Partisan Life with Col. J. S. Mosby ... With portraits and engravings on wood

Front matter

JOHN SINGLETON MOSBY. Partisan Life with Col. John S. Mosby BY Major John Scott, Of Fauquier, late C.S.A. AUTHOR OP "THE LOST PRINCIPLE" AND "LETTERS TO AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY." fffiftt) portraits anTj EnflrabitiQS on ffffiooU. "Historic truth ought to be no less sacred than religion." Napoleon III., Life of Cæsar. "There is game in every bush if we will beat for it." Sib Isaao Newton. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1867. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. DEDICATION. TO MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. MRS. GENERAL HOWARD, J. HANSON THOMAS, JOHN H. B. LATROBE, JAMES HODGES, MRS. DR. JAS. A. STUART, MRS. GEO. W. WEBB, MRS. E. M. GREENWAY, MRS. BENJ.

F. CATOR, MRS. J. HARMAN BROWN, MRS. JOHN MERRYMAN, MRS. T. PARKIN SCOTT, MRS. GEO. M. GILL, SAMUEL K. GEORGE, A. DUBOIS EGERTON, ROBERT H. CARR, RICHARD NORRIS, Jr., THOS. MURDOCH, MRS. R. H. MITCHELL, MRS. THOS. C. JENKINS, MRS. NEALE, BULLOCK, DR. C. JOHNSTON, CHARLES HOFFMAN, CHARLES J. BAKER, LURMAN, MRS. MATHIAS, MRS. AATvI. R. HODGES, MRS. CHARLES TIERNAN, MRS. SAMUEL W. SMITH, MRS. BAYARD SMITH, MRS. JAMES WILSON, RYAN, ANDREW REID, PEYTON HARRISON, C. HUGHES ARMISTEAD, J. S. GITTINGS, MRS. WINN, MISS EMILY HARPER, MISS DORA HOFFMAN, MISS FRICK, CHARLES HOWARD, WM. GEO. READ, ISABELLA BROWN, THOS. T. HUTCHINS, GEO. PATTERSON, WM. HENRY NORRIS, E. LAW ROGERS, MISS MARY GRACE, MISS LAURA ROBINSON, MISS FLORENCE PATTERSON, MISS LOUISA HOFFMAN, MISS NANNIE HOAVARD, &nb other Noble £abics of Saltimore.

As a testimonial not unworthy of the noble sympathy which, during the late war, under the most trying circumstances, you dis played for the cause of justice and truth, I dedicate to you the history of one of the most brilliant and devoted heroes which those stormy times produced — Mosby — a young man who, rising by the native force of genius and courage from the obscure position of a private Dedication. VIII soldier, with a command of his own creation, at no time numbering more than a few hundred kindred spirits, planted himself in a district abandoned to the occupation of the enemy, and, besides capturing a multitude of prisoners and destroying many millions of public prop erty, kept in a defensive attitude, according to their own admission, thirty-five thousand of their troops, which would otherwise have been employed on the active theatre of war. yBut this Avas not all.

Preface

. As soon as the surrender of the army of General Lee rendered it probable that the sanguinary contest which for four .years had raged between the hostile sections was about to be brought to a close, and it was understood that I was to undertake the laborious task of writing the his tory of the Partisan Battalion, its origin, its growth, its exploits, I set about collecting the facts which were to compose my checkered narrative. Of these, very imper fect records had been kept, and they had to be obtained by interrogating the memories of the actors in the scenes Avhich I proposed to commemorate. I had conceived and drafted the Partisan Ranger Law, shown it to Secretary Randolph, and, Avith his approba tion, had carried it before the Joint Military Committee of the two houses of Congress, whose chairman was Mr. Miles, of South Carolina.

I found the table of the com mittee covered Avith all kinds of projects relating to the irregular service. Mine was preferred by the committee, reported to the two houses, and, without debate, became a law. Colonel Mosby has often told me that upon that basis rested the superstructure Avhich he afterward reared, and that it Avas but just that I should write the history of the command wliich Abdicated the correctness of the principles of the Partisan Ranger Law. The principle of that law is but the application of the prize principle of Preface. X nautical Avarfare to land Avar, yet it was one, I believe, which had not been made before. Amid the many failures which occurred in the Confed erate service in the application of this law, Mosby alone brought to the work all the high qualities necessary to command success and write his name so high upon the column of Fame.

