The evening times., 1899-10-09
COLONEL MosBY,s CAPTURE.
The Story as Told by Surgeon J. G.
WIltHhire


Wiltshire.
BALTIMORE, Oct. 9.-Dr. ]. G. Wilt
shire, West Madison Street. who was a
lieutenant in Col. John s. Mosby's famous
command during the civil war, emphaticaI-.
ly denies story of Mosby's capture By
Federal troops which has recently bean Civ
en- prominence in New York papers Dr.
Wiltshire was almost continually with
Mosby during that chieftain's exciting ca
reer, and knows as much of the history of
Mosby and his men as any other living
man.
The story is to the effect that Federal
trooper of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry,
George W. Fink. started out one day In
1851 at the head of scouting party In the
Shenandoah Valley. The party surrounded
house. SO the story goes, where 1t was
suspected several Confederates were con-
cealed. I'm one of the upper chambers two
officers, lieutenant, and captain, were
found lying under the bed and were tri-
umphantly dragged forth, covered with
dust and lint from the floor
In another room third man. dressed in
civilian clothes, but very evidently connect
ed with the army, was found and placed un-
der arrest. in company with the others.
ihCH aims Wcic IIOLl luSul, ana uu-
der the guard of Fink and one companion
the return TO the camp was begun.
On the way thick wood was passed.
The man in civilians clothes was riding at
the front of the little party. When the
middle OF the grove was reached he wheel
cd his horse. plunged the roweIs into its
sides and dashed off to the right Fink
promptly raised his carbine and fired at the
rapidly retreating form
The horse fell dead but the rider leap
sd free from the animals boiy ami ran ike
the traditional whitehead farther into III.
woods. The cavalrymen could net leave
the two prisoners who remained and who
We're watching with b-eathless interest the
hight of their comrade 50 the journey to
the camp was continued without chase hay-
ing been made.
When the headquarters were reached
the two officers were turned over to the
commander. On their way to the guard
nouse they turned to Fink and one o. them
said: You may be interested in knowing
that the man who got away was Colonel
Mosby.' Fink was afterward known In the
Federal Army as the man who captured
Mosby.'"
There Is not word OF truth in ttat
story" said DE-. Wiltshire yesterday 50
many nonsensieal and gToundle-s tales
that 1t is impossible 10 deny them al Tn.
fact is. the FedeIals only had their hands
on Mosby once during his entire career
and then they hadn't sense enough TO keep
him. The capture was made in this way.
'Mosby and a few of his men were rid
Ing along the road near UppeFyiile, Va.
on the evening OF December u, 1864. at a
time when the country was full of Fed
erals Aosby stopped with one or two
officers at the house of LudweIl Lake for
supper, sending most of his men on. While
they were at supper the house was sud
denly surrounded by Federal cavaIrymen
Two or three entered the room and or
dered the inmates 10 surrender. Just then
snot was fired through the window and
Mosby fell to the floor badly wounded
The bullet struck him in the stomach. but
was DETECTED b. the muscles and passed
around TO the back
The Federals asked Lake end his daugh-
er. Mrs Skinner, who the wounded man
was, but they replied that they did not
know They asked Mosby who said he
was Lieutenant Johnson. of a Virginia reg
nlent- Mosby was covering with his
hands the insignia OF rank on his coat
While the troopers We're temporarily out
of the room he took of his coat and threw
1t under the bed. The Federals concluded
that he would die of his wound and rode
away, leaving him lying on the floor Mr.
Lake and some Of M0sby's men quickly
placed him in an OK cart and took him
away to safety
When the Federsls reached their camp.
it was afterward learned, they examined
some papers they had taken from AIosby
and then discovered the identity of their
prisoner but the bird had flown This was
the only time Moshy was ever captured,
all stories TO the con trsry Notwithstanding.
1t was thought Al first thai his wound was
fatal but he soon recovered {"