Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-11-03
AIock Of LfncoIu's Hal,

many mementoes Of that lone ~,
bloody struggle, but none which
treasures more jealously than a looL
dark hair wrapped in faded vol.
scrap of newspaper. The hair vss ~,
from the head of Abraham Lincoln -
was Lincoln's own hand which az, :.
and the great war President hin.',,
who sent it.
In the spring of 1858 the ARM
the Potomac lay along the north ~
of THE Rappahannock, about fifty m,laN
south of Washington. The interyania
country was, of course, in the nosso3
sion Of the Union troops. OF m ~
| recesses of the Blue Ridge Mopn.ai
about thirty miles westward No..
Colonel Mostly, with BODY of niobas
Southern cavalrymep, seeking f. =.
what injury he could to the Fede,a,
| oatposts and lines of communIcatioz
About the middle of March there -.
camped at Fairfax Court house -
lage of about five hundred inbabitoa.
halfway between Washington and
the army ON the Kappahannoek =
force of several thousand Union troona
under General Stoughton. From
military point of view, his camn .,
Fairfax was nearly as safe as Ros,o,
Between his own force and the Soptb
ern army, under General Lee. Low
General Rockers great Army of the
Potomac. Even Colonel Mosty's small
force-less than hundred men-was
thirty miles away.
Nevertheless, Colonel Mosbv da,o,
mined to capture General Stouobton
Selscting twenty of his best troonars
he started, one dizzIy March Afternoon
for Stoughtons camp. 1t was after
midnight when he ran into the first
picket, who was easily captured IN the
darkness. And thus, taking pickets
in the black night, Colonel Mosbv
made his way without alarm into rho |
village, until he entered General
Stoughton's bedchamber. The I'M.
happy officer was compelled to dress
ana accompany his captois. The pitch
oiack, rainy night, and the fact that
the men of both commands wore rnh.
Der capes of the same style, rendered it
impossible for the prisoners, Slough.
ton included, to determine the numher
OF the enemy. With half hundred
prisoners and hundred horses, Colon.
ell Mosby quietly made his way out Of
the camp, and was soon beyond reach
Of pursuit.
The adventure created stir in mill
tary quarters. Stoughton was roundly
censured for allowing himself thus to
be stolen from the midst of his troops
although he was in nowise to blame.
President Lincoln, whose sense of
humor nothing could qusnch, remark
ed, VIXEN told of the affair, that he did
not mind losing the the general, but
the hundred horses were a serious
matter. 81 can make general with /
the scratch of peh,' he said, dryly,
"but L can't make horses.n
Shortly afterward Colonel Mosby,
with few companions, was reconnOit-
erir g in the vicinity of Washington.
On the road he encountered an old
Dutch market-w an taking her |
gardeutruck in her cart to peddle it /
through the Washington streets. Col
onel Mosby stopped and questioned
her. Noticing pair OF scissors at her
belt, and having heard Of President
Liacoln's comments on General
Stoughton's capture, he said;
"Do you know Mr.. LicoIp?"
"Yah," replied the old\ wOman
"Seen him often, l have"
Taking the scissors, Colonel Mosby
cut off a lock of his hair, and wrap
ping 1t in piece of paper, handed it 10
the old woman, saying:
"I'm Colonel Mosby. When you
get toi Washington, go to the Whlie
House and.tell the President that Cor
onel Mosby sent him this lock OF BIS
hair; and say also he is ceming over
into Washington some night to gel
lock of the Presidents hair
The old market woman went her
way and Colonel Morby rode back, ana
forgot the incident. Some weeks later
however, when making another 1t
connaissance in that neighborhoou
the old woman hailed him from
roadside cottage Hurrying into 'he
cottage, she brought forth scrap
newspaper, and delivered it to Colohs
Mosby.
"Here is a lock of resident LIN
co n'sIhair," she said. "He tolt me "
say TO you that he hat rather you Noui'
not come Offer to see him, and thai
send 1t to you by me. Here IL lss
mol Nil