The National tribune., 1901-09-26
Mosby's GuerrilIas.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: From
early in the Spring of 1868 until Grant be-
gan his advance in 1864 our regiment was
stationed at Alexandria, Va, doing guard
duty. In October, 1863, about 60 of us
were sent up to the Orange & Alexandria
Railroad to Burks Station, about halt
way between Alexandria and Manassas
We were ordered there to guard the rail
road and large wagon train and party
of contrabands that were getting out tim
Der.
The first thing we did after getting to
Burks Station was to put up Winter
quarters, and we put up good ones Next
we proceeded to secure mounts. There
were quite number of old horses run
ming loose in the woods; they had been
turned out of the cavalry to die; but as
they had not died, we mustered them in
again, bringing them into camp and tying
them to trees.
We had to feed these horses, and, being
infantry, we drew no forage, so had to
borrow it; every forage train that passed
here after night was levied on for hay,
oats, and corn. We borrowed so much of
this stuff without returning any, that the
Quartermasters at the front began to miss
1t, and sent man over the line to find out
where this stuff was falling off.
lie soon found out, and the result was
that we had to turn our horses loose, and
were told that the next man who brought
in horse here would go to the slave
Pen" as the military prison in town was
called.
While we had these horses we used
them to hunt Mosby. Some of US got
saddles and brides from the wagon train,
the rest used bed blankets for saddles and
any thing that came handy for brides;
had one made of rope. We had two Lieu
tenants with us. One had a man from his
company who acted as servant. Had we
been Regulars this man would have been
the Lieutenant's ''d0g-robber," but we
were only volunteers, and did not know
anything about dog robbers then, though
some of us found out, all about them after
wards. l will not give this mans name
He may be alive yet, though l think not.
We called him "Loopey."
Looney had horse, and did considera-
BILE hunting, but he never hunted Mosby
it was butter and eggs he wanted. One
Saturday, shortly before we were dis
mounted, Looney took the Lieutenant's
pistol, and, leaving his rifle at home,
started on hunt. Going out few miles
from camp, he called at house where
we were in the habit of getting our dinner
when out after Mosby. Tying his horse
at the gate he went in to make a call.
About five minutes later two of Mosby's
men came galloping down the road. They
conhscated Looneys horse, then called
Looney out and took his pistol, then
wanted his gun. -sEt
That was in camp, he told them. "Then
hurry down to camp and get it," they said
1--WE will wait here
Looney had not gone 80 yards on
his way to camp before he saw these two
fellows leave on gallop, taking his horse
with them. They were not likely to wait
here until we came after them.
When he got to camp and had made his
report the Lieutenant was boiling mad.
We had no guard house, we had no need
OF one, no one was ever confined, but the
Lieutenant turned Looney over to the
camp guard to hold until the next train
passed down, then sent him to town to re-
port to his Captain for duty.
The next time ] saw him he was doing
guard duty, and that was the only punish
men he ever received-JoHN A. Brooks,
Go: q, Sth p. Il. V. c.. Soldiers Home,
Erie, Pa.