THE WAR AND IT3 HEROES. 37 ncmy's cavalry, commanded by Colonel Wynflbam, acting brigadier-general, pith his headquarters at the court-house. Within a few hundred yards of ,he town were two infantry regiments. In the vicinity of Fairfax station, about wo miles ofT, an infantry brigade was encamped. And at Centreville there was IBOtber infantry brigade, with cavalry and artillery. Thus the way to Fairfax Court-house, the point which the major d< o reach, seemed completely blocked up with troops of all arms — infantry, artil- ery and cavalry. Tf he attempted to approach by the Little River turnpike, LJolonel Wyndham's troopers would meet him full in front. If he tried the •outc by the Warrenton turnpike, a brigade of infantry, with cavalry to pursue md artillery to thunder at him, was first to be defeated. Jf he glided in along the railroad, the brigade at Fairfax station was" in his track. The "situation" would have appeared desperate to almost any one, however wentnrous, but danger and adventure had attractions for Major Mosby. If
- he peril was great and the probability of success slender, all the greater would
oe the glory if he succeeded And the temptation was great. At Fairfax Jourt-housc, the general headquarters of that portion of the army, Brigadier- acneral Stoughton and other officers of high rank were there known to be, ind if these could he captured, great would be his triumph, and horrible the Mnsequent gnashing of teeth among the enemy. In >pi'. of th< enormous obstacles whi h presented themselves in his path, Kfejor Mosby determined to undertake no less an enterprise than entering the
- own, seizing tin in their bi ying the huge quantities of public
rtores, and bearing "if his prisoners in triumph. The nighi of Sunday, March 8th, ws - favorable to the expedition, rhe weather was infamous, the night as dark as pitch, and it was raining iteadily- With a detachm* nt of twenty-nine men, Major Mosby *et out on lid. made his of Aldie. Proceeding down tlic ',. r turnpik< a route from the court*] I the moui be 1 nt within about thn f Chantilly. Here, turning to the ■tUt, ! fcbout half-way h< t • Ithc turnpik* I treville well to the Ho was now the Little River I [Wairent m turnpikes an ! iliar with By z through the • nting | y generally, v ; • on th( ids. Advancii manner I in paths only, which ti- the pa : 1 ille and Fairfax, at a p lint al en the t* had thu- been successfully .-.
