The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-07-06
LAST RIDE OF ''MOSBY'S MEN,"
A Little Column of Them Rode Into
Union Lines Under Flag of Truce.

Union Lines Under Flag of Truce.
Darkness still hung over Vir-
ginia's Blue Ridge mountains early
one late spring morning of 1868
when a little column of gray-clad
horsemen debouched slowly from
Ashby's Gap, swan the Shenandoah
river and made their way through
by paths until they struck the "old
river pike near the little town Of
Wildwood, says the New York World.
The men were Mosby's men. This
ride was the last one of this famous
body as an organization. The officer
galloping easily along at the head
of the column was not Col. Mosby
himself. 1t was Capt. Chapman, one
Of his most daring lieutenants.
The Army of Northern Virginia
had surrendered some days before.
The Confederacy was no more. But
somewhere in North Carolina was
Joseph e. Johnston, still command
ing a few thousand Confederates.
Mosby had had no intelligence from
him, and he had declined to surren-
der his force until he knew Johnston
had surrendered.
In Winchester, some 10 or 1 miles
from Millwood, was Gen. Hancock
with 100000 Union troops. Hancock
had asked Mosby to surrender, and
then for conference.
Capt. Chapman was leading this
last ride because of that request. The
sun was shining when he rode into
Wildwood under a flag Of truce and
met there Gen. Chapman, U. S. A.,
appointed by Gen. Hancock to con-
duct negotiations for him.
It was a picturesque sight. The
officers on both sides rode forward.
Behind them in regular alignment,
and in fighting TRIM. stood the ranks
of their men. Both sides were heavi-
" armed. There was not a revolver
chamber empty in either command.
It was flag of truce business, but
now, more than so years later, it is
hard to realize the bitterness of feel
ing existing in Federal commands
against the Confederate raider and
his men. A price was on Mosby's
head. He had been adjudged an out
law, although holding the commits
sion of colonel in the Confederate
army, and his command was a part
of the army of Gen. Lee on detached
service.
Capt. Chapman, acting for Mosby,
demanded truce for five days pend
ing news from Gen. Johnston. Gen.
Chapman had no authority to grant
it, and he had to communicate with
Hancock in Winchester. Hours pass
ed before the reply came. During
this time Federals and Confederates
were kept in ranks. Both sides fear
ed treachery, and both were prepared
for it.
Late in the afternoon came the re-
turning message at hard gallop, a pa
per held out in his hands. The
bugles sounded. The men in gray.
and the men in blue sprang into
their saddles. Sharp orders were
issued, The cavalrymen moved in
to battle formation. That reply, if
it contained a refusal of Capt. CHAP
mans request, meant fight.
Mosby's color-bearers unfurled the
battle flags of the Confederacy.
Hands closed over revolvers. Had
the message been adherse the for
malities would have been few: It's
formal reading by both commanding
officers, a saber salute, each back to
his own men, the furling of the flag
of truce and the bugles sounding
ttthe charge"
But
Gen. Hancock authorized Gen.
Chapman to grant the armistice, and
once more Mosby's men rode back.
A few days later they were quietly
disbanded, and Mosby, still outlaw
ed, rode up the valley alone.
There are men living today around
Millwood who witnessed the scene
just described, and one or two of
them were of those raiders that day.
For the heart of Mosby's field was
that stretch of the Blue Ridge noun
tains which lay across the Shenan-
doah opposite Wildwood and between
Castleman's and Berry's ferries and
Smokers and Ashby's Gaps-a
stretch Of not over six miles.
Mosby's men were largely recruit
ed from this mountainous region it.
self, from the Shenandoah Valley,