From the Manassas Journal of February 1, 1907:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/princewilliam/newspaper/manjour1.txt
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/princewilliam/newspaper/manjour1.txt
February 1, 1907
THE GUERRILLA ON POLITICS
COL. MOSBY ONCE IN JAIL
Capt. S. F. Chapman of Staunton, Va., has received a most interesting
communication from Col. John S. Mosby, under whom he fought during the war.
Col. Mosby, in his letter, replies to an editorial recently appearing in the
Staunton Leader, which characterized him as a "turncoat for political
preferment."
The colonel's letter is not at all violent, but he replies to his
critics in a forceful way and makes a number of very interesting statements
concerning his early life and his record hitherto unpublished. His
reference to having spent eleven months in the Albemarle county jail, he
does not explain. This was before the war, and resulted from a personal
altercation while he was at the University, in which he shot a fellow
student. This statement is vouched for by both Capt. Chapman and Capt. H.
M. McIlhany, both members of Mosby's command and devoted to their former
chieftain.
Department of Justice
Washington, D. C., Jan. 12, '07.
Capt. Sam Chapman,
Dear Sam:---I have received the Staunton Leader, with the editorial
calling me a "turncoat for political preferment," and the Old Dominion Sun
with an editorial in reply to it. Yes, I did change my jacket, after I was
paroled, for a civilian suit, just as all other Confederate soldiers did,
but I didn't hide my gray jacket, for I was then and now am, proud of it.
You can see it with my hat and bust in Confederate uniform, preserved in a
glass case in the National Museum in Washington.
So far as party management is concerned, I have never been a politician.
I have, however, always taken an interest in public questions. I never in
my life took part in a political caucus or convention, except in 1869, in a
meeting at Warrenton, in which I took an active interest to get Jimmie (now
judge) Keith nominated for the legislature as a stepping stone to his
promotion to the bench. I was then one of the few Confederates of any
prominence who was not under political disability. Then was my opportunity
if I had wanted political preferment. I did seek it for others. The
election was on July 6th. Walker, the Confederate candidate for Governor,
was announced to speak in Warrenton on a certain day in June. It happened
to be the day on which Douglass Tyler was married at the home of his bride
(Miss Harrison) near Upperville, in Loudoun. Walker came that morning on
the train from Alexandria. Before it arrived all the gentlemen at
Warrenton, who have since won political honors, left for the wedding. I was
invited to it, but stayed there. I regarded the election as a contest
between civilization and barbarism, and as Walker, a Northern man, was
distasteful to our people, I hope that my example might have some influence
to gain votes for him in spite of their prejudices. I remember saying then
that I would as soon have thought of riding to the rear when I ordered my
men to charge, as to leave Warrenton that day. I introduced Walker and made
a speech, which was reported in the Richmond papers. You know the victory
we won. I got no benefit from it except in common with all Virginia people.
As Virgil says, "Sic voc non vobis."
Some years afterwards, when General Grant had become a private citizen,
the late A. H. H. Stuart published a letter giving General Grant great
credit for the aid he gave Virginia people in getting rid of military
government. When Grant was a candidate in 1872, and I was supporting him,
just as I had supported Walker, Mr. Stuart did not seem to remember what
Grant had done for us. When it became convenient, he refreshed his memory.
I have no criticism to make of the Southern people who did not approve my
political course in 1872; but I say this much, that if they had followed me
then, I would have led them to victory and the carpet bag government would
have fallen by natural process, just as a rotten apple falls from a tree.
You know that there was no man in Virginia whom the carpet baggers hated as
they hated me, as I was the only man who had the power to harm them. The
last appointment I got General Grant to make a few days before he left the
White House was a Confederate soldier, Braxton, to be collector of the port
at Norfolk. His opponent was a Union soldier, who had been wounded and had
all the carpet bag influence behind him. I stood alone for Braxton, and had
no sympathy from the democratic politicians in Virginia. If General Grant
were living, there is no act which he did through my advice which he would
regret. If I had chosen to swim on the popular tide I think that I had as
fair a prospect as many of the favorite sons whom the state has honored.
All that Virginia ever did for me was to lock me up for eleven months in
the Albermarle jail. If I have changed my coat, I have not like Fitz Lee,
put on the blue. Some years ago a Spanish girl in San Francisco told me
that she had heard Southern people say that I had deserted from the
Confederate army, and she asked me if it were true. I replied that just the
reverse was true; that the Confederate army deserted me--that General Lee
surrendered on April 9, 1865, and that I did not surrender until June 17th
of the same year. And that here I will tell you something which you may
never have heard. I received a message from General Gregg, who was in
command at Lynchburg, that if I would come in, he would give me a parole.
My brother and I drove to town in a buggy and we went to the law office of
my relative, Charles L. Mosby. Soon we were informed that General Gregg had
received an order not to parole but to arrest me. I had brought my pistols
in my holsters with me; they were lying on the floor. I took the pistols
from the holsters, laid them on the table by me and remarked: "I am ultimus
Romanorum, I will not submit to arrest. I will kill the first man that
attempts it." John Speed ran downstairs mounted his horse and galloped off
to General Gregg's headquarters. I threw my holsters, with my pistols,
across my shoulder, and, with my brother, walked down to the street. A
great crowd of citizens and soldiers had collected, but there was no hostile
demonstration. Just then Capt. Charles Blackford came up and told me that
several gentlemen on Lynchburg had authorized him to say to me that if I
wished to leave the country they would furnish me all the money I needed. I
declined the offer. I preferred to stay in the fiery furnace and share the
lot of the Virginia people; nor was I willing by flight to confess that I
had been guilty of any act that should make me an exception from other
Confederate soldiers.
I would not seek the reputation of a Cato by running off to Canada. We
drove home. Two days afterwards General Gregg sent me another message. I
came and was paroled. I no longer fell the romantic enthusiasm I did then.
"So sleeps the pride of other days----
so glory's thrill is o'er."
Yours truly,
John S. Mosby
Bringing the