The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-07-02
Civil War Stories


calls most viyidly the stirring times
Of the war. when these same men were
not the peaceful citizens of to-day, but
the much-feared bold spirits that spent
their days and nights in harassiag the
boys that Uncle Sam sent out to cap
ture them. The band known as TIE
Mosby Rangers was in fact the Forty
third Virginia Battalion, regularly
organized troop, in which the officers
were commissioned and under the per-
soaal supervision OF Mosby, who was
subordinate to General Lee, just as
were the other officers Of the Confed-
crate army. These rangers, however,
were gathered for a species of warfare
which, being exercised in an independ-
ent way, was the means of harassing
the enemy and of keeping the large
armies OF the Union constantly on the
alert. AS line is only as strong as
its weakest point it sometimes took
several thousand Federal troops to
guard road or communications, when
they were in truth menaced by only a
few hundred. The rangers, who were
composed of the young men of the
State, received 10 compensation from
the Confederate government for their
services, other than the spoils of war
taken by their own efforts from the
enemy Many of the soldiers were but
boys, some scarcely out OF school, but
the flower Of the South could be found
in their ranks, while for daring and
absolute fearlessness they had no equal.
That part of Virginia which is in
cluded IL Fauquier and Fairfax coun-
ties became known as Mosby's Confed
eracy, and in a short time was practi-
cally under the control of his men.
Ceaseless were the skirmishes which
took place, the thrilling adventures and
hair-breadth escapes they encountered,
but none perhaps are as remarkable as
the affair in which they went boldly
into The center of Union camp and
took out from its midst a slumbering
general, escaping with their prey under
the very frown of the guns in the Fed
eral forts
This adventure occurred in March,
1868, just after the battle of Chan
cellorsville, and about the time that
Lee had begun to marshal his forces
for an intended invasion Of the North.
Brigadler General Stoughton and a
large force were encamped at the little
village of Fairfax, which is the county
seat of the vicinity. and numbers few
hundred inhabitants. The men of the
force were quartered about the place,
while the general had his headquarters,
with his staff, at the brick house which
is now used as the rectory for the Epis-
copal clergyman of the town. This res
idence is large one, standing in the
midst of a lot of goodly size, just about
100 yards from the main road, and the
front room in the second story was
occupied by the commanding general.
The night selected by the rangers
was a cold, drizzling one, and they set
out on their journey from their start
ing point. which was several miles out
side the enemy's lines about the town.
at near midnight. The lines Of the
Federals extended il every direction
about the country. some of the Union
forces being at Centerville, a tiny ham,
let six miles from Fairfax. N order
to escape the pickets the rangers made
detour, and striking Off from tie
main road on which they were travel
| ing managed to approach the town in
such a way that the Federals could but
suppose the troop was part of their
owa force. The road was anything
but a pleasant one to ride, for the
mud was as deep as only Virginia mud
can be, but the men plodded on, muffied
up in their cloaks, till they saw in the
misty distance a few lights family
cleaning through the trees.
The soldiers belonging to Stoughton's
force were sou1dly sleeping, artillery,
cavalry and infantry being quartered
about in the citizens houses. The gen
eral was in the center of the town. and
had retired late, having extensively
celebrated at a supper at which there
was liberal supply of champagne
Mosby. with twenty men, rode slowly
into the town about two hours before
dawn, and trotting up to the Court
House green the little party divided
some going to get supplies that were
procurable, as well as the horses of the
enemy, while Moshy and two or three
Of his men rode down to the headquar.
ters of the general.
No sound was to be heard in the
foggy darkness but the slight splash
Of the horses in the muddy road, and
even had any of the enemy been awake
they would never have dreamed for a
moment that the guerillas, as they
were called. were calmly riding about
in the midst of their camp, having
eluded by stratagem the pickets posted
along the line. MOsby and his men
rode up to the generals house and dis.
mounted, the leader boldly knocking
at the door. The house was shrouded
In darkness and silence, but presently
head was poked out OF an upper win
dow and sleepy voice inquired what
was wanted. Mosby replied that ne
was bearer Of dispatches for General
Stoughtol. The head disappeared, then
came a CLEAN of light, and an officer
In uniform came down the narrow
stairs and opened the door. In a mo-
ment he found himself a prisoner, and
was told In low voice to conduct the
men TO the generals room.
The half awake and startled officer
was too much surprised to resist, es-
pecially as there was a long barrel gilt
sering just before his eyes, so he went
upstairs, accompanied by Mosby and
ais companions. The party walked into
the room in which Stoughton lay calm
| iy slumbering amid pillows of blankets.
ald Mosby. walking up and shaking
him, told him to get up. Hearing the
aame of Mosby family in his dreams,
Stoughton sleepily inquired, "Have
rou got Mosby?" supposing it was one