Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-06-12
CHAT WITH COLONEL MOSBy
"Reminiscences Of His Early Life
fhinks Virginia is the Garden
Spot Of the World"

Col. John 5. Mosby, the famous
partisan ranger" of old Confederate
times, gives the following interview
to Charlottesville Progress reporter !:
The Colonel is now in bis sixty
eighth year. He Is of medium
height, of strong and compact figure,
and carries his shoulders as erect as
n West Pointer. His hair is almost
snow white, his features are irregu
lar, though strong, and his quiet gray
eye flashes with old time fire at the
recollection of stirring events. His
face is an interesting study-rugged,
strong and intellectual. In fact it
reminds one of al old portrait, and
1t requires but slight trick of the
Imagination to see it encircled by y
faded gilt frame and hung in prom
inent place among the "high stock
ed, silver-suuff box gentry of half
century ago.
Colonel Mos5y is an interesting
tslker. He is especially strong on
incidents and localities, and can de
scribe an event of fifty years ago
with perfect ease aud readiness. Ia
fact his ability in this direction is re-
markable, and lends added charm
and interest TO his many exciting ex
citing experiences.
Touching on the days of the past,
he said he WAS born in Powhstan
county in 1884.
His mother WAS Miss McLau.iue,
u descendent of the famous Scotch
family of that name, aud relative of
Senators McLsurin of South Carroll
na aud Alabama. His father. Alfred
ID. MOsby, was connected with the
prominent Darlington, Cabell, Boaz
aud Han ris families of Virginia.
After his removal from Powhatan.
ne lived for quite time in Nelson
county, and when Colonel Mosby " :
only seven years old he bought the
old Duncum place in Albemarle.
This adjoined the Fry place, aud the
Colonel distinctly remembers the old
school house situated on the latter.
and the timely aid rendered him by
John Fry, now living near Ivy. in
teaching him his ''first lesson" an
fact" says the Colonel, "John Fry
taught me how to read"
Later he went to school to Tom
Woodson in the little brick office on
the Counor property on High street
then called maiden Lane" owing
to the many pretty school girls who
used to traverse 1t. Still later be
went to Abell and Woodson's and
WoydSon and Whites school in the
grove just east of the Cabell House,
and had AS class mates Col. c. c..
tenbaker, Mr.. $. V. Southall and
Captain AIOnzo WIngtield.
He entered the academic depart
ment of the University in 1850 and
graduated in Greek under DR.. Cess
ner Harrison. Just forty-nine years
ago, this month. by the way, he and
Colonel Peters graduated in Greek
under the same learned preceptor.
"Whigism" WAS very strong then de-
spite the proximity. Jefferson's name
and fame. and DR.. Harrison was the
only democratic professor in college,
and Judge Robertson and st. George
Tucker the only democratic lawyers
at the Charlottesville bar Wings
turned up their nose at the very name
of democrat" 1t was distinctly
non aristocratio.
In those days also there was ex
treme bitterness between "town and
gown" and the denizens of Char
lootesville and the Varsity had many
a rough and tumble "bout." One
day when Colonel Mosby was walking
down Main street near Msnoni's con-
dictionary shop he noticed that a fell
low student, Tom Moon, was receiv-
ing severe punishment at the hands
of George Slaughter, the town SER
gesnt. Without a moments thought
the Colonel seized n gun from smiths