2. II.
The skill and boldness exhibited in the conception and execution
of this raid conferred upon Mosby just fame as a partisan
officer, and the regular organization of his command commenced.
He was made captain, then major, then lieutenant-colonel, and
colonel, as his force and his operations increased.
From the solitary scout, or humble partisan, operating with a
small squad, he had now grown to be an officer of rank and distinction,
entrusted with important duties, and eventually with
the guardianship of the whole extent of country north of the
Rappahannock and east of the Blue Ridge. The people of the
region speak of it, with a laugh, as “Mosby's Confederacy,” and
the name will probably adhere to it, in the popular mind, for
many years to come. Let us pass to these latter days when
“Colonel” Mosby gave the Federal forces so much trouble, and
aroused so much indignation in Custer, Sheridan, and others,
whose men he captured, and whose convoys he so frequently cut
off and destroyed. The question of most interest is—Was Colonel
Mosby a partisan officer, engaged in a perfectly legitimate warfare,
or was he a mere robber? The present writer regards any
imputations upon the character of this officer, or upon the nature
of the warfare which he carried on, as absurd. If the Confederate
States army generally was a mere unlawful combination, and
not entitled to be regarded as “belligerent,” the case is made
out; but there was no officer in that army who occupied a
more formally official position than Mosby, or whose operations
more perfectly conformed to the rules of civilized warfare. Virginia
was invaded by the Federal forces, and large portions of
her territory were occupied and laid under contribution. Especially
was the country north of the Rappahannock thus exposed.
It was a species of border-land which belonged to the party
which could hold it; and to protect it from the inroads of
the Federal forces, Mosby instituted a regular system of partisan
warfare. His headquarters were generally near Upperville,
just east of the ridge, and his scouts speedily brought him intelligence
of any advance of the Federal cavalry. As soon as he was
informed of their approach, he went to meet them, hovered near
them, took his moment, and attacked them, his superior skill
and knowledge of the country almost uniformly routing the force
opposed to him. Another important part of his duty was to cut
off and capture or destroy the trains of his adversaries. These
things were exceedingly annoying, and made the Federal commanders
whose movements were thus crippled quite furious
against the author of their embarrassments—but no person with
the least knowledge of military affairs will stigmatize the destruction
of wagon trains as the work of a brigand. In the same
manner the railroads supplying the Federal forces with commissary
and other stores were destroyed wherever it could be done.
Detached parties out foraging were, if possible, captured. Camps,
picket posts, vedette stations, were surprised, when practicable,
and prisoners seized upon. To harass, annoy, injure, and in
every manner cripple or embarrass the opposing force, was the
object of Colonel Mosby, as it has been of partisan officers in
all the wars of history. The violent animosity felt toward him
was attributable solely to the great skill, vigour, and success of
his operations. The present writer has a tolerably full acquaintance
with the military record of Colonel Mosby and his command,
and he states, in all sincerity, that he can find in it nothing
whatever that is “irregular” or unworthy of an officer and a
gentleman. Mosby carried on a legitimate partisan warfare
under a regular commission from the President of the Confederate
States, and was in command of a regularly organized body
of cavalry. He announced clearly his intention of disputing
military possession of the country north of the Rappahannock,
of harassing, retarding, or crippling any force invading Virginia,
and of inflicting as much injury as possible upon his opponents.
One single act of seeming cruelty is charged against him, the
hanging of seven of Custer's men—but this was in retaliation for
seven of his own which had been executed by that officer. This
retaliation was in accordance with the rules of warfare in every
country, and his superiors disavowed the course of General Custer,
and directed such proceedings to cease.
We have expended too much space upon this point. Colonel
Mosby can afford to wait to have justice done him. He was
respected by Jackson, Stuart, and Lee, and the world will not
willingly believe him to have been a bandit.
