Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-09-14

as in front. The only difference is in
the danger.
Now to prevent all these things
from being done. heavy detaChments
must he made to guard against them.
The military value Of partisans work
is not measured hy the amount of prop
erty destroyed or the number of men
killed or captured, but hy the number
he keeps watching. Every soldier with
drawn from the front to guard the rear
of an army is So much taken from its
fighting strength"
To apply these theories Col MosbH
had a following that seldom exceeded
100 men. He often worked with only a
score But they could yell like a reg
ment and worked So effectively that
whole hrigadcs were sent to eNtermi-
nate them. one general after another
tried and failed to eliminate the guer-
lila colonel from the war i'm Virginia.
Orders to Sheridan.
In an order sent to Gen. Sheridan on
February 20, 1865, relative to destroy
ing the railroad from LynChhurg, Va.
Gen. Grant said: Sufficient cavalry
should he left behind to look after
Mosby's gang"
Il endeavored. as far as l was able"
said Mosby. ito diminish the aEgres
sive power of the Army of the Potomac
by compelling it to keep a large force
on the defensive. | assailed its rear
for there was its most vulnerable
point.
My men had no camps. If they had
gone into camp all would have been
captured soon. After each raid they
would scatter for safety and gather
again at my call, like the children Of
the mist A blow would be struck at a
weak or unguarded point, and then n
quick retreat. The alarm would spread
through the sleeping camp, the long
roll would he beaten or the bugler
would sound to horse, there would -"
mounting in haste and n rapid pursuit
But the partisans generally got off with
their prey. Their pursuers were strik-
ing at an invisible foe.
Il often sent small squads at night
10 attack and run in the piCkcts along
a line of several miles. Of course
these alarms were very annoying. for
no human being knows as well ~ a
soldier how sweet sleep is. | wanted
to use and consume the northern cav
airy in hard work. l have often
thought that their fierce hostility to
me was more on account of the sleep
I made them lose than the number we
killed and captured.
1T has always been a wonder with
people how l managed to collect my
men after dispensing them. The true
secret was that it was a fascinating
life, and its attractions far more than
counterbalanccd it's hardships and
dangers. They had no camp duty to
do which however, necessary. is dis
gusting to soldiers of high spirits. To
put them to such routine work is pref
ty much like hitching racehorse to
a plough"
Another incentive to join the guer-
rillas was that the members of the
troop were entitled to the spOils of war,
according to the rules governing par
tisan organizations. Guerrillas on hand
had the same rights in that respect as
the crews of privateers in warfare at
sea. If a Mosby trooper captured a
horse it was his. And a good horse
was a big prize i'm those days. Il al
ways mounted. equipped, and supplied
my men," reported Mosby, at the eN-
pense of the northern troops"
When the capture by Mosby of Brig.
Gen. Stoughton and his staff and lot
of horses was reported to Mr.. Lincoln.
the president said: We'll, there will
be no trouble in making another brig
adler. but how can l replace those
horses"
Lincoln always had an appreciation
of Moshy. one day when the guer-
rilla was operating So close to Wash
ingtOn that he could see the dome of
the Capitol, he stopped Il woman who
was driving into the city, borrowed a
pair of scissors from her. and after
cutting off a lock of his hair gave ii
to her and asked her /" give it To Mr.
Lincoln with his compliments. "Tell
him." added the guerrilla, that l am
coming to Washington soon and would
like a lock of his hair
The president received the mcmcntO
and enjoyed the joke.
Started as Lawyer.
There was nothing in Moshys early
life or in the first months of his ca
reer to indicate what was in him as a
soldier. He was a young Virginia law
yer when hostilities began. and he en-
listed in a company of volunteer caval-
ry. AS a private trooper h" was de-
tailed one day to escort two young
women 10 a place of safety. They
were friends of Gen. Stuart, the great
cavalry leader. NluShy reported to
Stuart i'm person that h" had accom-
plishcd the mission. and the general
told him To stay at his headquarters
for the night. as there was a severe
storm. Gems Joseph f. Johnston and
G. w. Smith We're at the same head
quarters. Stuart told Mostly To join
them at the supper table.
Il was pretty hungry" said M"shy
afterward, but did not enjoy my sup
per. | would have preferred fasting
or eating with the couricrs. | know
never spoke word I" anyone don't
think | raised my eyes from Of my
plate while | was at the table"
But the next morning the private
trooper was again summoned to eat
with the generals. AT breakfast he
continued. my cnurag" rose. | actual
ly got into conversation with Joe john
ston. The day before would have re-
gardcd it as Il great privilege I" look at
him through a lumg-rang t"lcSc"pc.'
1t was the winter of lNG2-d3. soon
after Lee had hurled Burusid" back
from Frcdcricksburg. and tn" tw" ar
mics lay glaring at each other across
the RappahaUm"ck, that "MuShy's
Men" had their small h"%iuuu%. Th"