Page:War and its Heroes.djvu/34

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TI1K WAR ASH ITS BEB0B9. the :.. ivatc, be any raised in Wa.-li county, aii-1 oommanded by Captain Jones — now Geocr.il Jones — in which posi- t i • ■ r i 1; months. Upon the prom ition of Captain Jouea to the . <•! the l.-t . .ilry, Mosbj was chosen as adjutant 11' > I in tlii^ position but a short time, for upon the reorganization] (if the regiment, from son ilonel was thrown out, and consequent Ijatant n duty. Mosby was thcu chosen by General J. ... 1!. Stoat • of independent scout. Ih first attracted public attention when General Jox-ph 11. Johnston, then amend of the Army of the Potomac, fell back from Manassas. On this m, desirin • rtain whether the movement of McClellau was a feint,' or if he really intended to march his army to 1 1 » « - Peninsula, General Jol bched M in the desired informationn. Taking lie men with him, Mosbywent in the rear of McClellan'sarmy, where he remained son* spending his time in converse with the Yank. rs, from whom he gained all .iry information, and then made his way safely hack to General Johustoria headquarters. Daring the summer of 18C2j Major Mosby was sent from Hauovcr Court house on a missioa to General Jackson, who was then ou the upper Rapids* He was the bearer of an oral communication, and as the route was dangerous, had no papers about him exci pt a brief note to Berve as a voucher of his iden- 1 tity and reliability. With thi ■ major proceeded on his journey, ami stopping at Heaver Dam station, mi the Virginia Central Railroad, to rest aud feed hie horse, was, while quietly Bitting on the platform at the depot, surprise! and bagged by a detachment of tho enemy's cavalry. Mow, to be caught thus napping, in an unguarded moment, was gall andl wormwood to the brave major, lie had deceived and outwitted the enemy sc often, had escaped from their olutches bo regularly up to that time, that to tind himself surprised thus, filled him with internal rage. Prom that moment his sentiments toward the enemy increased in intensity. They had been all alonp decidedly unfriendly — they were now hitter. They took him away with tin in, searched him, and filched his credentials, and published them as an item ol interest in the Northern papers, and immured the partisan in the Old Capitol. 1 Jn due course of time he was exchanged. He returned with a handsoowfl new satchel and an increased affection for the STankees. lie laughed at hb 1 misfortunes, but Bet down the account to the credit of the enemy, to be settle*! at a more convenient opportunity. One of the most daring exploits of this gallant partisan is thus graphically ribed by the army correspondent of the " Illustrated News:" Previous to tho 8th of March, Major Moabyhad put himself to much trouble to disoover the strength and positions of the enemy in Fairfax county, with the i of making a raid in that direction, if circumstances permitted. The information brought to him was as follows: On the Little River turnpike, at Germantownj a mile or two distant from Fairfax, were three regiments of the'