Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1914-11-13
FRIDAY NOVEMBER IS. 1914
General Robert ven Mass0N, II
Command Of German Corps,
Fought With Colonel
nosby'S Men.


Mosby's Men.
General Robert Won MassoW,
now in command Of the Ninth
German Army Corps, fought with
Colonel John S. Mosby's COM
mand during the civil war. From
the lips of those who know, the
distinguished German was as
gallant a man as ever went on
the field. His purposein coming
to America was to see something
of actual war, and that is what
he saw-active duty, night and
day, riding aud fighting. Sur
viyors of Mosby's command re-
call the Baron" as they called
him, and among these is Colonel
w. H. Chapman, next in COM
mand to Colonel Mosby.
Lieutenant Robert Won Mas
sow came to America in 1868
and he came to Virginia in the
fall of that year." said Colonel
Chapman, when asked about the
distinguished comma nder of the
Ninth German Army Corps.
Colonel Chapman continued
II always called him Baron
Massow. He came to me in Col.
Mosby's absence with a letter
from General Stuart, the letter
stating the German officer was
here for observation and that he
wanted to see some real service.
l first met him at Oak Hill, III
Fauquier county, and learned
that he was an officer in the
Prussian army on leave of abb
sence. He wore a steel gray I'M
form with green trimmings and
carried a huge saber. He was a
striking, handsome man. He
was as brave as lion and he
saw service, all right, and he
seemed to enjoy life.
1.-The first action in which he
participated was at Bealton. We
were in camp and all at once The
enemy showed up. Colonel Mos
by gave the order to charge, and
right at them we went. Genera
Massow was riding along with
me and we were going at top
speed in pursuit of the enemy. /
had a revolver, a pair of them, in
fact, and was firing at the enemy
as fast as could. Massow had
only his saber, and he was doing
his best to cut down Fedora
cavalryman. Riding as fast as
the horses could carry us, l ask
ed him
!" Well, Baron. how do you
like this P
All! This is like fox hunt
ing he replied, urging his norge
to go bit faster.
Lieutenant Massow was
wounded February p, 1864. We
had left Delaplane the day before
to intercept the California bat
tailor, which had started on
raiding expedition in Fauqu1er.
On the morning of February 22d
they started from Leesburg,
where they had encamped the
night before, to return to camp
near Alexandria. We were con-
cealed in the woods with about
100 men. Just as they got up to
us, and before the signal to at
tack had been sounded, they saw
US and began to run. They had
MANY more men than we did, and
right after them we went. | had
of the squad in front
which had been arranged to make
the attack in the rear.
"Massow was a fine rider. He
dashed along with the rest of the
men. Massow caught up with a
Major Reed, of tie Union army.
who was in command, and he
surrendered. Massow did not
stop to disarm him, but went
along to get some others. Just
- he got opposite Major Reed,
the Yankee raised his pistol and
shot Massow, an act of gros
treachery, for he had surrender
ed. / saw the whole thing, as i
did others. Reeds face was Al
study. He knew he had been
guilty of an act of treachery and
what it meant. rode up as fast
Is / could and shot and killed
Reed. We chased the Federals
or a full mile, and rode back
o look after Massow. He bad,
d some way, caught his horse
md dragged himself to a corner
+ the fence. | saw that he was
ufferin0 very much. Ibid what