The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-07-06

her mountains gave MIN Unusual
sources of information. Movements
of Federal detachments, divisions,
armies, were always Immediately
transmitted to him; and slaves most
often carried the information. Un-
suspected of such work, these negroes
were seldom molested by Federal
pickets even when observed. In most
instances they waited until nightfall,
made their way to and across the
Shenandoah, and after that-well,
they were in Mosby's Confederacy
and they couldn't be long there be-
fore Mosby picket discovered them
and took them to the colonel.
The result was almost always the
same. The quick assemblage of as
many men as the particular circum-
stances permitted; the swift, silent
ride through the; mountains, across
the river and into the valley. Then
the sudden, fierce charge upon an
enemy detachment or wagon train,
the surprise attack, the destruction
or taking off as much plunder as pos
sible and the dash back into the
"Confederacy," where Mosby's men
seemed to be swallowed up.
NIosby led band of as wild and
reckless riders as ever formed part of
an organized army, but his men were
law-abiding citizens with a few ex-
ceptions They we're simple, honest
mountaineers or country farmers for
the most part. Love of adventure
and excitement, not plunder, were
the impelling motives which made
service under him more attractive
than service even under Stuart.
With an admitted genius for ham
ding small forces Of cavalry, with
the advantages already described and
others not enumerated, and with un-
bounded determination and fearless
ness, Mosby made himself the most
feared and most hated Confederate
officer. Efforts to capture him gen.
orally resulted in the capture of the
would-be capturers, as for instance
the experience of Col. Blazer, which
is largely authenticated by the official
records in Washington and. by official
reports to Richmond.
Col. Blazer set out with a picked
body of cavalrymen behind him to
t'bag Mosby.'' Soon Blazers superb
ors received complaints that Mosby
had heard of his coming and in ter
ror of him had disbanded his entire
force. But Col. Blazer was trife
wrong, as later events proved. Mos
by had heard of his coming. He had
collected a hundred men, and at the
time Col. Blazer was writing of Col.
Mosby's disbanding, Col. Mosby was
then in his rear, and, unknown to
him, quietly riding behind him. 4
A few more days passed and Mos
by, finding the psychological moment
come, suddenly burst upon Blazer
and ''bagged" him. Two days later
two of Blazers men showed up at a
Federal outpost and reported that
Blazer was captured and the rest of
the men with him, except those kill
ed. This report was forwarded to
Secretary Of War Stanton. :. .
These and other experiences of
similar ''bagging" parties,< combined
with Mosby's constant raidiqg of
Federal communication lines, of
which the capture of Sheridan's bag
gage train at Berryville, in Clarke
county, was one of the most noted,
made Mosby such pest that Federal
commanders were ready to believe
stories Of subordinates Of atrocities
committed by his men. It is now
generally conceded that such stories
were without foundation. But more
than one Federal general who had
felt Mosby's sting declared he would
hang Mosby and any Of his outlaws
he could lay hands on.
In skirmish near Front Royal, in
the Shenandoah Valley, six of Mos
by's men were captured by Clusters
men, and Custer, as soon as they
were brought into Front Royal, or
dered their immediate execution.
A woman, mother of one Of the
men, a boy of only II or 1S, fell on
her knees in the main street of the
town to plead for his life, but her
plea was refused. The boy was shot
by firing squad before his mothers
eyes.
On November II, 1854, Col. Mos
by wrote to Gen. Sheridan:
"Some time in the month of Sep
tember during my absence from my