The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-04-11
CONFEDERATE HISTORY.
Baltimore Sun. |

Baltimore Sum-
"REMINISCENCES OF MosBY GUERRILLA.
By John W. Munson. (555x81s 277pp.
Illustrated. S1.5O.) Moffat, Yard & Co.,
New York.
What flood of romance came yelling
from the past when we read the title of
this work! But when we turned its pages
and saw the pictures of men who had been
our comrades for more than twenty months
memory came with the force of realty and
we were not in Baltimore and man whose
years to live are but few, but again strong
and hearty, and backing a good horse be-
hind that peerless leader, John S. Mosby.
No one who ever rode with that man forgot
the experience. There was not among
those who followed him one who did not
appreciate his chivalry, his honor and his
ability. Not one Of US who would not have
given our life for his, and not one of US
from the leader himself to the weakest of
Us all, who would not have gone through
fire an death for our country. But enough
of garrulous talk; though an old man finds
it hard to be silent when once the blood is
stirred by memories Of those old days, and
not few of the survivors-and Baltimore
has a number-but live every day the
days when we rode with Mosby. But what
has Comrade Munson done for us here?
Well, just what we knew he would do-told
it out in meeting. We have here the very
inside history of the Rangers: Not the out
side or official history, though here we have
history enough; but just those little things
of march and camp, of raid and battle that
delight us, and we think, too, will delight
all who love to read Of deeds Of daring men,
who gave up all for their country, and
would have given up more only there was
nothing left. There is in the book more
than one good story, more than one good
fight, and whether the writer is telling of
prison experience or the experiences Of re-
treat or bivouac, erhave personal touch
that is simply irresistible. We get up and
stamp around the room in our excitement
and we say to ourselves that while we are
glad the war is over we cannot, shall not
and we never will say that we are glad that
we failed-We are not: Such men as those
of the Rangers should have won, and say
it in humility, even though it may sound
vainglorious. But again the curb must be
put on and we must say something of the
pictures. They are good-hetter than those
of any book that we have seen. 1t is re-
markable that the author was able to get
so many good ones. He shows us many
of the men Of the command, and it is we'll
that their faces have place in such work,
for it insures their permanent preservation,
and that is something that we should have
attempted long ago. There should have
talon and all kept together in the archives
of Virginia. Let US in closing quote the last
paragraph Of Mosby's last public address;
it was made at the reunion held at Alex
andria: II wish that LIES descending
shadows had fallen upon me in the midst
Of friends and scenes | loved best. But
destiny-not my will-compels me to abide
far away on the shores of that sea where
the god of gladness sheds his parting smile
| must soon say to you FAREWELL word
that must be and hath been. | shall go
back to my home by the Golden Gate with
proud recollections of this evening, and |
shall still feel as have always felt, that
life cannot afford more bitter cup than
the one drained when we parted at Salem,
nor any higher reward than that received
as commander of the Forty third Virginia
Battalion of Cavalry