New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-31
Most Famous Confederate
Raider SuccumbS in
82d Year.
PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE
TO u. S. AFTER WAR
Last of the Partisans" Gained
Fame Through Capture of
General Stoughton.

Washington, May 3o.-Colonel John
S. Mosby, the most famous Confed-
crate raider Of the Civil War, died
here to-day after long illness in his
eighty-second year.
Colonel Mosby's death. his physicians
said, was due solely to old age, and
he was conscious and interested in
What was going on about him until an
hour before he passed away.
Until six months ago, when he went
into a sudden decline, he was IA
mlliar sight about the streets Of the
capital, apparently vigorous despite his
age. He I'll be buried at his ancestral
home at Warrenton, Va, probably
Thursday, and some survivors Of his
noted command will be his pallbesrers.
His death on Memorial Day was af-
fecting TO many.
1t was said that he never took part
In veterans reunions, because twenty
two years ago, when he attended one
OF his command at Alexandria, Va, he
was so overcome with emotion that he
was unable to speak.
He leaves several sisters, son and
daughters.
John Singleton Mosby was the "last
of the partisans." in the words Of
George Cary Eggleston, "a gallant
knight, quick to sacrifice himself with
out stint where he deemed that loyalty
called for self-sacrifice."
The force of irregular cavalry with
which Colonel Mosby became the
scourge of the Northern troops was at
the first little better than a company
of bandits. He made them soldiers.
They were reckless spirits. acknowledge
ing no allegiance except 70 Mosby. De-
serters from both armies were included
in their ranks They had at first no
standing and no pay.
With this material Mosby showed his
military genius and influence by or
ganzing a force of rangers that broke
lines of communication and so far in
terfered with campaigns that at one
time it was estimated that his 300 men
kept occupied 10000 of the Federal
forces
Yet with all his devotion to the
South, Colonel Mosby, after the war
became Republican and accepted from
President Hayes a plase as consul al
Hongkong, after declining several
favors from President Grant.
When President Lincoln issued his
call for troops. in 1861. John S. Mosby
was in attendance on Washington
I County Court, at Abingdon, Va. He
/ at once Joined the Washington Mounted
/ Rifles, under Captain William L. Jones
He reached the front in time 10 take
/ part in the first Battle OF Bull Run. In
! the months OF inaction that FOLLOWED
/ he read many military books and tool
/ lessons in tactics. In 1862 he was made
an adiutant, but few months later
/ by a piece of regimental politics, NJ
was again relegated to the ranks:
When the army retired from Manas
sas. in the spring of 1852. Mosby was
made scout by General Stuart. IL was
/ then that his really active career De
gan.
Mosby's command numbered nearly
! roo men at the time Of the surrender
known officially as the AID Battalion OF
Virvinia Cavalry. IL had become part
of the regularly constituted Army OF
Northern Virginia, the only difference
being that this force was on detached
service and operated under the parti-
san ranger laws, which allowed the
men 10 keep as their own all captured
property. Yet Colonel Mosby always
insisted that plunder was not lhe Cd
ject Of his raids and he himself never
accepted plumber.
In March, 1868, Mosby with twenty
nine men penetrated the Federal lines
and captured General Stoughton at his
headquarters in the midst of his troops
at Fairfax Courthouse, Va. This coup
won him a regular commission.
His most important service was the
checkmating of Sheridan in 1854 after
the latter had routed Early from the
Shenandoah Valley. Mosby's harassing
Of Sheridans forces prevented the
completion Of Sheridan's plan TO
scatter Lees communication with the
South and resulted in prolonging the
war.
When Hancock refused 70 accept
Mosby's surrender as an officer Of the
Army of Northern Virginia General