A Drummer Boy's Gratitude.
IN 1864, as a retaliation and to
prevent the further execution
of his men by Custer, and ravaging
and burning in the
Valley of Virginia, contrary to the laws
of war, Colonel John S. Mosby determined
to hang a certain number of
Northen prisoners, to be chosen by lot
from a body captured by his command,
"The hanging of these men was so
distressing," said Colonel Mosby in a
recent interview here with Mr. W.
Sam Burnley, "that I had them taken
about a mile from my headquarters before
the lots were drawn. Among
those to whom the lot fell to be hung
was a drummer boy, a lad of tender
years, upon being apprised of which, I
immediately ordered that he be not
executed, and shortly afterwards succeeded
in having him exchanged and
sent home. I shall never forget the
gratitude of that boy." "I have here,"
the Colonel added, holding up a handsome
cane, "a memento of that occurrence
which I prize very highly, and
which was presented to me but a short
time ago by the man who was at that
time the drummer boy I spared." A
handsomely engraved silver plate
fastened to the body of the cane,
to the front and below the handle,
bears the following inscription; "To
Col. John S. Mosby, with profoundest
regard of James A. Daly, (the Drummer
Boy) near Newtown, Va., Nov.
4th, 1864.
