Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-06-01
SUCCUMBS TO OLD AGE
Famous Commander and His Ran
gers Struck Terror to Foes
Fifty Years Aga.

Washington, May 30.-Col. John s.
MOsby, famous Confederate calder OF
the War Between the Sections, died
at hospital here early today. Death
was due to old age He will be buried
at his old home, Warrenton, Va, at
9 o'clock Thursday morning and sur
vivors of his band that made history
will be pallbearers.
Col Mosby, who was in his S3rd
year, had been in poor health about
six months. Three weeks ago he was
removed to a hospital when it was
apparent that his condition was seri-
Gus. He was conscious until within
an hour of his death and at all times
took keen interest in political and
national questions. Many members of
his old command visited him during
his illness. Present at his deathbed
wre his sister, Miss Blakely Mosby;
his three daughters, Miss Ada Mosby,
Miss Pauline Mosby and Mrs. S. NJ.
Coleman Of Washington. Another
sister and two sons also Surylvn hrl.
The passing ol the famous Comet
crate commanGc. II Memoria. Day
was a sad feature Os the holiday mere.
He had lived "a Washington many
yeals. having at one time been en-
ployed at the department Of justice.
lie was a writGr of some note, con-
tributing articles dealing with the
tributing articles dealing with the
War Between the Sections and per-
sonal "reminiscences to newspapers
and magazines.
Col. Mostly was a picturesque hg-
ure in the capital and up 10 a few
months ago he walked daily through
the downtown section of the city. Age
had not bent his erect figure nor
dimmed his eye and it was seldom
that he passed through the crowded
streets that he was not recognized.
1t is related of him that he attended
only one reunion, that of "Mosby's
Men" at Alexandria, Va, % years ago.
He was so affected, it is said, that he
never desired to go to another.
Col. Mosby dared death over 90
years ago when at the head Of band
of a few hundred Confederate raiders
he rode up and down the Shenandoah
valley, capturing outposts, destroying
supply trains, and cutting off means
of communication. 1t has been esti-
mated that he often neutraliZed the
the force of over $4,000 Federals in teh
valley.
Born in Powhatan county, Virginia, |
December 6, 1888, and graduated from
the University Of Virginia in 1852, he |
was practicing lay in Bristol, Va,
when the war broke out and he be- |
gan his career in the Confederate |
army. He proved his daring with such
effect that he became a scout for Gen. !
]. E. B. Stuart and led the celebrated
raid around McClellan's army on the
Chickahominy. In Richmond a year |
later he recruited an Independent cav
airy troop which became famous as
Mosby's Partisan Rangers. They be-
came night raiders and the terror OF
the Federal troops.
Mosby's most brilliant exploit was /
the capture of Gen. Stoughton. On
March night in 1863 he, with so fol-
lowers, rode through the Federal ar
my at Fairfax Court House, only 10
miles from Washington, where Gen.
Stoughton was asleep. Although sur
rounded by an army said to have been
1900 strong. the rangers calmly kid
mapped the general. his staff and
many sentries, and turned them over
to the Confederate authorities at Cul-
pepper without losing man.
he closing years of his life were
spent in lecturing and writing. His
home lay across the Potomac, at War
renton, Va, but he was often seen in
Washington, his white hair and
strong Roman features making him
a picturesque figure on the streets or
lecture platform. He had written .
'Mosby's War "reminiscences" The /
Dawn of the Real South" and .
"Stuart's Cavalry Campaign" He WAS
was also known a. Greek scholar
"My military creed" he once de- :
clarcd, is this: 1t is better t" make Il
good run than a bd stand"