Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-23
e. z.
THE NHOLE TRUTH
nekardfns the filing OF. Barn Bur NJ
ers by Nfosby,s Men.
(For the Dispatch.)


(For the Dispatch.)
one 81. a. Whitmore, recently published
In the washing ton Post diatrtne. chars-
Ing Mosby's men with killing prisoners.
In support OF the charge. he garpieo a
report of Colonel Mosby's to General Lee,
giving an account of the operations. OF
his command in the Shenandoah " lley
IN July and August 1884, and quotes
sentence from it--.".About thirty horses
were brought off, but no prisoners
but onits the context, which states tne
reason why no quarter was given Whit-s
more was guilty Of Misrepresentation by
SURPRISING the whole truth Here is
Mosby's full report. so far as IS relates
to killing the house burners, with Gen
seral Lees endorsement of his approval
upon It:
.About August goth, I crossed with
my. command at Smokers Gap. the enemy
being near Berryvil1e, sending the larger
portion. under Captain William Chapman,
to operate around Berryville, and re-
strain the enemy from damaging the
country With a small detachment |
went to their rear, near Charleston, ana
captured twelve prisoners and ten horses.
Captain Chapman, coming upon por-
ton of the enemy's cavalry. which was
engaged In burning houses, attacked and
routed them Such was the indignation
finest residences in that portion of the
State enveloped in flames, that no quar-
ter was shown, and about twenty-five
of them were shot to death for their
vil1ainy. About thirty horses. were
brought off, but no prisoners :
IT lave the honor to be. etc,
JOHN S. MOsBY.
Lieutenant-Colon Commanding"
Qndorsement.)
Headquarters Army of Northern vir-
ginia.
September 10, 1864.
Respectfully Forwarded to the Adjutant
and Inspector-G General for information
of the Department.:
Attention is invited to the activity and
skill of Colonel Mosby, and the inteli-
gence and courage of the officers and men
of his command. as displayed in this re-
port With the loss of little more than
twenty men, he has killed, wounded. and
captured, during the period embraced
In the report. about 1900 OF the enemy
and taken more than 1000 horses and
mules, go beef-cattle, and efghty-fve
wagons and ambulances. without count
ing many smaller operations. The SER
vices rendered by Colonel Mosby and his
| command, in watching and reporting the
enemy's movements have also been of
great value. His operations have been
LlSIly 1Su1lcO1elO rullllSell LIS GULL
| nland.
ar. E. LEE,
General.
headquarters Army of Northern vir-
ginia:
September 10, 1864.
"Lieutenant-Colonel John S. NIosby, Com
! mandIng, ETC.;
| "Colonel.-Your report Of the operations
of your command from the 1st of March
to 18th of September, is received.
II am much gratified by the activity
and skill you have displayed and desire
to express my thanks to yourself and
| the brave officers and men of your com :
mand for the va1ua BILE services to the
I country.
''The smallness of your loss, in COM
parison with the damage inflicted upon
| the enemy. Is creditable to your iudg-
| ment, and to the intelligence and courage
of those who executed your orders. I
hope you will continue to harrass the
enemy's troops as much as possible. and
restrain his efforts to exercise civil au-
| thority in the counties in which you
are operating. I enclose copy of a letter
written some time SINCE. in case the origi-
| nal should not have reached you, and
/ call your attention to the instructions
! it contains.
very respectfully, your obedient SER
want. r. E. LEE,
General.