Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-02-13
COL. MOSBY.

Col. John 8. Mostly, who is on his
way from California to Virginia, was
shown at Denver, COL. yesterday re-
port 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 wilIed bis for
tune, estimated at $4,000. 900, to the
survivors of Mosby's battalion.
II remember Baron Won Massow
WE'LL" said Col. Mostly. HE was a
dashing soldier. He came to me well
recommended and accepted him. He
had been a member Of the general staff
of the Prussisn army and was man Of
foe appearance and of unquestioned
personal bravery. His actual particle
patton in our engagements showed that
he was not averse 10 battle. believed
he enjoyed them.
"Tne baron was severely wounded
10 an engagement with California
regiment 10 Fairfax county, Virginia,
not far from Washington, and not in
Shenandoah county, az has been said.
l was leading the charge when my
uOISc ocCauo oofeioiJ WOuuueus uut
my progress being thus impeded, some
OF my men passed me, among them
Baron Msssow. Ried, 40 officer
OF the California regiment, was
overtaken By Massow, and the
former surrendered. AS was our Gus
tom, Massow told him to 90 to the
rear. When q man surrendered we
could not afford to spare another 10 es-
cort him back, 80 we usually sent him
to the rear. When Massow told Ried
to go the rear he appeared to obey, but
whe he got behind him he shot Massow
in the back, inflicting a dangerous
wound. At the time Massow was
busi'y engaged trying to take of the
head of another officer OF the Cali
fornians with bis magnificent gold
saber, which he brought with him from
Prussia. We did not use swords at all,
having discarded them long ago as be-
ing obsolete. Instead we carried two
pistols apiece.
"Massow asked me for discharge,
as his wound was such that it would be
impossible for him to participate again
in the fighting. l not only gave him 40
honorable discharge, but wrote and
handed him in person letter referring
10 complimentary terms TO his service
| In our battalion. He returned 10
Prussia, recovered entirely from hi:
wound and served 9th distinction 10
the seven weeks war between the
Prussiaus, Austrisns and Italians in
1866 and four years later in the
Franco russian war. The last heard
Of him be was 10 command OF a brigade
in the German army, having risen to
the rank of general.
PERSONALLY l know nothing about
the report that be has left his money to
the survivors Of my command, though
the statement is positively made. A
few years ago l heard through friend
10 Baltimore that Baron Massow had
made inquiries concerning me and my
men with view to remember US in his
will, bat l paid but little attention to
the matter at the time"
Replying to questions, Colonel Mos
by said that there were probably about
100 survivors OF his command, which
did not exceed about 400 at any time
during the war, as he preferred small
body OF picked men. all of whom be
could count upon in the greatest emer'
gency.
II have no doubt, however," said the
Colonel, "that Ii it is true that this
money has been left to my men there
will be at least 100000 applicants and
that it will be shown that had great
er army than Grant"