The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-12-15
COLONEL JOHN S. MOSBY.

ate cavalry fighter whose daring ex-
ploits and dashing deeds made him
famous during the Civil war, has
been on IA lecture tour in Connecticut
speaking at several points. At New
Haven, where he lecturpd on the 9Th
inst. for the benefit OF Rev J. C. Col
Inns Friend for Boys Work, the old
warrior met with a warm reception
and was accorded many courtesies.
Among those who heard Col. Mosby's
lecture and had the pleasure of meet
ing and shaking hands with him
afterward was our young friend Mr..
Clifton Bullock. In a personal letter
enclosing couple of newspaper clip
pings Mr. Bullock save: 81 heard
the grand old man speak and alter
wards had the honor OF shaking
hands with him. | told him L was
from North Carolina and had often
read about him and had always
wanted to shake his hand. This
seemed to please him-whether the
statement that | was from North
Carolina, or that | was delighted to
meet him, | don't know"
Preceding the lecture Col. Mosby
was interviewed by reporter OF the
New Haven Times-Register, from
which the following is taken:
A true Southern gentleman of the old
school is Col. John S. MOsby of Virginia,
who is visiting New Haven today for
the first time And in fact it is the Col
Onel' g first visit to Connecticut. One would
almost know he was a Southerner at
the first glance, the atmosphere OF the
South is in his appearance, and nobody
but a Southerner was never known to
enter a room with the bearing such as is
Col. Mosby's.
And the broad brimmed black felt hat
which he carried in his hand was of the
style as is always worn by a gentleman
of the South, and worn by them in a
manner, which in spite of imitation has
never been and never will be accurately
acqui red by the Northerners.
Col Mosby is a most interesting lold
gentleman, and while his greatest inter
est is perhaps in the affairs of the South.
where he lived and fought. and where he
still has his home. he is nevertheless in
terested in the places and people of the
North 1t is like reading in history of
the Civil war to listen to Colonel Mosby.
His "reminiscences are as accurate as q
historians records, and every detail OF
a number of engagements, which were
referred to, were given by the Colonel
without hesitation. When asked if he
was going to speak entirely of his ex-
periences during the war this evening. he
smiled as he replied, Yes, that is all
am supposed to know anything about"
Col Mosby holds the interest OF his
hearers for any length of time he is will
ing to talk. He is interested in all mat
tiers of public Importance and is well
posted His career has been a varied
one and he has Travelled extensively.
An interesting feature of this evenings
meeting will be the presence of Captain
Carey of Hartford, who nearly captured
Col Mosby during the war 1T was in
Virginia" as Col. Mosby tells it, land
Captain Carey got my knapsack he
came so near capturing me- In that
knapsack there was a letter from General
James Stuart recommending me for pro-
motion Carey kept the letter but let
me go. Later he gave the letter to the
National Museum in Washington, where
it is at present time. | have a photo
graph of that letter and I am going to
ask Captain Carey to read it to the aud
fence this evening at the theatre. Cap
tain Carey never saw me but once in his
life and at that time he was trying to
shoot my head Off. / suppose | saw him
but all | was thinking of was getting
away, so it might be said that | never
saw him. | am looking forward with
considerable pleasure to meeting him to-
night as a friend"
The New Haven Register of the 9Th
in speaking of Col. Mosby's lecture
said this:
The worst stage of the snowstorm did
not prevent large audience well repre-
sentative of the people of New Haven
who regard history and highly honor
the men W no made it from gathering at
the Grand Opera House last evening to
hear Col. John S. Mosby, the famous
Southern cavalry leader whose name was
on every mouth in the four years of the
Civil war. give q most interesting chan
ter out of his experience. They saw a
man whom his II years-his 18th birth.
day was yesterday-have not bowed
whose strenuous life has not abated its
fire, whose real Virginia heartiness is as
rich and rare as ever, give a lecture live
with interest, replete with humor and
beautiful in literary charm. 1t covered
only one chapter OF the great cavalry
leaders, great book of experience. only
one summer of his four years of war &C
tivity, but it was an excellent choice.
81 shall relate tonight" said Colone
Mosby in beginning, how the disobedi
ence OF Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Gen. Rob
ert Toombs saved General Pope and his
army from destruction in the sum
mer of 1862, and nearly resulted in nv
own capture" He Went on to tell how
when General Pope, on taking command
OF the army, announced that he proposed
only to look and press forward and lei
his rear take care of itself. he (Mosby)
| decided that it would be a nice thing
from a Confederate point of view, tC
look after Pope's rear for him. But be
had not the cavalry with which to DO it
and General Lee could not spare them
So he gave Mosby letter to Genera
Stuart recommending that he spare the
| cavalry. Mosby started for Smart, but
at a railroad station on the way he was
caught by Union cavalry, his pistols and
haversack with the letter and another
OF value, taken from him, and only an
early exchange of prisoners prevented
him from being permanently put out o.
the business OF defending the cause Of the
| South
The lecture was replete with anecdott
and historical allusion. and showed the
historical as well as military genius o
the speaker. He was true to his colors
my old school reader, he said, taught
me that rebel is the noblest OF men.
In those early days read of Gen. Israe
Putnam and his narrow escape from the
red coats. I've had more and narrowel
escapes than General Putnam" he said
I'm addition I've had everything from
: negro babies to Southern dogs named
| after me-
An interesting interruption in the lee
ture was the reading by Capt William
! B. keary of Windsor, this State, tn,
man who almost captured Colonel Mos
| by at one time. OF the letter found in hi
/ haversack, addressed to the Confederat,
Secretary of War, recommending his pro
motion. Captain keary, with severa
other veterans Of the war. was presen
on the stage. General Greeley acted a.
| m nf 4