I was born in the district of country which constituted his field of exploits, and haA7e, in consequence of a familiar and AAdde-spread acquaintance with its inhabitants, enjoy ed peculiar advantages in collecting from them incidents and anecdotes Avith Avhich to enrich and enliven my pages. Regarding my task in the light of a trust, I set about its execution with a diligence Avhich has not deserted me at any time. My mode was to visit all the officers and men of the command to whom I had access, and from their lips to obtain full accounts of all they did, or knew to be done. These accounts, under appropriate headings, I reduced to writing, until my notes had increased to many volumes. From many of the officers and men of the Battalion whom I could not Adsit, I received A7oluminous notes, Avhich, to gether with the facts and explanations furnished by the Partisan chief himself, have enabled me to compose a full and authentic history.

To enable me the more perfectly to 'attain this end, I resided in Colonel Mosby's family for some time, and from that central point rode with him to inspect the most interesting localities. The following letter, addressed to me by him, will display to the reader the lively interest which he took in the prosecution of my work, and how ready, at all times, he was to render me assistance. The intimate association AA7hich thence ensued Preface. XI enabled me, by a strong and steady light, to peruse that great man's character and discover the springs of those actions with Avhich he astonished friend and confounded foe. " Leesburg. January 10th, 1866. " Deae Majoe, — The bearer of this letter is James G. Wiltshire, who was a lieutenant in my command. He visits you at my request, that you may a\rail yourself of the fund of anecdote and ad venture which he possesses — for his dash and spirit of enterprise led him to participate in all the prominent events connected with the command in which he could, with truth and propriety, say, 1 Quorum magna pars fuV " I haA7e no doubt but that he will add much to your stock of in formation.

I am very anxious for you to accompany him to Clarke and Jefferson, for I consider it all-important to the success of your work that there should be great accuracy in the description of lo calities which you expect to make historical. You must, by all means, see John Russell, who lives near Berryville, for he saw more service than any man in the command, as he always acted as guide in the Valley. I have just received a letter from him saying he was anxious to see you. Russell and Wiltshire could make every thing plain to you ; besides, you could see a great many persons whom you could put on inquiry to assist you. You must, by all means, go to Charlestown, and visit my charming friends at the Bower ; also those at the Vineyard, near Berryville, where you will meet Avith John Esten Cooke. George Saddler, of Charlestown, can supply you with a good stock of anecdote.

He was in my con fidence, is a man of great shrewdness, and exerted himself to get information for me. Your book can not be complete without see in"1 him. You must make a visit to Duffield Station, to see how we gathered them there ; to Berryville, to see how we mauled them there ; to Cabletown, where Richards destroyed Blazer ; to Millwood. " By making one such visit, you will put every body to thinking and remembering what they know of us. You may depend upon it, you will find this unexplored country an El Dorado. " I am now in Leesburg, under arrest. I was ordered yesterday, Preface. XII by the commanding officer here, to report by what authority I was in Leesburg. I reported 'that I had been in the habit of coming here for two years, and didn't know any body that had a better right.' He put me under arrest, and I am now paroled to the lim its of the town, to await orders from Winchester.

If I am released, as soon as I get to housekeeping come down and make my house your home. Yours, truly, John S. Mosby. "Major John Scott." With the mass of information thus accumulated, I retired, toAvard the close of the summer of 1866, to compose my varied narrate, haAdng been delayed in its execution by frequent indispositions and one vdolent attack of ill ness. Before I conclude this preface, it is only just to say that the names of many members of the Battalion, of signal merit, do not appear in this book, for the sufficient reason that they were not associated in a particular manner with events, the relation of which would add variety to my page ; or, to borrow Mosby's language, " You could not call the roll in every fight." Truth is the religion of the historian, and I feel con scious that I have not been governed by partiality or prejudice, and that if I have not adorned, at least I have not dishonored the shrine of the Historic Muse by the most odious of all vices — falsehood. The Author. Philadelphia, May 14th, 1867. CONTENTS.

