Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-02-28
Legacy to the mosby Rangers.

recent story circulated that his COM
mand had been left a fortune by
Prussian comrade:
Col. John S. Mosby, the Confederate
ranger chief, who is on his way from
California to Virginia, was shown here
report that Baron Robert Won Mas
SOW, one of the men who fought under
him during the Civil War aud who
is now in the German Army, had
willed his fortune, estimated at 81
100000, to the survivors OF Mosby
famous battalion.
Il remember Baron Massow well,
said Colonel Mosby. He was dash
ing soldier. He came to me well recon-
mended and l accepted him. He had
been member of the general staff Of
the Prussian Army and was a man Of
fine appearance and of unquestloned
personal bravery. His actual partic-
ipation in our engagements showed
that he was not sverse to battle. !
believe he enjoyed them.
The Baron was severely wounded
in .an engagement with California
regiment in Fairfax county, Virginia,
not far from Washington, and not in
Shenandoah county, as has been said.
was leading the charge, when my
horse became severely wounded, and
my progress being thus impeied some
of my men passed me, among them
Baron Massow. Reid, an officer Of the
Californians, was overtaken by Massow
and the former surrendered. As was
our custom, Massow told him to 90 to
the rear When a man surrendered
We could not afford to spare another
to escort him back, so we usually sent
MN to the rear. When Massow told
Reid to go to the rear he appeared to
obey, but when he got behind him he
shot Msssow in the back, iuhicting
wound. At the time Massow was
busily engaged trying to take off the
head of another officer of the Callior-
mans with his magnificent gold saber,
which he brought with him from Prus-
sia. We did not use swords at all,
having discarded them long ago as
being obsolete Instead we carried
two pistols apiece.
"Massow asked me for discharge,
as his wound was such that it would
be impossible for him to participate
again in the fighting. ! not only gave
him an honorable discharge, but wrote
and handed to him in person a letter
referring in complimentary terms to
his service in our battalion. lie re-
turned to Prussia, recovered entirely
from the wound and served with dis
tinction in the Seven Weeks War be-
tween the Prussians, Austrians, and
Italians in 1866 and four years later
in the Franco-Prussian War. The
last heard Of him he was in COM
maud Of a brigade in the German
Army, having risen to the rank of
general.
"Personally I know nothing about
the report that he has left his money
to the survivors Of my command,
through the statement is positively
made. A few years ago ! heard
through friend IN Baltimore that
Baron Massow had made inquiries con-
cerning me and my men with view
to remembering us in his will, but !
paid little attention to the matter at
the time"
Replying to questions, Colonel Mos
by said there were probably about
! 100 survivor. Of his command, which
did not exceed about 400 at any time
during the wal, as he preferred small
body of picked men, all Of whom he
could count upon in the greatest emer-
gency.
81 have no doubt, however" " said the
Colonel, that if it is true that this
money has been left to my men there
will be at least 100000 applicants
and that twill be shown that | had a
greater army than Graut.