The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-29
HAS A LOCK OF
LINC0LN'S hair
|olOnel MOsby'S Prize Menento
Of the Civil War.
IS STORY IS INTERESTING.

he President Sent II to tho Southern
Cavalry Leader Rather Than Have
Him Come For It, as He Had Sent
Word He Would Do.
Colonel John S. Mosby, the southern
valry leader in the civil war. has
bny mementos of that long and
8pody struggle, but none which he
easures more jealousy than lock
dark hair wrapped in a faded yell
4 " scrap of newspaper. The hair
hs cut from the head Of Abraham
% ncoln. 1t was Lincoln's own hand
bich cut it and the great war pres
ent himself who sent it.
n the spring of 1868 the Army of
Potomac lay along the north banl;
the Rappahannock, about fifty miles
18th Of Washington, says the Youth's
mpanion. The intervening country
IS, of course, in the possession Of
Union troops. OF in the recesses
the Blue Ridge mountains, about
rty miles westward, was Colonel
Psby, with a body of picked south
cavalrymen, seeking to do what
ury he could to the Federal ont
= PTS and lines of communication.
bout the middle of March there Ell
nped at Fairfax Court House, a vii,
e of about 500 inhabitants, halfway
ween Washington and the army on
RappahannoCk, a force of several
usand Union troops under General
ughton. From a military point of
w, his camp at Fairfax was nearly
safe as Boston. Between his own
ce and the southern army, under
heral Lee, lay General Hooker's
at Army of the Potomac. Even
onel Mosby's small force-less than
men-was thirty miles away.
Capture of Stoughton.
evertheless Colonel Mosby deter
led to capture General Stoughton
Pcting twenty of his best troopers,
started one drizzily March after
n for Stoughton's camp. 1t was
pr midnight when he ran into the
picket, who was easily captured
the darkness. And thus, taking
et after picket in the black night.
bnel Mosby made his way without
IN into the village until he entered
eral Stoughton's bedchamber. The
appy officer was compelled to dress
Y accompany his captors. The pitch
k, rainy night and the fact that
men Of both commands wore rub
capes of the same style rendered
hpossible for the prisoners, Slough
included, to determine the number
he enemy. With half a hundred
T. pners and a hundred horses Colo
Mosby quietly made his way out
the camp and was soon beyond
h Of pursuit.
he adventure created stir in mill
quarters. Stoughton was roundly
ured for allowing himself thus to
tolen from the midst of his troops,
ough he was in nowise to blame.
tbs message TO Lincoln.
ortly afterward Colonel Mosby.
a few companions, was reconnoi
lg in the vicinity Of Washington.
the road he encountered an old
rh market woman taking her gar
truck in her cart to peddle it
ugh the Washington streets. Colo
,Iosby stopped and questioned her
cling pair of scissors at her belt
having heard Of President Lin
s comments on General Slough
capture, he said:
% you know Mr.. Lincoln"
ah," replied the old woman. "Seen
often, have"
king the scissors, Colonel Mosby
bff lock of his hair and, wrapping
q piece of paper, handed 1t to the
woman, saying:
m Colonel Mosby. When you get
yashington go to the White House
veil the president that Colonel Mos
lt him this lock of his hair and
$50 that he is coming over into
gington some night to get a lock
e presidents hair"
a |e old market woman went her
and Colonel Mosby rode back
forgot the incident. Some weeks
however, when making another
hnoissance in that neighbOrhOOd
Id woman hailed him from a road
cottage. Hurrying into the cot
she brought forth a scrap of
Fpaper and delivered it to Colonel
by.
ere iss lock Of President Lin
5 hair" she said. "He tolt me to
to you that he hat rather you
d not come ofer to see him and
he send it to you by me. Here it