Negotiations for the Surrender.— The last Parade of Mosby's Battalion.— Farewell Address of Colonel Mosby. — Disbandment of the Battalion 470

Appendix

. Account of Private M'Cue's Imprisonment.— Description of the Shenandoah Valley. —The Conquered Banner.— Reply to the "Conquered Banner."— Gettysburg.— Somebody's Darling.— Early and Mosby.— A Statement corrected .". "479 »r.U' ok "MOiBT'8 CONIKDBHAOT." ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE portrait OF mosbt Frontispiece. MAP. "close on them, men!" , 37 hand-to-hand fight between turner and worthington 41 capture of general 8toughton 47 the partisans' first retreat 87 plundering the railroad train at catlett's station 93 captain foster 98 tail-piece for chapter xvi 113 moset among the wagon-trains 117 mosbt's chaplain at hisr devotions 124 tail-piece for chapter xviii 139 captain smith 142 tail-piece for chapter xix 149 head-piece for chapter xx 150 baron von massow 154 miss roberta p 164 tom turner dying 181 the parson's stag dance 196 captain mountjoy 210 destroying the railroad in grant's rear 221 general hunter's house-burners. at their work 228 point of rocks, harper's ferry 240' tail-piece for chapter xxxi 249 the lecture on love 262 dulcebenietta 268 captain chapman 271 MOSBY "GOING THROUGH 'em" 301 CAPTAIN FRANKLAND 306 ESCAPE OF OGG FROM THE YANKEE CAMP 323 MRS. SCOTT AND HER BOY SAVING THE BjOCSE FROM THE FLAMES 331 "THE LILY" 332 THE GREENBACK RAID 337 THE CAPTIVES DRAWING LOTS 358 MAJOR A. E. RICHARDS 370 FIRE AND SWORD IN MOSBY'S CONFEDERACY 377 THE CHAPLAIN'S HASTY RETREAT 402 CAPTAIN GLAS8COCK 455 TAIL-PIECE FOR

CHAPTER LIV

458 CAPTAIN BAYLOR 463 LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHAPMAN 466 CAPTAIN RICHARDS 468 THE LAST REVIEW 475 B

Chapter I. How Mosby Became

A PARTISAN. Upper Fauquier, January 2d, 1863. My dear Percy, — You have doubtless received ere this my letter giving an account of the decisive battle of Fredericksburg, accompanied by a rude drawing of the battle-field, which, I trust, has enabled you to appreciate that fight. Since that time I have accompanied the gal lant and enterprising General Stuart from the camp of the Confederate army, near Fredericksburg, on an expedition to Dumfries, and, strangely enough, find myself now with a small detachment of cavalry Avhich he has left behind him, under the command of Captain Mosby, as he is generally called, though his military rank is, I believe, entirely honorary. k My acquaintance with Captain Mosby was begun in the earlier stages of the war, and since that time I have been often associated with him, particularly on some of the daring scouts which he has made, and which have excited the admiration and won the applause of General Lee himself.

Mosby, I am sure, is a remarkable man. He has often explained to me in conversation a mode of partisan Avarfare A\7hich he is persuaded, if fully developed, Avould enable the Confederate government to crip ple the invading armies of the enemy, retard their progress, and ultimately enable the opposing forces to over whelm them with disaster. He thinks the most vul nerable point of every invading army is in its rear — an opinion which he formed from his oavu observations on the communications of the Northern army. In order to afford a practical illustration of the value of this opin ion, and doubtless to gratify, at the same time, his thirst for action, and satisfy an honorable desire for fame, he has proposed to General Stuart, from time to time, to al low him to take a small detail of men, and with them to operate in the rear of the enemy and upon his communications, but until now his proposition had met with no favor.

However, as Stuart was returning from his ineffectual raid upon Dumfries, he called, in company with several of us, to make a visit to Miss Laura Ratcliffe, who resides near Frying-pan Church, in Fairfax County. As our party rose to bid this lady fareAvell, I was surprised and pleased to hear the general address her in the following language : " You are all such good Southern people through this section, I think you deserve some protection, so I shall leave Captain Mosby, with a few men, to take care of you. I Avant you to do all you can for him. He is a great favorite of mine and a brave soldier, and, if my judgment does not err, we shall soon hear something sur-, prising from him." We were soon again upon the march, Avith the column headed toward Middleburg, in the county of Loudon, on the Little River Turnpike, very near to the Fauquier line.

