The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-30
COL, MOSBY. FAMOUS
GUERRILLA DIES HERE
Aged Confederate Chief Sue
cumbs at Hospital After H.
ness Of Months.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
John s. Mosby to indicate that he would
become one Of the most famous and
feared warriors Of the long struggle
between the North and the South. As q
young Virginia lawyer he enlisted in
the Southern cause as a volunteer cav
alryman. He was attached to the COM
mand Of Col. Qater generaD "Jeb"
Stuart.
Destinies are shaped on little things
and q rainstorm played its part In max
ing the name Of Mosby something to be
dreaded later In Union camps. one
day General Stuart asked Mosby, then
women to q place OF safety. In person
Mosby reported that he had conducted
the generals friends beyond the danger
zone.
Chance Was Long Coming.
A severe storm was raging and Gen.
eral Stuart informed Mosby that he
might remain at his headquarters for
the night. On the following morning
young Mosby was tempted to outline to
the famous general q plan for the form
alton OF a guerrilla band, propeiyS
should harass The enemS from the rear
The opportunity for putting his plan
into execution. however. did not come
until the winter Of 1928. when the
each other across the Rappahannock.
The great fight leaders were IDLE, The
young cavalryman, remembering MS
dinner and breakfast with General
Stuart. became bold enough to breach
the scheme which had long been turn
ing over in his mind. Stuart listened
and thought well of the plan; General
Lee acquiesced and Mosby's Rangers.
afterward an independent command.
had its beginning.
Gave Mosby an idea.
One afternoon Mosby was sent out by
Stuart to reconnoiter along the right
flank of McClellan's army. The young
trooper. rode down the flank. and then
for eight miles along the rear lines Of
the army meeting no opposition. This
suggested to him the possibility OF rid
ing around the.entire army and raiding
II from the rear.
General Lee gave permission for at
tempting the feat. and 1900 horsemen
under Stuart and led by the daring
Mosby, still a mere trooper started on
that famous ride. Its success is a mat
ter OF history. and II was the making Of
Mosby as warrior, for he was later
made colonel and given an Independent
command. which proved a thorn in the
sides Of the Union forces UP to the time
of the surrender.
On one OF the early raids Mosby was
captured in the Federal lines. He was
sent to Washington with other prison.
ers. but soon exchanged. For three
years thereafter every Union sympa-
thizer from President Lincoln down re-
GREETED that exchange.
Selected Sixty Men.
When he returned to Virginia from
prison his actual experience as a leader
OF Mosby's Rangers began. Mosby was
permitted to select sixty men from
'6tuart's command as the nucleus of his
company, and this little band received d
rowing commission to harass the enemy
at will and upon all possible occasions.
Mosby carried out instructions to the
letter, and his brave followers asked no
question Night and day they roved
and raided, creeping UP from the rear.
throwing scares into Union camps, cap
turing officers. men. and horses, and
riding away as daringly as they had
come.
Mosby's capture Of staughton caused
dependent command in the rear of tn,
enemy. That he was independent, IN
y measure. followed from the very ma.
ture of his work: for always, between
him and the army OF Lee and Stuart
lay the great. Army Of the Potomac
His movements were left to himself
with the general instructions to harasi
the enemy as much as possible.
Kept Up His Attacks.
For more than two years he kept VI
his mosquito-like style of harassins
warfare. darling in upon the enemy,
lines and pickets at unexpected time,
and places: compelling them to guart
outposts and conveys; In short, KEEPING
them In continual state Of nervous
agitation.
Colonel Mosby's work and position IN
relation to the main body of the South.
ern army was much misund erstood. His
command was represented by CORE
spondents of the Northern press as q
gang OF irresponsible and unprinclplet
outlaws that were no more counter.
anced by Lee than by Lincoln. AS q
matter OF fact there was no offcsr OF
such low rank rs his own that was Sc
closely connected With Lees headauar'
oners would do, to his brigadier gen.
eral, and he to his major general, "ant
SO proceed. ad tnfnitum." He report.
ed directly to Stuart or Lee, which.
ever he could reach first. His position
with reference TO the main army of Inc
South. was that of a bulldog helping hi
master IN tight. While the master
strikes and kicks In 'front.' the bulidos
snaps and bites at heels and back
barking, too. with all his might, for tn,
moral effect
Always at Their Heels.
Thus did Mosby act. While Lee stoot
with his army between the Army OF III,
Potomac and Richmond. Mosby, will
his little command that never mum
bered more than 700. maintained him
self between the Army OF the Potomac
and Washington, their final base, snap
ping at their heels and barking with
all his tongue.
What that barking was may be stated
thus: Ir setting upon a midnight picket
post in the rear of a hundred thousand
men-a picket post that felt itself az
safe as though II was CT Boston Com.
mon; In attacking and capturing a
csrelessly guarded wagon train som.
where along the line OF communication
laden with all kinds OF stores that wer,
precious to the North. but doublS
precious to the starved South: In strik
Ing, here tonight, and there, fifty mile,
away tomorrow night. and thus work
inc on the imagination OF the enemy
Perhaps no better illustration of wha
the real work OF Mosby's command wa
can be gained than from a report o
Hooker before the battle OF Chancel
louisville.
Ordered to Attack.
Lee had ordered Mosby to attacl
Hooker's line of communication with al
his energy. OF course, Mosby did no
know that Lee contemplated that bat
he SnII s,.1A