Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-07-20
Mosby,s Present.

cavalry leader in the war between the
States, accumulated many mementos OF
that long and bloody Struggle, but none
which he treasured more jealousy than
a lock of dark hair wrapped in a faded
yellow scrap Of newspaper. The hair
was from the head of Abraham Lincoln.
II was Lincoln's own hand which cut it,
and the great war President himself who
sent if.
In the spring OF 1863 the Army OF the
Potomac lay along the north bank of the
Rappahannock, about fifty miles south OF
Washington. The intervening country
was, OF course, in the possession of the
Union troops. Off in the recesses OF the
Blue Ridge mountains about thirty miles
westwardl was Colonel Mosby. with a
body OF picked southern cavalymen,
seeking 10 do what injury he could to the
Federal outposts and lines Of commune
cation.
About the middle OF March there en-
camped at Fairfax Court House, a village
OF about 500 inhabitants, halfway between
Washington and the army on The Kappa
hammock. force OF several thousand
Union troops under General Stoughton.
From military point OF view, his camp
at Fairfax was nearly as safe as Boston.
Between his own force and the southern
army, under General Lee, lay General
Hooker's great army OF the Potomac.
Even Colonel Mosby's small force-lesS
than hundred men-was thirty miles
away.
Nevertheless, Colonel Mosby deter
mined TO capture General Stoughton.
Selecting twenty of his best troopers he
started one drizzly March afternoon for
Stoughton's camp. II was after midnight
when he ran into the first picket, who
was easily captured in the darkness.
And thus, taking picket after picket in the
black night, Colonel MosbY made his way
without alarm into the village, until he
entered General Stoughton's bedchamber
The unhappy officer was compelled 10
dress and accompany his captors. The
pitchblack, RAIN night and the fact that
the men of both commands wore rubber
capes of the same style rendered il i'm
possible for the prisoners, Stoughton in
cluded, to determine the nurlber of the
enemy. With half hundred prisoners
and hundred horses, Colonel Mosby
quietly made his way out Of the camp and
was soon beyond reach OF pursuit.
The adventure created stir in mill
tary quarters. Stoughton was roundly
censured for allowing himself thus to be
stolen from the midst Of his troops, al
though he was in nowise to blame.
President Lincoln, whose sense o.
humor nothing could quench. remarked
when told OF the affair, that he did moi
mind losing the general, but the hundred
horses were serious matter.
81 can make general with the scratch
of pen," he said dryly, "but cant
make horses"
Shortly aiterward Colonel Mosby, with
a few companions. was accommodating in
the vicinity of Washington. On the road
he encountered an old Dutch market
woman taking her garden truck in her
cart to peddle il through the Washington
streets. Colonel Mosby stopped and
questioned her. Noticing pair of scissors
at her belt and having heard OF President
Lincoln's comments on General Slough
toms capture, he said:
"Do you know Mr.. Lincoln?"
"Yah," replied the old woman. "Seen
him often, have"
Taking the scissors, Colonel MosbY
cut off lock OF his hair. and wrapping
il in piece of paper handed il TO the old
woman, saying:
"I'm Colonel Mosby. When you get
to Washington 60 10 the White House
and tell the President that Colonel MoSby
sent him this lock of his hair and say also
that he is coming over into Washington
some night 10 get lock of the Presidents
hair"
The old market woman went her way
and Colonel Mosby rode back and forgot
the incident. Some weeks later, how
ever, when making another reconnois-
sance in that neighborhood, the old wom-
an hailed him from a roadside cottage.
HurrYing into the cottage, she brought
forth scrap of newspaper and delivered
it to Colonel Mosby.
"Here iss lock OF President Lincoln's
hair" she said. "He toll me TO say to
you that he hat rather you would moi come
ofer to see him and that he send it to you
by me. Here it issl"-Youth'S S Compdn-