w from Clark county said, "I'm going up and
surrender." Another said, "I go with you." And the two, taking something
in their hands that would pass for a flag of truce (white handkerchiefs
had become obsolete), went forward and were allowed to pass. They went
to headquarters and surrendered. Then one by one the little band melted
away, leaving two, and I was one of them. We were not ready to
surrender. We went back out of sight, and made a flank movement to get
into the foothills of the Massanutten mountains, and by keeping under
cover of the timber, managed to get within 12 miles of my home without
being molested.

As we stood on the edge of the woods we saw the Yankee cavalry moving up
and down the turnpike running from Paris to Middleburg. It looked as if
there was nothing else to do but surrender. At this point my comrade
deserted me and went forward and surrendered. I watched my opportunity,
slipping across the pike unobserved, and following the Blue Ridge
mountains until nearly opposite my home, took a straight line across the
fields and reached home safely. As I carried my full complement of arms
I created no little surprise and consternation.

Union soldiers were constantly passing along the road which ran close by
my home, some of them stopping for water or for information, but I could
not fully make up my mind to surrender. My brother Richard of Mosby's
command was of the same mind. Mosby and all his men had surrendered, and
the family pleaded with us to do the same, but we were obstinate. This,
however, was nothing to our credit. When one is whipped he should be man
enough to acknowledge it and brave enough to surrender, unless the
conqueror be a cannibal.

Thus ended my career as a soldier. As I look back over those four
eventful years, after a lapse of over 40 years, it all seems a dream. In
time of peace it is a struggle for 75 per cent. of us to get a fair
living out of the earth, but the people down South managed to live, and
were in a degree comfortable and contented, and managed to get food
enough to preserve their bodies and keep them strong and healthy. Flour
was $500 a barrel. I paid $125 in Richmond for a hat that I could now
buy for $1. This common red-striped candy, $25 per pound. Samuel Rector
had gone from Loudoun county to Richmond in 1864 on some business. When
ready to go home he thought it would be nice and the proper thing to do
to take the family some little remembrances. He went into a