I was riding alone, between the advance guard and the head of the column, Avhen I was joined by Mosby, who, in high spirits, informed me that at last fortune had begun to smile on him, for Stuart had promised to leave him with a detail of nine men to operate on the outposts Mosby's Raid on General Wyndham's Outposts. 21 and communications of the enemy. He invited me to join him, promising, as an inducement, an adventurous life. I consented, and am now in Upper Fauquier, with Captain Mosby and his nine men. My letters henceforth Avill contain but little of the movements of large bodies of troops, and nothing of po litical events, but I hope to compensate you with ac counts of skirmishes, surprises, and personal adventures.

Chapter II. Mosby's Raid On General Percy Wyndham's Outposts

Upper Fauquier, January 18th, 1863. Dear Percy, — Since the evacuation of Manassas by General Johnston in the spring of 1862, the enemy have kept at Fairfax Court-house a military force composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, as an outpost of Wash ington City. The caA7alry consists of a brigade, which is composed of the Fifth NeAV York, the First Vermont, the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, and the First Virginia regiments, commanded by Colonel Percy Wyndham, former ly, it is said, an officer in the English army. This brigade maintains a chain of picket-posts, within a half mile of each other, from Centreville to Dranesville, and from that place to the Potomac River, a distance of tAventy miles. On this line of outposts Mosby began his operations. On the 10th of January we started from the neighborhood of Middleburg for Fairfax County, and proceeded to the house of a farmer who lives very near to Herndon Station, on the Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad.

As we approached the dwelling, Mosby observed a man pass rapidly out of the back door into the pines Avhich cover the rear of the house with their dense growth. We found no little difficulty in convincing the fanner of our Confederate character, for in Fairfax a gray uniform often conceals a Yankee. As soon, however, as his doubts were removed, he became more cordial, and, by a peculiar Avhistle, called from the pines the man to whom I have just referred. He seemed about thirty years of age ; his person was short and thick-set, and he had a shock of white hair, Avhich stood erect in unrestrained independence. His whole appearance was that of a wild man, but his eyes, ever in motion, indicated Avatchfulness and an intelligent mind. His name is John Underwood, whose value as a guide Mosby's penetrating eye soon discover ed, for he is distinguished, above all other men whom I have known, by a wonderful faculty which enables him to thread with unerring certainty, in the darkest night, the intricate forests and tangled brushwood of the country in which he lives.

Without much difficulty Mosby prevailed upon Underwood to join him, and, being thus furnished with a guide, prepared at once to strike the enemy near Herndon Station, where they had a cavalry picket. His small command being dismounted, they were con ducted at night to the rear of the Federals, Avhose forms were distinctly visible by the ruddy light of their camp fire. A pistol-shot from Mosby was the signal for attack, and we rushed upon the picket, which was composed of seven men, of whom Ave wounded one, and captured six unhurt. With his prisoners and captured horses Mosby retreated deeper into the pines, where he paroled the men and divided the horses. A fine horse, Avith its equip ments, was, together with a pair of cavalry pistols, al lotted to his first recruit, John Underwood, who was overjoyed at this unexpected stroke of fortune.

Tavo nights afterward, Avith Underwood still for our Mosby's Raid on General Wyndham's Outposts. 23 guide, our leader, with the same party, started in search of other game, which he found a few miles from Herndon Station, where Cub Run flows across the Little River Turnpike. Our former mode of attack was adopted, the picket being surprised and captured from the rear, the two vedettes alone effecting their escape. Five prisoners and as many horses, with cavalry equipments, rewarded this enterprise. Not content with this success, Mosby determined to signalize the night by still another. At Frying-pan Church there was a cavalry picket of ten men, who had already been apprised, as we afterward learned, of our presence in the neighborhood. We found two of their number posted as vedettes, while the others were asleep in a small house hard by, with a sentinel stationed at the door.

When he had arrived within a few hundred yards of this place, Mosby ordered his prisoners to dismount and stretch themselves on the ground. Their horses were then led away and concealed in the woods. This done, he left one man to guard the prisoners, Avhile with the rest of his party he approached the picket-post from the direction of the Federal camp. The sentinel, taking us for a patrol, alloAved us to come within a few steps of the house before he gave the order to halt. Mosby then ordered the house to be surrounded and pistols to be fired through the thin Aveather-boarding upon the inmates. Our shots were returned, and one of the assailants, in a loud tone, ordered up the infantry — a stale and chddish device, as our leader appeared to think, for he called to the Yankees that his party Avas not larger than their oavq, but, at the same time, demanded an unconditional sur render.

