The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-09-13
From the Washington Post.


zinia battalion, army of Northern
Yirginia-"Mosby's Men, as they
we're known and feared in the sixties,
from the Long Bridge to the Caro-
1inas-will gather around the camp
FIRE at Fredericksburg, Va, next
Thursday, for their annual reunion,
and stories will be told of combats of
times gone by, midnight raids, at.
tacks and pursuits, to make the Fair
ef the old survivors grandsons stand
on end.
10 the winter Of 1862 ,G3, soon after
Lee had hurled Burnside. stunned
and shattered, back from Frcdericks-
burg, and the two armies lay glariug
at each other across the waters of the
Rappahannock, "Mosby's Men, had
their small beginning. The great
captains were idle, and young
eavalryman serving with Stuart:
thought it an auspicious time to put
into execution a'plan that had long
been buzzing in his brain.
Lee had abandoned the part Of Fir-
ginia lying north of the Rappahan-
mock and east Of the Blue Ridge
AountRins to the enemy, and Mosby,
the youthful trooper, asked his leader
to let him take small squad of men,
60 up into that country, and do things
+. to the enemy. Stuart readily assem-.
ted, for he had much faith in the
Initiative of the young Virginian.
T -emembered that it was this same
:',-ay who, the previous summer,
). ID suggested to him his famous ride
arnuud Mcclellan, which ushered in
fl'-e unfortunate generals Iliad of
Rves.
So Mosby went up into Fauquier
aud Loudoun counties. He was on
utter stranger there, and for couple
Of months devoted himself to learn
ing the land, occasionally stirring up
an outpost and getting himself thor.
oughly dieliked. He was ''getting
his hand in. Then one morning he
found himself famous. He did not,
like Byron, awake to fiud himself so,
for he hadn't been to bed all night.
IN vhose DARK hours. when q! good
young men are asleep, Mosby, with
4 two dozen equally irregular young
troopers ct his back, penetrated far
within: the enemy's lines, reached
4 Fairfax Court House about 2 O'clock
.. M, and there, surrounded by
! II Ehnnaande Of the enemy, and with ali
the army Of the Potomac between him
and safety stole Q sleeping general
from the bosom Of his brigade. He
likewise brought away several scores
Of prisoners aud horses. Mr.. Lincoln,
when Informed Of this impudent theft
Ola brigadier, dryly remarked that he
$vasn 't5Worried about losing general
s$--he could make another in five min
!. utes; butt was different with horses y.
5; 81; The daring of this deed dazzled The
{ eyes Of the Southern cavalry. Mosby
could now pick his men, for,
though The dangers we're far greater
shan in the regular service, there was
ebeut ehis debonair company OF free
lighters q fascination That made every
soldier long to join them. But no
8 ''epuu 4 political or military, availed.
The examination Of the applicant was
. conducted in the frat fight, after the
making Of the application; the inter
\ rogatories came whistling from the
], guns of the enemy, swarming about
tho applieant's ears in manner cal
oifated TO discourage his ambition
and unnerve his right arm.
If his answers spoke back, swif.
! aud true, from the muzsle Of his navy
8. aud be Kept within view Of his
ssasshfai leader. The end Of the fght
found him one sof Afosby's men--if he
4 yasn't one Of the angels. But. it did
! mot suffice msrely Is become one Of
Abe command. | Thair leader knew
chat In work % dangerous and respon.
aible, q high standard must be main
tained. and that his rrte ncsrningl
i in order}to be effective, must be in.
daxible. Hence, when Is trooper fell
away from shat high standard there
Was$ no probation, no purgasory &c ss.,
vsstanes. Itwas "baok toths 3 rsi rsg pula, I
/ as=es' ard there was nos man among i,Ils
sn,ss 4, ~ eSS,si 4 L !. q - y a.