Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-21
COLONEL MOSBY TALKS.
Tells of the War Record of Baron Won
MasSOW.

Denver, Col. February l3.-Colonel
John S. Nosby, the Confederate ranger
chief, who is on his way from California to
Virginia, was shown here today a report
that Baron Robert Won Massow, one Of
the men who fought under him during
the Civil War, and who is now in the
German army, had willed his fortune, es
timated at 1000 900, to the survivors OF
Mosby's famous battalion.
81 remember Baron Won Massow well, y
said Colonel Mosby. "He was dashine
soldier. He came TO me well recommen
ded, and l accepted him. He had been
member of the general staff of the
Prussian Army, and was man of fine APP
pearance and of unquestioned personal
bravery. His actual participation in oul
engagements showed that he was not
averse to battles. | believe lie enjoyed
them.
The Baron was severely wounded IN
an engagement with California regiment
in Fairfax county, Va, not far from
Washington, and not in Shenandoah
county. as has been said. l was leading
the charge, when my horse became &C.
vereIy wounded, and my progress being
thus impeded, some of my men passed me,
among them Baron Massow. Reid, an
officer of the Californians, was overtaken
by Massow, and the former surrendered.
As was our custom, Massow told him to
90 to the rear. When a man surrendered
we could not afford to spare another 10
escort him back, so we usually sent him to
the rear. When Massow told Reid to 60
to the rear he seemed to obey, but when
he got behind him he shot Massow in the
back, inActing a dangerous wound. AT
the time Massow was busily engaged try
ing to take off the head of another officer
of the Californians with his magnificent
gold sabre, which he brought With him
from Prussia. We did not use swords at
all, having discarded them long ago as
being obsolete Instead we carried two
pistols apiece.
"Massow asked for discharge, as his
wound was such that it would be impOssi-
bic for him to participate again in the
fighting. / not only gave him an honor
able Sdischarge, but wrote and handed to
him in person letter referring in compli-
mentary terms to his service in our bat
talon. He returned to Prussia, recover
ed entirely from the wound and served
with distinction in the Seven Weeks War
between the Prussians, ALstrians and
Italians in 1866 and four years later in the
Franco Prussian War. The last heard OF
him he was in command of a brigade in
the German army, having risen to the
rank of General
Personally l know nothing of the re-
port that he has left his money to the
survivors of my command, though the
statement is positively made. A few years
ago l heard through friend in Baltimore
that Barron Massow had made inquiries
concerning me and my men with view
to remembering us in his will, but | paid
but little attention to the matter at the
time"
Replying to questions, Colonel Mosby
said that there were probably about one
hundred survivors of bis command, which
did not exceed about four hundred at any
time during the war, as he preferred a
small body of picked men, all of whom he
could count upon in the greatest emer-
gency.
81 have no doubt, however," said the
Colonel, "that if it is true that this money
has been left to my men, there will be at
least one hundred thousand applicants
and that it will be shown that [ had a
greater army than Grant"