Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-27
DEATH OF MOSBY's ZEN.

Of my old men aud best friends, Tom
Sealock, at bis home In Fauquier on q
peak Of the Blue Ridge. | always ad-
dressed him IS Roderick Dhue, for he
had many OF the cbaFa tefistics OF the
great UPLAND Ohief. 10 fact do not
think Tom would have come out worsled
if III Jsmts had encountered him In
the duel which Scott describes 10 The
Lady Of the Lske. | don't know suy
soldier who had more scars than TUmj
he always pointed to them as badges of
honor. Even when | was in far Csthsy
kept up correspondence with him, aud
few years ago our friend, Willie Thomp-
son, drove me up to bis home on ne
mountain which commands view of
three counties. Here we speDt several
Ga 70 listening to Toms wit and humOr.
II Tom bad had the advantage of educs-
lion he would have risen 10 distinction;
for he was naturally ONE oil the smariest
men | ever knew. 10 the month of
February two Of my best men, johnnie
Alexander, and Tom Seslock, passed
over the great river aud left me TO mourn
for them. AN beg.nOing TO feel very
! lonely 10 this word now; nesrly all of
my old friends are gone aad have made
no new ones.
Dol. Mosby hiss aso written the fol-
low log letter ~ the Fairfax Herald:
Herewith is letter just received from
Missouri informing me OF the death of
one of my best men, Joe" Richards,
who wSs Fairfax boy when he jpl. cd
me in July, 1863. / was then raising
command and JJe with Freuch Dalsny
aud several others from the neig bor-
hood Of Falls Church came through tne
enemy's lines to lin me. He Was
member Of my first company; l never
| had under me truer man, or a Drawer
soldier. Three years ago he was on
| visit to his family 10 Virginia and came
! here to see me. OF course l was de-
lighted 10 meet him once more a Id talk
over the old days. This Is the kind OF
a reunion l ebj1y. He was one If the
most absolutely fta- less beings ever
saw. Whenever gave an ordsr to
charge Joe went through the enemy's
ranks like a solid shot Today is the
anniversary OF the day February %,
lS6t-45 years sgo-whel be acted
with conspicuous bravery In 6ght.
TIE California Cavalry bsttslion ba 4
left their csmp at Vienna to go oman
expeditiOu through Loudoun aud upper
FaUquier 10 search of me. Oae Obarlss
Binus, also from Fairfsx, who had de-
serted from my commsnd TO proven, be-
ipg arrested for misconduct, vas their
guide.
went 10 pursuit of the OAlifO;u'aus
aud intercepted them returning to their
camp on the Leesburg pike near ID aues-
vile. When the tight began about 10
O'Clock In The morning we could hear
The roar Of the guns in the forts cele-
bra ing WsshiugtOD's birthday. The
result of the affair lie pretty well knowr.
One OF the wounded on our side was
B ron Won Nassau, Prussisn. he is,
or was, few years ego, 10 command of
a German army corps. We we're par
tic1arly anxious to catch Blnns, aud [
dc allied some men who knew him we'll
with orders not 10 let him escape. Joe
Richards vas one of the men. If Joe
had caught him doubt if he would
have brought him alive to me. Bat
Bans 90, away aud crossed the Potomsc
a lone fugitive about Seneca. Colonel
Thompson, who was 10 cOmmsnd there.
told me aha. he met Bilns when he
reached the Maryland shore and that he
was a perfect picture Of fright and de-
spsir. When be got hack to Washing
ton be was Treated ungritsfully-accused
Of treschery in lesding the Csliforuisns
into.a trsp, was arrested and locked up
Ia prison. He got his rewsrd-wts
never trusted as guide any more. Dur
ing February three of my best men aud
best friends-Joe Richards, Johnnie
Alexander and Tom 5ealock passed over
the great river. So LEAF by leaf the
roses fall-drop BY drop the springs run
dry"