The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-17

those he had to meet as enemies ex-
cept, perhaps, that there were more at
home on their horses. The horse how
ever. was at best an uncertain quanti-
ty, for when Mosby himself had Just
entered the cavalry his horse attempt
ed the impossible feat OF jumping over
COW lying down in the road The re-
suit was that horse and rider were
thrown together and Mosby falling
under the horse, was as nearly killed
as he ever was afterwards during his
four years serVice--though at another
time when he was leading a charge his
horse took the bit, carried him alone
into the federal ranks and. after rum
ming through them. kept on until he
was in sight of another force, coming
up to the assistance of those who had
been first attacked Here Mosby took
the only chance he had to escape be-
ing killed or captured by throwing
himself off the runaway animal while
he was going at full speed. He not only
knew the uncertainty of the best
horses, but the best men, and his
whole system was based on this
knowledge. 1t was as simple as it was
effective. When he was surrounded
and outnumbered by the federal cav
airy, which was kept constantly pur-
suing him, he relied on a sudden coun-
ter attack which brought him to close
them and to open his way out. 1.-The
unexpected and the navy six" was the
logic OF the successes which so sur
prised both his friends and his enemies
when he won them against superior
forces of the best federal cavalry,
which. as he himself thinks. would
have captured him over and over again
If they had used the same tactics.
Generally however, they relied on
nd Tn ~.
order with their swords drawn TO cut
him off from his only way out--re-
receiving thus at a standstill the i'm
petus of his attack at gallop and of
his revolver fire at close range. Per-
haps as close a place as he was ever in
was at Miskel's farm. near Fairfax
Court House. He had camped in the
farmyard at midnight. He himself was
asleep with his saddle for a pillow, and
his men were sleeping on the hay in
the barn, with their horses rnsaddled
in the barnyard. Just at daybreak
they were suddenly attacked by
squadron of federal cavalry led by
Capt. Flint, who. in order to
surround them completely. divided hris
force, sending half of 1t to the rear.
What to most men would have seemed
the necessity for surrender appeared to
Mosby the opportunity for escape. He
determined to make his usual counter
attack on the force in front and let the
rear take care of itself. The fight was
In full view of the federal forces on the
opposite bank of the Potomac, who
could see all that was taking place.
though they could not cross to take
part in 1t. They cheered Capt. Flint
loudly as he led the charge on Mosby's
men cooped in the barnyard with their
horses unsaddled and their whole force
in seeming confusion. Mosby himself
had no time to mount, but he threw
the gate open and advanced on foot,
ordering his men to mount and follow.
The first one who overlook him dis
mounted and gave him his horse, and
he soon had most of his company be-
hind him. The federal troops used only
their sabers. which Mosby says were as
useless against the revolver "as the
wooden swords OF harlequins." They
broke in confusion and scattered, leav-
ing Mosby to turn on the party which
had come up to attack his rear. They
had ridden at the barnyard, and when
he made his counter attack they were
damned" in the gate and could offer
no effective resistance. One of the best
laid plans for his capture was thus
failure.
In writing of his own exploits he is
always dignified in his suppressions.
He is reader to tell of his successful
retreats than of his greatest triumphs
Thus he leaves to the official reports
the story of how, in 1868. with only
twenty nine men, he entered the fed
eral lines, attacked Gen. Stoughtons
headquarters at Fairfax court house
and captured the general himself. He
does tell however. with evident relish
for the humor of the proceedings, that
he once rode so close to Washington
that he was in sight of the capitol.
Meeting a market woman going to the
city. he cut off a lock of his hair and
sent II by her to President Lincoln with
his compliments. and with the hope
that he would soon be able to secure
one of the Presidents own in return.
He watched the Washington papers
next morning and saw that the mes
sage and the lock of hair had been duly
delivered. President Lincoln. who al
ways saw the point of a joke, laughed
when he was told who sent him the
souvenir. But he sent more troops to
keep Mosby out of sight OF the capitol.
-
TO a Dot--willie-"How would you
define true sportsman" Papa-'IIe is
man VINO believes in giving every
kind of game creature a chance for its