The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27


effect which could only be produced by
one who WAS a participant in those stir
ring scenes.
Two writer's with this qualification have
lately essayed to describe the life IN
/ "Mosbys Confederacy." brilliant,
charming and romantic narrative was
told by Mr.. John w. Munson, who caught
the atmosphere OF the times to n re
i marl1able degree.
The latest writer, ana In .i4Sine respects
J the most striking, Is John l. Alexander.
OF Company A. 1t is simply impossible
for any writer to describe all the scenes
and tell the story Of all the daring deeds
/ which made Mosby's command IAN homo.
to Its country and terror to Its foe.
Every Mosby man that picks UP the book
VIII wonder why some special fight was
left out In which he was particularly In
terested, but he must remember that 1t
Is only possible to take some leading and
characteristic scenes, to give q correct
| idea Of the situation, and not to write
up all that WAS done. This has been
done most admirably by Mr. Alexander
His first chapter gives the best descrlp-
ton OF the general character OF tbs men
and the scope OF their operations that
we have seen at all.
AS he well says, "for three or four
! hundred mon to preserve their organize.
tion FOR years, in an open country within
1itty miles OF their eneany's great capital,
and escape capture by the armies which
surrounded them and constantly travers,.d
their territory; for them to dispose theri.
selves SO as ia be at any given time. to
all lntents and purposes at every point
on a circle about them, and keep forty
thousand OF their enemies back from the
front, actively and anxiously engaged In
watching them-nll this required pretty
lively equestrian exercise" To do this
the most active among them had several
horses apiece. and their only respite from
the saddle for days and days was at tho
bivouac or short halts on the march
Fifty miles day was no unusual ride"
When not under the immediate COM
mand or the officers, each man was his
own commander, commissary quarter
master, and everything else. He was de-
pendent upon his own resources for sup
plies and his own wits for safety. In the
enemy's country such life made him
Watchful, alert and self-reliant. It de-
Veloped In the men a strong individuality,
which made them feel personally respon-
slple for results. And 1t should be remem-
bered, as our author says. that most of
these were young men. in the very prime
OF youth, and many of them were beard
less boys. Indeed. as far as boards were
concerned, there was not one man in
fifty or the command who had beard.
Altogether, 1t was peculiarly adapted
material which Providence sent to our
brilliant young leader and his wonderful
genius manifested itself as much in un-
derstanding and handling his men as in
recognizing and rising to the opportuni-
ties which came to him. He knew each
man personally, and seemed to read him
/ at glance and ascertain exactly what
sort of fellow he was and exactly what
use to make of him. He mingled with
his men, rode with them slept with then.a
and fought side by side with them. Few
members of the command had n longer
list of wounds and captures than himself,
and fewer still perhaps We're responsible
for more personal execution.
"FFis care agai' oilesslv exposing
them: his great skill in securing them
every possible ADVANTAGE; his cool, quiet
courage, and the almost unyarying sue
cess Of every enterprise which he per-
sonally conducted, secured the perfect
confidence of his men. His ready SYM
pathy with them, which in hours of re-
taxation or in times of suffering revealed
his big and tender heart, inspired them
with an affection for him which has sur.
vived the vicissitudes of the years, and is
no less strong now because mellowed by
/ the rays of lfe's setting sun
J 1t has been hppantly said "the COM
mand was held together by the cohesive
power of spoils." The truth Is that it
was gathered, held together and shaped
for its destiny by the personality of its
leader. Those whom he failed to inn
press, and, in this sense, magnetize-in
other words, those who failed to respond
to his personal influence--he simply SEM
back to the regular service. Between his
command proper and himself there was a
perfect rapport. and they delighted to
work together.
The women of NIosby's Confederacy
were the divinities to whom the Rangers
were always true, and the chorus to their
favorte battle song was:
"At home bright eyes are sparkling for us.
| We will defend them to the last
THAT Mosby's men had no sure abiding
| place was q military necessity. The es-
| Establishment of camp would have been
Immediately reported to their enemies,
and to have kept the command at one
place for twenty-four hours would have
been tempting certain attack.
The men slept i'll old nuts and shacks,
hidden away in the woods, in rock-brealSs
or fence-corners They would
start on raid with few sandwiches
in their haversncks, supply which
usually lasted over the first night out
| After that they We're dependent upon the
generosity of the people along their line
y VI anu, may f'eLis', "SiS
never disappointed
THE loyal, generous people of Fauquier
and Loudoun opened their hearts as well
as their homes to us. A genuine affection
inspired the many little offices which
softened the roughness of a soldiers life,
and it was with an actual sense of de-
| Tending home and loved ones that more
than one Ranger laid down his life on
the threshold of his host. When we start
ed on raids farewells We're spoken with
moistened eyes and in brokn words, and
4 the soldier knew that If he were brought
back on a bloody bier there would be gem
tie hands to lay him to his rest and some
quivering lip to kiss him for his moth
| er.
AS specially Characteristic of the Mosby
men in action, we think the description
of the Blazer fight, as given by Mr.. Alex
ander. Is one of the best Captain Rich
ard Blazer very gallant man from West
! Virginia went into the Northern army
! and undertook the contract, with the
4 approval of General Sheridan. Of select
ing a sufficient number of men, armed in
the best possible way, to annihilate Mos
by's command, but, unhappily, he found