It was at once made, and Ave returned in triumph to Loudoun County, taking with us our twofold captures, amounting to thirteen prisoners and a corresponding num ber of cavalry horses, with their equipments. The next morning our party, re-enforced by the pris oners, took breakfast at the hotel in Middleburg, and soon after the latter were paroled and dismissed to their friends, highly pleased with the indulgent manner in Avhich they had been treated. The horses and arms were then divided among the captors. I regret to add, as a concluding paragraph to my let ter, that we have to return to the army, for Mosby yes terday informed me that, not feeling authorized to keep the detail longer on this detached service, he had ordered the men to return to their command, while in person he Avould report to General Stuart the result of his recent operations.

I was not aware until then of the temporary nature of our stay in this district, and feel sadly disap pointed at this abrupt termination of our partisan service.

Chapter III. Colonel Wyndham Driven Out Of Middleburg

Upper Fauquier, February 8th, 1863. Dear Percy, — You will be surprised to receive a let ter from me dated again from Upper Fauquier, for, con trary to expectation, Mosby is here again on detached service in rear of the enemy. As soon as we reached the cavalry head-quarters, near Fredericksburg, Mosby proceeded at once to Stuart's tent, where he recounted his performances since they had part ed at Middleburg. The general was so well pleased at the recital that, General L. Armistead coming in, he re quested the enterprising scout to repeat the account, and then ordered him to retire to the office of his adjutant general, and make a full report in writing. Mosby then said to Stuart that, with a detail of fifteen Colonel Wyndham Driven out of Middleburg. 25 cavalry, he would undertake, in two months' time, to com pel the enemy in Fairfax to abandon their advance line of outposts, and give up ten miles of country.

"Very well," said the general, "let it be so; "we will destroy them in detail." The future now loomed up before Mosby, and he felt, he said, like Columbus Avhen, having been often repulsed, he obtained, from the favor of Queen Isabella, three small ships with which to explore the mysterious deep, and de velop the idea over which he had so long brooded. On the 18th of January, with a detail of fifteen men from the First Virginia Cavalry, then camped at King William Court-house, Mosby started again for Upper Fau quier, and, crossing the Rappahannock at Fox's Mdl, we soon arrived at Warrenton. As our little band marched through the town, Ave were stopped by the citizens, Avho expressed surprise when they heard that we had come to make war, for, they said, we resembled rather the retinue of an embassador, or a company of missionaries, than a band of warriors.

After leaving Warrenton the com mand was dispersed, with orders to rendezvous on the 28th instant at Mount Zion Church, on the Little River Turnpike, a mile and a half east of Aldie. This interval of eight days was not, however, wasted by Mosby ; for, Avhile his men and horses were being recruited at the houses of citizens, he himself was occupied in collecting information about the position of the enemy, and in gain ing a more accurate knowledge of the country in which his operations are to be carried on. In pursuance of orders, the command met Mosby, and marched down the Little River Turnpike, but turned in the direction of Frying-pan Church, where we captured a patrol of two men, and then proceeded toAvard Old Chan tilly Church, where we regained the turnpike. At the church was stationed a picket of nine men from the Partisan Lfe ivith Mosby. 26 Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which our leader de termined to attack.

Covering his movements by the pines, he formed his men, and moved cautiously forward, for, contrary to his former plan of attack, he decided to assail the picket in front. Taking with him one man, Mosby dashed forward and captured the two vedettes without resistance. The command then charged the reserve, using at the same time their revolvers. The fight was a short one, and bloodless but for the wounding of one man, who was shot by Mosby when attempting to make his escape. With eleven prisoners, and their arms, horses, and equipments, we returned in high spirits to Middleburg, where, as be fore, the prisoners were paroled and the spoil divided. Roused by our assaults upon his outposts, Colonel Wyndham, with a body of two hundred cavalry, pursued us the following day, and arrived at night at Middle burg, denouncing, on his march, vengeance against the guerrillas and their adventurous chief, as Avell as against the citizens among Avhom they found aid and protection.

