The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-20
WAR STORIES.
Thrilling Stories OF COL. John s. NIosby
and his Gallant Command.
Col. II. B. Parrot, in 81. Lonjs RcpubHc

Of our approach. Then We we're near
enough for dash, and in we went.
The Federals bad not had time to get
up from their beds on the ground be-
fore we were upon them, shooting,
yelling aud doing our best TO catch
prisoners and horses.
They were stampcded, Of course.
| remember that one of the things
which impressed me most was the be-
havior Of one Of The herdsomest most
dashing cavalrymen ever saw. He
was Mosby man. lie went in with
the rest Of us, and the job he under
took was the capture of three oGicors.
He was on them before they knew
what was up. l think the attacker
was the worst ratified of the quartet;
for the first thing he did was to
shout:
Surrender, d-n you, and hand
over your pocketbooks I
He demanded their pocketbooks
before he even took their pistols, and
had it not been that the Yankees had
lost their wits for the time being, the
handsome Moshy man would never
have got out alive.
"rhcrc was no time for many Incl
dents. We were away again before
the Yankees could recover from their
surprise. There were enough Of them
to play the mischief with us if they
had been at themselves, but before
they could rally we were mile away,
with wenty-eight prisoners, thirty
horses and every one of our mon.
THAT was the way in which our
raids were usually made, and they
were exciting and dangerous enough
for anybody. For most of the time
we were considered as outlaws. Nine
OF Mosby's men were captured by the
Federals and hanged. Mosby prompt
ly sent word to tho Fcderals that he
would retaliato by hanging ten FEEDER
ais for every one Of his men that had
been hanged. This put US under the
black flag, and none Of us ever thought
we would meet any other fate than
the moose if VIC should be captured.
Therefore, We were not anxious to try
prisoner life.
"It was continual race with death
for us. My experiences were no more
thrilling than those Of every other
member Of the brigade, but can as
sure you that mine were enough to
make the hero Of blood and thunder
melodrama think he had tame exist
ence. We never knew what time we
would be swooped down on by Yam
KEGS, or what time we would get come
thing to eat when We did start out.
Each of us kept from two to four
horses, the very best stock we could
fnd. We would take nothing else.
In our raids wo always made for the
horses the first thing, and we kept the
best Of them, tbs others being sold to
the Confederate Government. Why,
i was necessary for as to have better
horses than our enemy; the speed of
our steeds was what always saved our
hidee.
"Well, to take up tho thread of the
story again: We always kept from
one to three horses under saddle,
and hitched where we could get at
them in the quickest way-alvays one
at the back of the house, frequently
ono at the front, and frequently an
other one out in the woods. If tho
alarm came at any time that the Yam
KEGS were coming, we would make q
dash for our horses. If the Yankees
beat us to the beast in front, we made
dash for the ono in the rear. IF We
found that ehis was in the hands OF
the enemy, we made dash for the
one in the woods. Sometimes these
alarms would como at the dead Of
night. Then it was jump into the
boots and pistols and q jump out Of
the back window. On two occasions
l had to make my dash for freedom in
this way, and each time ladies of the
house, in their night clothes, held
the window open while I jumped cut
of it.
"But tho most exciting events I
ever experienced were these which led
to my capture, and which prece Aed the
wounding Of Mosby and I narrow
escape from 3eath. twas on tho 21st
of December. 1864. I did nos know
that the Yankees or Mosby were any
where in the neighborhood. Stockton
Terry and I we're staying at the home
Of Mrs. Fitzhugh, some three miles
from Salem. I had been granted leave
to 20 home for Christmas and was IN.