The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-04
ITIk va SUNDAY JANUARYi4 1e4
insly invisible hands. and camps were

insly invisible hands, and camps wero
raided and broken up. Mosby and his
Raiders seemed to be in n dozen places
at the Same time. which was often
true, for sixty miles day was not
an unusual ride, for each Hanger kept
lowed early tho idea which becamo
Grants policy. Mosby kept largo do
tail OF tho enemy busy guarding the
Federal lines. while Grant forced tho
South to look after the Federal sick
and prisoners, whom he refused to
take North or exchange. Every man
from tho firing line IS that much loss;
and Mosby introduced tho measure of
lighting the enemys rear" which was
just as honorable as fighting his front.
The Partisan Ranger organization
became regular early In February of
1853 when the Confederate Congress
passed an act framed by a Major Scott,
OF Virginia, known az The Partisan
Ranger Act There were mnny or
CARNATIONS formed under this meas-
ure, but "Mosby's ConglomerateB and
.Morgan's Raiders are the only two
commands OF either army which sur
vived during the entire war. And John
Morgan was an Albanian by birth
The Rangers were not outlaws, as so
often conceived BY the Ignorant: to
tho contrary they were of tho best
blood OF tho Confedcracy; mon whose
sires had made glorious records In
Colonial times and during the days
of the revolution. These. their sons.
were courageous men of firm convic-
ton, who found in Mosby's tactics 4
natural outlet for feelings which made
action necessary. To he Partisan
Raider Was n badge OF honor. and
every man who desired did not al
WAYS measure up to the requirements.
Narauders, unprincipicd men were
"a N Of he -.f.a
izations. Quickly and quietly they were
weedcd out; desertcrs from the regular
army were never accepted; tho discip-
line OF the regular army was always
observed The Partisan recruits, how
ever, enlisted from all the ranks OF
life. The poor man, tho rich man, the
planters heir and his ovcrscer's son,
the young man. the old man. tho Grip
pic, tho strong, rode side by side.
Obediencc. nerve, cleanliness, daring,
endurance, honcstness, loyalty, alcrt@
ness. a thinking man who in an emcr-
sency WAS capable OF independent ac-
ton, was what was demanded OF tho
man who offered his life upon tho al
tar OF his country rs q Raider man
who operated within the encmy's lines
Fight your fathers fought,
Fall as your fathers fell.
Thy task Is tsught-thy shroud is
wrought
'oo--LcE ana rcWcil.
This was the Partisan call to arms,
the Par;isan's requiem. The princi-
pie ain OF all raids was first 10 Sc
c'lre information CT the encrny's move
meni ond to report Same rs soon as
possible to the conmandn;; general.
secondly. to annoy the enemy by de-
stroying wagon trains supply trains,
by burning bridges. intercepting dis
patches. and capturing ecout ting parties.
iar
mand OF tho enemy through tho DEM
onstration OF smaller and friendly
force. and TO destroy all material
Things that you cannot appropriate
whenever you capture the suffers
flesh pots" Many men OF the North
bitterly criticized these .'innovntions''
called "thefts." They seemed to for
get the ties quoque" argument. The
raidors .imply enforced tho exercise Of
neliigerent rights. and those following
Mars must accept all the risks of war.
lomimi says that tho irregular war
rare OK the Cossacks from the Steppes.
ola more to destroy tho French army
on their expedition to Moscow than
the surn total OF all tho elite regiments
of the Russian guard These "hordes.'
We're condemned by al nations as
"brutcs, beasts." Yet. when neace
was declared, all Europe hailed the
.ossack Lehman PlatoR rs tho hero OF
the war; even tho Conservative cor
poration of London voting him a
sword
True. men who follow the fortunes
o. border warfare are not ou,to of
inc sanity character. nor are they ex
cited by only pious aspirations Tbev
are Tar from being "Canterhu,.v nil
sFiihs Patriotism plus adventure al
ways iinpels the Ranger, though il Is
20 DC doubted whether any OF them
ever ma lighting lucrative or health
tui recreation. Killing men NJ NV
time is painful business, ana 70 con,
template IL cody Is somewhat fear-
some ordeal; still. wnen the first pistol
crack sounds there follows mn inyol-
uhtary bracing UP, while tho smell or
smoke and power, the sight ~ hlooa
results In reaction which will cause
ete Rehiicst spirit 10 perform the most
desperate deeds
David Harum's Golden Rule .,o,a
,he Partisans was literally foIIowei.
they Knew everything dopendad ,,non
Sotuhs the bulge on the enemy. Tba
.ntacrs IN the march did not preserva
me aainc order ns did the regulars
es nIoke lines, sang, swapped warns.
pia!e ca Jokes, officers and men minrIip,,
Freely and upon an equal footing Men
reported Tor duty all along the limo az
iithrcli In fact, there were bur nv.
commands: Tall in ana count OFF nv
I"uIs' inarch; close up charge: sltc
uaodie. After one Of the last orders
tho company seemed TO melt away ba-
iore tho eyes OF tho enemy. Each man
locked out for himself and departed i'm
ms own sweet way toward that borsn
where he boarded. The Partisan had
no camp life. hut each man knew the
MONIES of the Raiders. and when a coll
1or duty came Paul Revore's ride was
reproduced Much of their reclsless
ness was the knowledge that the bold
est front aft wins the battle" and thar
IL was the best policy to be the aggres
sor. and. like Scipio, carry tho war into
the enemy's country. Many OF tho
hangers were boys whom Mosby said
made the best soldiers. They are the
best fighters / have for they hayen,t
sense enough to know danger when
they see it, and will fight anything !
zen .len TO- Ranger companies held
usually, therefore, many young fellows
Just coming into manhood; retired
army officers anxious to return to the
ned; an occasional soldier of fortune;