Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-10
ONE OF MOSBY'S EXPLOITS
Former Ranger Tells of Wreckng and Robbery of Train
Carrying Federal, Paymasters With Greenbacks

MOSDy ana uetdtCAhehl VI MS
troopers were related before the
Washington Historic Club recently by
Thomas W. Lake. who was a member
Of Company A ADD Battalion of Vir-
ginia Cavalry (Mosbys mem. In pre-
facing his description of the raid Mr.
Lake said:
while none of us have any apollo
gies TO make. believing that we put
up the very best fight that was IN
us, and that our cause was right. yet
| am thankful to Almighty God that
He has again brought us into one
united brotherhood-Our one common
country today the mightiest in the
world. and know we have sons who
would go even further than we did
in defense of it, If the world be-
lieves otherwise, just let some ma
ton knock the chip off our shoulder"
LAS to the greenback raid, October
IL, 1854" continued Mr.. Lake, "a de-
.atchment of MOsby's men, of which
| was a member, crossed the Sienna
doah river at Castlemans Ferry about
dark and moved off in the direction
Of Bunker Hill, On the turnpike be-
tween Martinsburg and Winchester.
Occasionally one of our fellows would
lose his hat by having it knocked on
by tree limb. Our party consisted
of between sixty and sixty-five men.
At sunup October -, the command
was halted in a piece of woods close
to the pike 1t was a splendid place
from which to view and command the
road. there being considerable hill
Col Mosby and few of the men were
on the hill with field glass. We
had not been there long before pa
troll of twelve or fifteen Federal cav
alrymen was seen approaching.
Federal Cavalry Routed.
"rhe colonel instructed me to order
Lieut.. Gorgan to take ten or twelve
men and go out on the pike below,
and to order Lieut.. Harry Hatcher to
take an equal number of men and
come out behind the F'ederals after
they had passed by. Hatcher re-
quested sme to go along with his party,
and did so. Just before we struck
the pike we heard Gorgan's men fir
ing, and soon the Federals came thun-
dering back. just in time for us to
meet them.
so the Federal cavalry had nothing
to do but surrender or scatter over
the fields. which few did, but they
were soon captured. We had just got
together again when another party OF
horsemens were seen coming along the
road from the direction of Winchester.
There were about sixteen of them and
they were gray uniforms. The Fed
eral command was known as Jesse
Scouts. They wore the gray to de-
ce1ve the Confederates. They we're
finely mounted and were about as
fearless set of fellows as we ever
struck. They were evidently picked
men Col Mosby sent me with the
same orders to the same officers.
Lieut. Hatcher again asked me to-
&C with him. | entered protest and
said there were other men who had
kt been out on chase. Besides,
my horse was tired had very
fast black mare.
"'Oh, come on and go with US. he
said. and so | went. But before we
struck the pike this time the JessesI
we're rushed back on us. so We had
a running, fight. The ground besides
the pike was very rough, having been
made so by the passage of the army
when the ground was muddy. One
fellow got out in front q me on the
rough ground and it was not long be-
fore his horse fell and right over him
and his horse ! went. Then there
was the worst sort Of mix-up. Ny
horse turned complete somofsauli
and ! saw myriads stars in the day
time for the first time in my life !
thought surely had received mortal
injuries. When got up asked one
Of our fellows if the cars had run over
any one else. mounted the horse
Of the fellow I had fallen over and
rode back TO Col Mosby and his party,
my face all bleeding.
Your face looks like Che Chinese
alphabet remarked a non-symDathet-
ic virginia trooper who sat on his
horse near the colonel
one Of the fellows recovered uy
mare and captured two prisoners