The Washington times., 1915-05-21
VIRGINIA STUDENTS
HEAR COL. MOSBY
Confederate Veteran Tells Of Ex-
periences at Reunion of His
Command.

a story OF Mosby's famous rangers,
as told bv the Confederate chieftain to
students and faculty of the University
OF Virginia. at a gathering of the sur
piVors OF the rangers at Charlottesville,
Is told In the current issue of college
TOPICS" the University paper. Colonel
Mosby, and twenty Of his men attended
the reunion and reminisced and told
anecdotes for the students. The Col
ieee Topics'" stors Is as follows:
Mosoy's famous rangers, under the
leadership OF their old chieftain, added
one more successful coup to their long
lst OF victories when Saturday night
they took captive the large crowd at
Caoen Hail. "who were waiting for
them.' When the ewenty-odd Surviving
members of the noted command entered
the building they became the masters
OF the situation in a moment, and when
Col. John s. Mosby. the last survivor
or the famous Confederate leaders, en-
tered with President Alderman II was
sign for complete surrender.
IN presenting the speaker. DR.. Alder
man commented on the fact that the
audience before him was largely COM
posed Of the third generation who had
come to know Colonel Mosby. mo bet
yer presentation may be had for our
distinguished guest than to read this
note coming from our noblest academic
veteran. Prof Francis H. Smith, who
part the note was as follows: ut would
have been a great pleasure to have
been present with you on this occasion.
O.. Captured Then Captivated.
"Tell the boys Of 1915 what the boys
Of 1850 thought Of the great partisan
leader who captured his opponents and
then captivated them. 1t was a rule Of
his life II any one did him any injury
to return 1t with kindness
II. too" said DR.. Alderman. "can
bow in reverence to this plumed knight
who can return good for evil"
Colonel Mosby began the chapter
from his interesting "reminiscences by
telling Of his life as a youth here in
Albemarle county, and of the days
when he walked the streets OF Char
lottesvlle. a bare-footed schoolboy.
Speedily drawn on toward narration
Of some Of his experiences during the
most exciting years Of his life. he told
fighting when the war broke out
Colonel Mosby stated that after the
battle Of Bull Run the company of
which he was a member did picket
until the spring Of 1852
He told how a change in command
led to the loss Of his position. but that
this resulted In good for him.
Tells of Stuart's Ride.
Turning next to one Of the most dra-
matte incidents Of the war. Stuart's
ride around McClellan's army. the
speaker related how he penetrated the
enemy's lines on a scouting expedition
and found out how few pickets there
were; how. on reporting this to Stuart
Av.I L IL, tttrx 70 hn rof n
planned; and how on June l2 1862. a
company OF 1900 cavalry set out on
the hazardous expedition. Colonel
Mosby stated that some one asked Stu
art how long he would be gone. and he
replied: ut may be for year. and 1t
may be forever"
Continuing on this point the speaker
stated that the party was within a few
miles of McClellan's headquarters and
that the Yankees were terror-stricken.
After forty-eight hours they were safe
once more after having struck the first
blow at McClellan's reputation and
made the first Of the great cavalry ex-
petitions that marked the war.
Shifting the time and place, Colonel
Aosby told of his capture by the Yam
KEGS and how he procured important
Information pertaining to the destina-
ton Of Federal re-enforcements, and
mediately after his exchange. He dis
Guessed at some length the proposed
move against Burnside before the re-
endorsements could arrive. and ex-
planned the reasons for the failure OF
the expedition
Charges and Captures.
Taking up next his life as a COM
mander and a partisan leader. Colonel
Mosby held the absorbed interest OF
tho audience as he told OF scouting
trips and OF fights, of charges and
captures, and all that goes to make ur
the life of an active military organiza'
ton. Nearly all the episodes were OF
a comic character and one Of his ole
veterans remarked at the close of the
meeting: He did not tell about kill
ing a single Yankee"
In conclusion Colonel Mosby said: 81
have only related events all OF which
I saw and part OF which l was. Nc
man clung longer to the Confederacy
than ! did. II Troy could have beer
saved by this right hand, it would have
been saved"