Md, L..
Janett, Md, Janettsville, Md, and
Charles E. Bedler, 6S Liberty street,
Baltimore, wholesale dealer IN boots
and shoes, the secretary of the Mosby
Association. Well, of course, was in
for it then. They seemed to know vino
II was Immediately, through letters
lust published in the Richmond and
other papers from General Mosby, and
welcomed me as one of them. We
oad quite drive after dark from the
B. & O., but found good hotel but so
| full we had to double up, and spent
delightful evening fighting our battles
over. 1t put me in mind of one of our
reunions by the glad hand shake and
| the tear ia the eye, as some o.d COM
rades met after many years OF absence.
Here l met Mayor l. T. Chris ian,
Richmond, Va, who as a boy was
much mixed with both armies. Fort
Reserve OF General Grants army
was built on his fathers place.
He was very pleasant com.
panop, high up in Free Masonry
aud acquainted with General C4rDa-
nan OF this State. Lieut.. Wn. B. Pei
uer, of Richmond, Va, reelected COM
mander of the Mosby's associations,
told me he was in command of the
camp when We came in with General
Mosby and took the arms. He says be
remembered it distinctly. Another by
the name of White, said he remember
ed it. and that made coffee and gave
gave him some. / had my sugar and
coffee mixed. He did not like sugar,
but drank for the sake of the coffee.
| L was in hopes of meeting
Stringfellow, who rode my horse
(Old Crockett, raised on Rykers
Ridge,) right back into our camp.
| tbs u hit be would be caught, as most
of the boys in the brigade knew the
horse. He said next morning that he
would not ride that horse again for
$4,000. lie Townsend and l were
the only ones in our regiment he
would let ride him. Stringfellow is
now an Episcopalian minister. There
were minister's, lawyers, doctors, edi-
tors and business men of all kinds
there, and it would pass for one of the
reunions of the 32d Cavalry or the s b
Illinois. The crowd was just as hard
to manage as one in Indiana. We
passed the morning in quiet fellowship,
passing around, handshaking and hav-
| ing a jolly good time, everyone treat
ing me as an old comrade. was pre-
sented with Mosby badge; also din
per badge. AS was sitting in the ho-
tel, talking to some gentlemen, two
pretty girls came to me and said :
"Won't you buy a badge to help the
monument ?"
II don't know" I said. "If you
will" one said, II will pin it on for
you" Gall right" said l, and she pin
ned it on my coat. Then l said Il
am Yank." "You Yank, aud not
hurt ~ She drew long breath and
Quickly backed away. She seemed to
think all Yanks were killed or crippled.
am anxious to find out who that little
lady was who pinned a Confederate
badge on a Yankee soldier.
There was burst of laughter 10 tne
room, as a lot of the boys bad been
watching her and me, and it came out
all right, and wore the badge as well
as Comrade Mckinley. We went to
the hall to atteod to some business, but
all We're so jolly none could be done, so
we adjouroed for dinner. A tne one IT
WAS There were seats for hum