Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-02-22
COLONEL MosBY WRITES A LETTER

cused Col. John S. Mosby of being a
"turncoat for political preferment,"
and the gauntlet was at once taken up
by the Old Dominion Sun, which es-
poused the cause ofColonel Mosby and
expressed ap prevail of his entire politi-
cal course.
The Colonel has now stepped into
the arena with letter to Captain S.
f. Chapman, the genial "Sam" who
is so well liked by all the old members
OF the famous Mosby's Men.
The letter which Colonel Mosby
writes from Washington, under date of
January Il, 1903. and which is printed
in full, presents an extremely interest
ing and readable document. The let
ter follows:
Dear Sam,-I have received the
Stanton Leader with the editorial
calling me a"turncoat for political pre-
ferment," and the Old Dominion Sun
with an editorial in reply to it. Yes :,
| did change my jacket, after L was
paroled, for a civilian suit, just as all
other Confederate soldiers did but
didn't hide my gray jacket for l was
then and now am, proud of it. You
can see it, with hat and bust in Con
federats uniform, preserved in a glass
case in the National Museum in Wash
iBgton.
SO far as party management is con-
cerned. | have never been q poiiti-
clan. l have, however, always taken
an interest in public questions. /
never in my life took part in a politi-
cal caucus or convention, except in
1862 in a meeting at Warrenton, in
which | took an active interest to get
Jimmie NOW judge Keith nominated
Tor the Legislature as stepping stone
to his promotion to tie bench. | was
then one of the few Confederates Of
any prominence who was not under
political disability. Then was my op-
portunlty if had wanted political pre-
ferment. did seek it for others. The
election was on July 9Th. Walker, the
Confederate candidate for Governor,
was announced to speak in Warfenton
on certain day in June. 1t happen
ed to be on the day on which Douglass
Taylor was married at the home of hi.
bride Miss Harrison) near Upperville,
IN Loudoun County. Walker came
that morning on the train from Alex
andria. Before it arrived all the gen
tlemen at Warrenton, who have since
won political honors, left for the we'd
ding. L was invited to it, but stayed
there. | regarded the election as a con-
test between civilization ami barbarism
and as Walker, a Northern man, was
distasteful to our people, hoped that
my example might have some infiu-
ence to gain votes for him in spite of
their prejudiees. / remember saying
then that | would as soon have
thought of riding to the rear when /
ordered my men to charge, as to leave
Warrenton that day. / introduced
Walker and made speech, which was
reported in the Richmond papers. You
know the victory we won. ] got no
benefit from it except in common with
all Virginia people. AS Virgil says,
'Sic vos non vobis."
Some years afterwards, when Gen
eral Grant had become private citi-
zen, the late A. H II. Stuart, publish
ed letter giving General Grant great
credit for the aid he gave Virginia peo-
pie in getting rid of military govern
ment. When Grant was candidate
in 1872, and L was supporting him,
just a. l had supported Walker, Mr..
Stuart did net seem to remember what
Grant had done for us. When it be-
came convenient he refreshed his
memory. l have no criticism to make
of the Southern people who did not
approve my political course in 1872;
but l cay this much, that if they had
followed me then, L would have led
them to victory, and the carpet bag
government would have fallen by nat
ural processj just as rotten apple falls
from a tree. You know that there
was no man in Virginia whom the
carpet baggers hated as they hated me,
as l was the only man who had the
power to harm them. The last ap-
pointment l got general Grant to make
few days before he left the White
House was Confederate soldier, Brax-
ton, to be collector of the port at Nor
folk. His opponent was Union SOL
der, who had been wounded and had
all the carpet bag influence behind him
stood alone for Braxton, and had no
sympathy from the Democratic poll
ticians in Virginia. If General Grant
were living, there is no act which he
did through my advice which he would
- . L.