The Florida star., 1900-09-14
M0SBT Ind HIS CAVALRY MEN.
The Famous Rangers Rensht Their hat
ties at Fairfax.

-
by the reunion Of the Sixth Virginia
cavalry, better known as Mosby's men.
This is the first general gathering OF
the famous lighters since the memora.
BILE day in April. 1865. when. through
the exiSercics OF unsuccessful combat,
they stood before their chieftaln In last
review.
The choice OF the meeting place
seems peculiarly appropriate. for nj
Fairfax Court House II was that oc-
Cured the initiatory operations OF the
famous Nlrginlan's rangers. The re-
giOn hereabOut was so frequently tn"
theater OF the partisan battallon's
movements. rOrsOoth. that the name
or the leader became indellbly asso-
ciated with ii. ''Mosby's Confederacy."
as the district inclOsed by Warrenton,
Fairfax and Harpers Ferry was term
ed. is to this day recognized as geo
graphical distinction.
The idea OF an organized and ex.
tended partisan warfare in connection
federate army originated with Colonel
MOsby in the early part of 1862 He
had at that time been reduced TO the
ranks from the stan of Captain. after
ward General. Jones OF the Fifth VIZ
glnia cavalry by an election OF Off
GERS sanctioned by the confederacy.
Captain Jones was also ousted from
his command. He was succeeded by
Fttz-H Hugh Lee. who years later became
United States consul In Havana.
MOsby. having been adjutant. felt
disheartened AT finding himself a prl-
vate once more. But brighter days
were looming up in the distance. Gen
eral ]. +. i. Stuart. the brilliant West
Point cavalry tactlcian. knew some
what OF MOsby. He detailed him as
scout. Opportunities for the display Of
prOwess were not lacking Before many
moons had passed the scout was in n
position 10 ask the commander for his
sanction OF the formation OF an auxil-
lary body OF fighters to harass the fed
eral troops In localities where larger
detachments could not display their
force to advantage. Stuart consented
He refused. however. 10 give the eager
MOsby more than n quintet OF his
mounted warriors
Not In the least daunted by the small
ness OF his command the embryo cav
airy leader took himself away with his
hOrsemen. No pains were taken in
cOncealing from the troops of COnfed-
crate cavalry the nature Of the work
MOsby had in view. The anticipated
influx OF newcomers To the ranks of
the rangers took place. and MOsby
soon hnd three or four score OF hardy
Adventures under him. Young men
from the "F. i. W" attracted by the
novelty and prospects OF unlimited
fighting flOckPd TO his standard.
Considerable ridicule at first greet
eel the company. "MOsby's ConglOm-
crates" ana "JOhnny's FOundlingS" its
members were dubbed by the Jealous
ones in the regular enlisted service.
Banter was turned into praise in short
order. however. rs the exploits OF the
.'FOundlings" AMI the "COnglomerItes"
We're nOiScd abroad. Many OF the erst-
while scOffcrs eventually found them
selves clamOrlng for admission. When
Lee surrendered Ia General Grant 1T
AppOmattox Court House. nearly three
years later. Moshy'S battalion num-
bered 200 men.
One OF Mosby's first schemes was To
endeavor TO drive from tho vicinity OF
Fairfax and WarTcnton the First New
Jersey cavalry under Colonel Percy
Wyndham. Sir Percy Wyndham. as
described in my fathers last book.
New Jersey Troops In the Gettys-
burg Campaign hy Samuel ToombS,
WAS an English nohlcman. Il veteran Of
French Austrian and Italian wars ana
Just the man Ia cope with MoSby. The
rangers captured Wyudham'S Scntincls
and vedcttcS. They assaulted his out
posts. Notwithstanding his ultimate
failure To diSlodSc the English AL
venturer. Mosby caused him Il deal of
trouble
Raids were MoSby's favorite a"cn-
cicS in the campaign against the in
VadcrS Of the south. Here AMI there.
everywhere. lie lcl his men. They lit
orally lived in the saddle ~ il cmula-
five OF Genghis Khan and his invinci-
hlc TartarS Among MoShy'S largest
raids were the Chantilly raid result
fn,v i'm tho caDturt, of a detachment Of