As Wyndham drew near to the town he passed the house of Mr. Lorman Chancellor, at which Mosby and his de voted friend Beattie were asleep. Being roused by a ne gro with this information, they were soon in the saddle, and having by the morning collected seven of his men, Mosby entered Middleburg as Colonel Wyndham was leaving it. He boldly charged the enemy's rear, killing one and capturing three of their number, and then retired to the farther end of the village. He there stopped and allow ed the Yankees to shoot at him as he sat upon his horse, a piece of temerity Avhich greatly astonished the citizens, but which was not Avithout its good effect upon the men. The rest of his command having been brought up — for Colonel Wyndham had entered Middleburg Avith only Colonel Wyndham Driven out of Middleburg. 27 one hundred of his men — he ventured to open an attack.

Before the vigor of this onset Mosby was compelled to retreat, losing Beattie and two others, who were taken prisoners. As soon as the enemy halted in the pursuit, our leader, with one man, returned to a hill-top but a few hundred yards distant from the head of the Federal column. Colonel Wyndham, believing them to be members of his own command Avho had pressed too far in the front, dispatched a courier to order them back ; but Mosby received the order very quietly, and sent the messenger back Avith the reply that he couldn't come yet. Soon after the return of this expedition to the Federal camp there appeared in the Northern papers a very ani mated account of the victory which Colonel Wyndham had achieved at Middleburg over Stuart's cavalry. In consequence of Colonel Wyndham's threats to burn the town of Middleburg, and ravage the country between it and Fairfax Courthouse if our attacks upon his out posts were repeated, a petition from certain prominent citizens was presented to Mosby, requesting him to with draw from their midst.

But it drew from him only the following spirited and conclusive reply : "Fauquier County, February 4th, 1863. "Gentlemen, — I have just received your petition requesting me to discontinue my warfare on the Yankees, hecause they have threatened to burn your town and destroy your property in re taliation for my acts. Not being prepared for any such degrading compromise with the Yankees, I unhesitatingly refuse to comply. My attacks on scouts, patrols, and pickets, which have provoked this threat, are sanctioned both by the custom of war and the practice of the enemy, and you are at liberty to inform them that no such clamor shall deter me from employing whatever legitimate weapon I can most efficiently use for their annoyance." The day after this affair with Wyndham our command with Mosby. 28 was convened at Middleburg for the purpose of striking again the Federal outposts.

A deep snow had fallen, followed by a chilling rain ; but, undeterred by the inclem ency of the weather, Mosby proceeded in the direction of Fairfax, but stopped for supper at the house of his friend, Mat Lee. Here we left the turnpike and went toward Frying-pan, halting at the house of Ben Hatton. Ben had that day returned from a visit to the Yankees, to AA7hom, according to the warning which Mosby received, he had been giving information about his movements ; so Ben. was given the choice between a visit to Castle Thunder, or guiding us to the Federal picket-post, which was not far distant. Without the least hesitation he consented to act as guide, a service for Avhich his recent visit had Avell qualified him. The picket stood on the Lawyer's Road, near Tyler Davis's house, and consisted of twelve men from the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

A patrol of two men passed betAveen this picket-post ani another half a mile distant once in every hour. Our men, being concealed near the road along AA7hich the patrol passed, succeeded in capturing them both, and then sent them under guard to the point where our horses had been left. Guided by the light of the Yankee camp - fires, Mosby ordered the men to creep close to the picket, and then charge. The result was that the Yankees were all captured Avithout resistance. Two mounted vedettes, however, attempted to escape, but Hurst and Keys, mounted each on a captured horse, folloAved close upon them, killing one and taking the other prisoner. The capture had scarcely been effected and the prisoners carried off when a squadron of Federal cavalry reached the spot. It had been stationed a short distance off by Colonel Wyndham's or der, in anticipation of our assault upon the pickets, but failed, as I have said, to come up in time.

Thus was Mosby Saved by an Angel. 29 Colonel Wyndham a second time foiled in his efforts to catch his harassing enemy. In his report of his operations, which he sent to Gen eral Stuart, up to February 4th, accompanied by the cor respondence between the citizens of Middleburg and him self, Mosby remarked of this last affair : " He set a very nice trap a few days ago to catch me in, but, contrary to Colonel Wyndham's expectations, I brought it off Avith me." In this report Mosby proposed to Stuart to make a dash Avith the brigade then lying in Culpepper upon Dranesville. He said : " In Fairfax County there are five or six regiments of cavalry ; there are about three hundred at Dranesville, who are isolated from the rest of the command, so that nothing Avould be easier than to capture the whole force.