Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-02-20
Legacy TO the Mostly RACERS.

The following dispatch from Den
yer, Col. to the Baltimore Sun, gives
Col. John s. Mosby'' opinion of the
recent story circulated that his com.
mand had been left a fortune by n
Prussisn 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 Massow
one of the men who fought under him
during the Civil War and who 10 now
in the German Army, had willed his for
tune, estimated at 81, COO, 900, to the sur
vivors of Mosby's famous battalion.
Il remember Baron vDn Massow well
said Colonel Mosby. "He was a dash
ing soldier. lie came TO me well recon
mended and l accepted him. He had
been member of the general staff of the
Prussian Army and was man of fine
appearance and of unQuestloned person
al bravery. His actual participation in
our engagements showed that he was
not averse TO battle. believe he en-
joyed them.
The Baron was severely wounded in
an engagement with California reg.
ment in Fairfax county, Virginia. NOT
Tar from Washington, and not in Shen-
andOah county, as has been said I was
leading the charge, when my horse be
came securely wounded. and nv prog.
ress being thus impeded some OF nv
men passed me. among them Baron
Massow. Reid, an officer of the Cali
tornians. was Overtaken by Massow. and
the former SURRENDERED. As was our
custom, MassOw told him 10 90 to the
rear. When man surrendered we
could not afford to spare another to es-
cort him back, so we usually sent him to
the rear. When Massow told Reid to 20
TO the rear he appeared to obey. but
when he got behind him he shot Mas
SOW In the back, intliciing a dangerous
wound. At the time MassOw was bust
~ engaged trying 10 take of the head
OF another officer of the CalifOrnians
with his magnificent gold saber. which
he brought with him from Prussia. We
did not use swords at all, having dis
carded them long ago as being obsolete.
Instead we carried two pistols apiece.
Aassow asked me for a discharge.
as his wound was such that il would be
impossible for him TO participate again
IN the lighting. not only gave him an
honorable discharge, but wrote ana
HNt0NN ~ AttA III ptlHNu a ltkktE IGIElF-
ing IN complimentary terms To his ser
vice in our battalion. lie returned to
Prussia, recovered entirely from the
wound and served with distinction in
the Seven Week War between the
Russians, Austrians, and Italians In
In 1896 and four years later in the Fran
co-Prussian War. The last / heard OF
nim he was in command of brigade
in the German Army, having risen TO
the rank of general.
"PersOEally know nothing about the
report that he has left his money TO the
survivors of my command, thOui-h the
statement is positively made 4 few
years ago heard through a friend in
Baltimore that Baron MuS~ow had made
inquiries concerning me- and nv men
with view To remembering Us in his
Will, but / paid little attention TO the
matter at the time"
Replying to questions, Colonel Mosbv
said that there were probably about 100
survivors of his command. which did
not exceed about 400 at any time during
the war, a. he preferred a small body OF
picked men, all of whom be could count
upon in the greatest emergency.
| have no doubt, however" said the
Colonel. that if il is true that this mon
ey has been left TO my men there will be
al least 100000 applicants and that will
be shown that had greater army than
Grant