Year: 1865

favorlte with him. His voice was low, anC
smile was often on his lips He rarely
sat still ten minutes. Such was his ap
pearance at that time No one would have


been struck with anything noticeable il
in him except the eyes These flashed a


times, in way which might induced the


OPT lion that there was something in til,
man: if it only had an opportunity to "comt


out"


am not aware that he gained any repu
tation in the campaign of 1852 He was


considered, however, by General Stuart


an excellent scout and partisan and the


General once related to the present writer


with great glee, the manner in which Nose


by had taken nine men, deployed them over


several hundred yards, and advanced, fir


ing steadily upon a whole brigade of Fed


eral cavalry, which hastily retired, under


the impression that the attacking force was
heavy. Such things were common with


Moseby, who seemed to enjoy them greatly;


but in the spring of 1862 the tables Were
turned upon the partisan. General Stuart
sent him from the Chickhominy to carry a
confidential message to Gen. jackson, then
in the valley.


he was resting at one of the wayside
stations on the Central Railroad, while his
horse was feeding, when a detachment of
Federal cavalry surprised and captured
him--making prize also of a private note
from Stuart to jackson, and copy of Ma
poleon's "MaXims," accompanying it. Nose
by was carried to the Old Capitol but was
soon exchanged F.; and CHANGING to discover
on his route down the bay that General
Burnside was going soon to reinforce Gen
| in CnInpnnar ha hoe
arrival, with that important information to
General Lee, who telegraphed it doubtless,
to General Jackson at Gordonsville 1t is
probable that the battle of Cedar Run,
where General Pope was defeated was
fought by Jackson in consequence of this
information.


My object, however, is not to write a
biography of Colonel Moseby 1t is for
tunate that such is not my design for a
career of wonderful activity extending over
about three years could not be condensed
into brief paper | shall speak of but
one or two other incidents in his career
and one shall be his surprise of Brigadier
General Stoughton at Fairfax Court House
in the winter Of 1862 This affair excited
unbounded Indignation on the part of many
excellent people. Let us see If it was not
! a Legitimate partisan operation 1t was in
| November | believe, that Moseby received
the information leading to his movement
| The federal forces at that time occupied
the region between Fredericksburg and
| Alexandria, and as General Stuart's activity
and energy were just causes of solicitude,
a strong body of infantry, cavalry, and
| artillery was posted in the neighborhood
of Fairfax Court House and Centreville-
Colonel Wyndham was in command of the
cavalry, and acting Brigadier-Gen. Slough
ton, young officer from West Point, com
manded the whole district, with his head
quarters at the small village of Fairfax
Moseby formed the design of capturing
Gen. Stoughton, Col. Wyndham, Col. John
son, and other officers and sent scouts to
the neighborhood to ascertain the force
there. They brought word that strong
body Of infantry and artillery was at Cen
treville Col. Wyndham's brigade Of cav
airy was at Germantown, mile from Fair
fax and towards the railroad station an
other brigade of infantry. Fairfax thus
appeared to be incosed within a Gordon of
all arms, rendering it wholly impossible
even to approach it. Those who know the
ground, as many of my readers doubtless
do, will easily understand how desperate
the undertaking appeared of penetrating
to the town, and safely carrying off the
Federal cOmmandant. 1t was one of those
schemes, however, whose very boldness is
apt to cause them to succeed. Men rarely
guard against dangers which they do not
dream it possible can threaten them
Moseby doubtless based his calculations
upon this fact at any rate he decided up
on the movement, and with twenty-nne
men set out one dark and drizzling Novem-
Der night for the scene of operations


The party had to steal off with their cap
tives, if any were made, or cut their way
through, and on that black night no u1i-
form was discernable Moseby approach
ed Germantown by the Little River turn
pike, but fearing Wyndham's cavalry, OBJ
liqued to the right and took to the woods
sklrting the WarrentOn road. Centreville
was thus, with it's garrison, on the right
and rear Germantown on the left, and Fair
fax, winged with infantry camps, in his
front. 1t was now raining heavily, and the
night was like pitch. The party advanced
by bride paths through the woods, thus
avoiding the pickets on the main avenues
of approach, and the incessant patter of
the rain drowned the hoof-strokes of the
horses


A mile from Fairfax the CLEAN of tents
greeted them in front, and finding the ap-
proaches barred i'll that direction, they ST.
lently obliqued to the right again, crossed
the Warrenton road, and gradually drew
near the town on the southern side Again
the wet and rain served them. Their ad-
vance was undiscovered, and at last they
were close upon the place. An infantry
picket was the only obstacle, and this was
soon removed. The sleepy vidette found
pistol at his breast and the picket was COM
PEELED to surrender without firing shot
The way was then clear, and Moseby enter
ed the town at gallop. His objectwas to
capture the Federal officers known to be in
the place. burn the public stores and carry
off as many horses as possible


His party was accordingly divided for
these purposes, and Moseby himself pro-
ceeded to Gen. Stoughton's residence. 1t
was afterwards said that young lady of
the place. Miss Ford, supplied him with in
formation, and led him, personally, to the
house. This, Col. Moseby stated to the
present writer, was entirely a mistake he
received information neither from Miss Ford