command had increased to
over 500. Dashing young cavaliers from every part of Virginia, mounted
upon handsome steeds, came trooping in to join his command. They were
mostly boys who were too young to enter the army at the beginning of
hostilities, but now, as they became old enough to be ranked as
soldiers, were anxious to get into the midst of the greatest excitement.
The hills and valleys of Loudoun and Fauquier, coupled with parts of the
adjacent counties, furnished the field, and John S. Mosby of Warrenton,
Va., was accepted as their leader.

What might we expect when these 500 handsome young men, all well mounted
and armed, in whose veins flowed the blood of the heroes of the
revolution? These 500 heroes, coming in every few days, some of them
with the marks of the battle on their bodies and trophies of victories
in their hands. What do you suppose those Virginia girls were going to
do about it, put on sackcloth and ashes? Well, it was sackcloth they
wore, and many of their treasures were in ashes, but their spirits were
unbroken. They had faith in the God of battles, and while they could not
bear arms, they said, "Let us make merry, for these are our brothers and
lovers; we should cheer them with laughter and song; it will make them
stronger and braver." And so it did, and they fiddled and danced while
"Rome burned."

Some time during the latter part of the winter I learned that all the
prisoners who were paroled at a certain time had been exchanged, and
were ordered to rejoin their various commands. That included me.

As I was no longer under obligation not to take up arms against the U.S.
Government, I could not refrain from taking some part in the upholding
of what was often called Mosby's Confederacy (meaning the territory in
which he operated), so I was tempted to steal a few more days before
obeying the order from Richmond. I went with Mosby on one occasion when
the Yankees made a raid through Loudoun and Fauquier with cavalry and
artillery seeking to annihilate his command. Mosby had all his force out
on the occasion, and hung on the enemy's front flanks and rear from the
time they entered Mosby's territory until they left. He did not allow
them time to eat, sleep or rest. In an encounter near my home a Yankee's
horse was killed, from which I took the bridle, which was a very fine
one. In doing so I got my hands bloody, and the blood from the bridle
stained my clothes. This started the rumor that I was wo