The Florida star., 1900-09-14


met their doom like st0ics.
But for the fierce raids and charges
or these rangers and their rapid moves
on the rear and tanks Of Sheridan's
army the hero OF Winchester would
have been able to press southwark
through the Shenandoah valley after
the defeat OF General Early. This
would have enabled him to concentrate
his army OF $4,000 men on the rear OF
Lees forces. Lees cohorts were al
ready hard pressed in front by Grant
with 10000 men, the flower OF the
northern forces. Sheridan, in his report
OF the Shenandoah campaign. raid
high compliment to Colonel Mosby.
He admitted that the rangers prevent
ed him from following out Grants or
ders 10 press forward TO Lynchburg,
where could have been administered a
crushing defeat To the Confederate ar
my under Lee.
Few OF the Virginia cOlOners ex-
ploits created the furore that did his
capture OF General Edwin ii. Slough
ton in March, 1868. The general was
Quartered at Fairfax Court House. In
a drizzllng rain. with but % men. Colo
mel Mosby started on his dangerous
and well nigh foolhardy mission.
After the affair was triumphantly
terminated the colonel gave the nc
count OF this venture: I'VE passed the
outlying guards by stating we were OF
the Fifth New York cavalry. with dis
patches for General StOughtOn. With
the aid OF Big Yank' Ames. n stalwart
deserter from the Union lines. we
found our way TO the building where
lay our game. The sentry At the door
was quietly Overpowered. Violent
knocking brought 10 the entrance a
night robed figure. which proved To be
Lieutenant Prentiss of the generals
staff.
I'VE were then four miles inside the
enemy's lines and amid hundreds Of
hostile soldiers. Caution was needed.
'Prentiss let Ills i'm on our informing
him that we were OF the Fifth New
York. We pushed up the stairs and
entered the commandments room. He
was sound asleep. His snOrings were
resonant in the extreme
with such environments" said Cola
mel MOsby, II could not afford To await
his convenience or stand OH ceremony.
So gave the sleeping man IL slap. Its
effect was electric. The brigadier rose
from his pillow and in an authOrita-
tive tone inquired the meaning Of the
rude treatment. He had not realized
that the intruders were not members
OF his own staff.
Il leaned over and said to him. Gen
eral, did you ever hear OF MOsbyT
Yes lie quickly answered. Have you
caught him.: No said. L am Mosby
lie has caught YOU In order to d,-
prive him or all hope | told him that
Stuart's cavalry held the town AMI
that General Jackson was at Center.
willie.
with look Of agony and despair
he asked if FitZ Leo was there. | toll
him Yes Then take me 20 him. he
said. We We're classmates nj West
Point Certainly said, but | am in
a hurry. Dress quickly He did 50.
and we left the town with General
Stoughton. Lieutenant prentiSs and
about 100 other prisoners; also a .Ot OF
fine horses"
When MOSby's accomplishment was
reported 10 Major General Stuart. that
officer issued Il general order i'll which
lie referred TO the feat ''as almost un-
parallcled in war"
One great secret Of MOsby's success
was the fact that the number OF his
force WAS always exaggerated. He
aimed toward this end and has been
known Ia have his men drag branches
of trees behind their horses To create
Il dust cloud sufficient for large body
of troopers.
As an instance of his daring il might
be told how one dark night in 1864 he
cut Ia wagons from ont the very mid
die of Phil Shrridan'S supply train.
which WIS stretched out five miles.
MuShy hecamc Il strong admirrr of
General Grant after the war AMI
slumpcd Virginia for the cunqucror Of
Lee during his campaign for the pres
idrnCy. He WAS the COinrr Of the rN-
pressive and alliterative phrase the
solid south" and by reason of his dash
ing ability and strenuous personality
formed one Of the striking characters
developed in the stirring days OF the
Confederate movement.
FREDERICK X. TooMBs.