The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-02-16
Col. TIOS1g Coming East.
He TELLS HOW BARON .MAssoW
WAS WOUNDED
Knows Nothing Of the Alleged Legacy.

Ool John s. Mosby, the Confederate
ranger chief. who is on bis way from
Oaliafcrnia 10 Virginia. was shown a
report that Baron Robert Won MAssow,
one Of the men who fought under him
during the OWL War, and who is now
In the German army had willed his
fortune estimated at 81 900. 900. TO the
survivors OF Mosby's famous battalion.
II remember Baron Won Massow
we'll said OIL Mosby. He was
dashing soldier He came 90 me we'll
recommended. and accepted him. He
had been q member Of the general staff
Of the Prussisn army, and was man
OF fine appearance and Of unquestioned
personal bravery. His actual participa'
tion 10 our engagements showed that
be was not averse 90 battle. l believe
he enjoyed them
The Baron was severely wounded in
an engagement with California
regiment Ia Fairfax county, Va, not
far from Warrington, aud not in Shen'
andoah county. ss has been said. l
was leading the charge. when my horse
became severely wounded, and. my
progress eeiog thus impeded, some OF
my men passed me. among them Baron
Massow. Reid. an officer Of the Cali
fornians. was overtaken BY Massow, 4,
and the former surrendered. AS was
our custom. Msssow told him to go to
the resr. When a man surrendered we
could NOS afford TO spare another TO es-
oort him back. so we usually sent him
10 the rear. When MAssow told Reid
TO 20 TO the rear he appeared 10 obey,
but when be got behind him he shot
Massow 10 the back, inR,ctinR a dan
gerous wound. AT the time Massow
was busily engaged trying so take OF
the head Of another officer with his
magnificent gold sabre. which he
brought with him from Prussia. We
did not use swords At oil having dis.
carded 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
impossible for him 80 participate again
In the fighting. not only gave him
an honorable discharge. but wrote and
handed 90 him in person q letter re-
ferriDg in oomplimentry terms to his
service in our battalion. He returned
to Prussia, recovered entirely from the
wound and served with distinction In
the Seven Weeks War between the
Pfussians. Austrians and Italians In
1865 aud four years later IN the Franco
Prussiau War. The last | heard OF him
he was In command Of brigade in
the German army, having risen TO the
rank of general.
" Personally know nothing about
the report that he has left his money TO
LQe buINlNDIb u ny OOAhhA@ANt hHSNoH
the statement is positively made. A
few years ego heard through friend
in Baltimore that Baron .MAssow had
made inquiries concerning me and my
men with view to remembering us In
his will. but paid but little attention
ia the matter ct the time. ="
Replying to questions, Col. Mosby
said that there were probably about one
hundred survivors of his command.
which did not exceed about four hun
drec 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 emergency.
II have no doubt. however said
the Colonel. 'that II it is true that
this money had been left to my men,
there will be at least 100, 900 applicants
aud that it will be shown that had a
oraatar arnv than Grant -