Arizona republican., 1905-02-28

f- e .: 'nizant of the: incidents related But I the fact of this :being. related by a l:guerrilla; makes them so partial to this
 side of the question as to give the l reader the impression that the federal .I troops had introduced the measure of l executing persons during the latter part of 1864 without trial. and the ob- l ject of this article is to show that Mos I by's guerrillas were the parties re- sponsible for. the severe Inedsurcs adopted.
 i In the relating of what Mir. Munson terms the Custer Episode where sew en of Mosby's guerrillas had been ex- ecuted by Gen. Custer's orders, and the 1 subsequent execution of seven of Gus ter's men, captured by Mosby, who were selected by lot, MT. Munson states that the union men executed had tags pinned to their clothes stating they had been executed in retaliation for the men hung by Gen. Custer | Now, in order to be fair, and give the reader true knowledge of how or why , the men were hung, he should have stated that the men hung by Gen. Gus ter'si orders also had tags pinned to their clothing, and read like this: Hung in retaliation for killing wound ed union officers and men after they had been captured And. if I mistake not, mentioning Lieut.. McMasters. End U. s. cavalry, one of the victims. by name. These are the facts, for the writer was present and saw the men hung, and the tags pinned to their bodies; that is all but the young boy who resided in Front Royal and who had joined Mosby's command but a day or two previous. and who. seeing his companions executed, made an at tempt to escape, and was shot down as he ran.
 'In connection herewith 1t will be Interesting to the readers to learn of the incident leading to the capture and execution of the Guerrillas. General Sheridan, preparatory to making his attack on the confederate General Early then occupying Fishers Hfll,' ordered General Torbetts division of cavalry. Gin which the writer was serving) to make 2 detour to the left through Front Royal, and the Luray valley, and strike the valley pike at New Market, in rear of General Early In carrying out his instructions. or movement General Torbett found the enemy occupying 2 narrow pass in Luray valley. at a point probably midway between Front Royal and Lli- ray co.rt house. and a very spirited arrangement took place. The position occupied by the enemy being strong one. and the surrounding country so unfavorable for cavalry to operate in, General Torbett decided to withdraw, and rejoin General Sheridan Prep aratory to doing so he started his am bulance train loaded with the wounded to tho rear, O. towards Front Royal; the cavalry reserve brigade, to the headquarters of which the writer was attached, taking the lead in the with
 1rawal.
 The command had proceeded but a few miles when word was brought back that Mosby had captured the aIrl- bulance train. loaded with the wound ed, and rapid pursuit was at once made. Thinking it probable that Mosby would try to escape by the road leading through Thoroughfare Gap. and noticing a road to our right leading along the base of the mountain in that direction. the writer had per mission of the brigade commander to take squadron of the Second Massa- chusetts cavalry by that route and, try and intercept the enemy should they take tl,at road.
 As the squadron neared Front Royal. Mosby's men, in charge of the captured amSulances, came in view, ana on the Fer-' road II was supposed ti ey would take. The train was being rushed os fest as tho animals could rLn, and as soon as the guerrillas dis GOV cred their retreat was about to be cut off they galloped up alongside the ambulances and commenced firing at the wounded occupants and drivers killing number among them being Lieutentant McMasters, Second U. s. cavalry. who had been wounded the day previous. and was being sent to the renr. The 1uerrillas then aban- doned the train and took to the pass in the mountain. This was in plain view of t.ce squadron the writer was leading but so far distant as to be un- able to be of any service in saving the men in the train.
 On reaching the road on which the guerrillas had retreated pursuit was made for several miles, but as the re- treat was so rapid and the guerrillas had disbanded or scattered, as was t:.eir custom, the command was halted. while the writer rode to the rear to