Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-03-18
A WAR REMINIsoENOE.
tho Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette

reply " OOtVuci hSpSJ iS'"S' SSO~' WV
Richards, one of his best msn, a native
of Fairfax, who recently died 10 Mis-
souri,. Colonel Mosby spoke OF Joe
having been conspicuous 10 the fight
with the California cavalry battalion
near DrauesvilIe on the % Of February
1864. aud of Joss aoxieiy to capture
aud kill the aforesaid Rinns, his step
father, who had deserted Mosby's CON-
maad and was then acting as q guide
for their enemies.
1t is news to the citizens Of Fairfax
10 hear Bioos, denial tba! be never be.
lopged to MOsby's battalion and that he
did not desert from it, There are a
number of survivors of it 10 Fairfax, his
neiRbbors, WHO know to the contrary.
IL nybody has any curiosity on the ,ub'
iect let him ask Frank Williams, Alb
Wren, James Wren, Phil Lee, Sam
Underwood, Lycurgus Hutchinson,
Fouat Beattle, Phil aud William Tam
NELL and john P.ou', also j. w. Ham
mond, of Alexsndria. Colonel MOsbv's
letter stated that about July lsI, 1868,
Joe Richards, French D0lany aud some
others from about Falls Church, came
through the enemy's lines and joined
him. At tha. time be had only one
company (A) that hsd just been organ
Ia d. There were good nauy Fairfax
men in 1t.
The following extract from 3 dispatch
from Captain McOresry TO General D.
Russey cCrroborates bis statement: Il
appelrs in ihe published records of the
. ar snd IL dated July 2. 1868 It says
"BIt learned this morning that
small party Of recruits we're organized
flr lbe rebel army st point few miles
from Falls Church aud expected to leave
tonight. - l have sscerlaiutd the
following names: Charles Biuns, French
Da'any, jos" Rcharos sod John
Peout." SO 1t appears that although
the war had then been going on for
two years, sod Binns' home was 10 ih
mi Of hs csmps # he Unoo a'~y.
CsJtaia McOresTy had no suspicion
ha Bans vas union man, nor coy
ioubt lbal he had left with party to
loln the "reoel srmy."
B nns certainly hsd not at that time
rendered any service to the UnioD cause
10 eoiile him TO pension. Bnus'
companions served faithfully under
Mosby; French Du'aOy IVES killed 10
1864 There are many now living In
Fairfax ard Loudonn who will testify
that Blnns WAS one Of M'sby's men aud
vent on many raids with them, and that
40 one ditlrusted his fidelity to his com.
rsdes. He served with them over four
norths until November 1868, and then
deserted to the enemy.
wi euolher man he bad been guilty
ftn outrage at form ne,r Salem,
Fsuqnier, and on the complaint thst
a made oritrs were Issued for the az
rsss Of Buns aud bis companion. Blnus
escaped The other man WAS caught but
5 free because be was too week-minded
t. be punished. He died 10 lupRtIC
asylum.
b nDs's name sgain sppears 10 the
var records on November 18th, 1868,
when Colonel Lowell 10 command of the
camp at Vieuns, wrote to General
Hein'zelmsD:
"The man Bins arrived safely and
gives information which leads me to
hope that au expedition to start tjmorrow
will be successful in taking some prison.
! ers"
BINS went ss guide; pumber Of
MOsby's men who had been bis friends
apd comrades wers betrayed and made
prisoners.
oh for tongue TO curse the slave.
Whose treason like deadly blight,
Comes Ger the councis Of the brave
Apd blasts them in their hour Of might.
Nay life's unblesssd cup for him
Be drugged with tresch'ries 10 the bfim
| ase
| Just Prophet, lei the damned one dwell,
Full in the sight of Paradise,
Beholding Heaven, and feeling He'll"
As long IS Biups stayed at home
Lowell never discovered how useful he
could be; 1t Was only the knowledge he
gained 10 bis four months as a member
Of MOsby's ba talon that made him
valuable. On November 26 b Lowell
reported to Heintzelman that "ihe de.
serter Blnns proved Of great assistance.
As l wish to employ him sgaiu on
similar work and as he shoWs DO un-
willingness to expose himself, recon-
mend that be be SLOWED the ssms pay
as other government scouts while en-
pIoyed." 50 Lowell put BnDs on his
payroll because he was q deserter.
Again on December 9th Lowell
writes to HeinlEslmau-~ *s*. THE
party of 10 mounted and 40 dismounied
| men Of tbs Thirteenth New York Cav
airy under Mailr Coles with BinDs ss
guide mt out night before last, scouttd
the cosntry so far ss Lsesburg and care.
fully this side Of B,oad Run. They
searched houses and brought 10 prison
es" BinpS' name appears 10 the Ta'
records 20 more. Nobody disputes the
fsct that Bipns' employers got value re-
csived for sll the money be says they
paid him. Again; SIS soon al hostilities
csssed Mayor John Scott begsn to Pre-
pare q history OF MOsby's BIttsllon. HI
spent several weeks 10 Fairfax collect
Ing information from the sectors 10 th'
great drama b nns' cnnduct-Va' ther
Wben you Waut plessSn puysie gsS'
Chan .rlain S mach and Liver Tsh
lets a ,risl. They sre mild and gentl'