The Richmond Dispatch - January 6th, 1864 From the Rapidan. Orange C. H., Jan. 6. --Major Mosby, with a portion of his battalion, came up with a scouting party of the enemy, consisting of some seventy-five men from the 1st Maryland battalion, under Capt. Hunter, near Rectortown, Fauquier county, on New Year's day. A sharp fight ensued, in which the enemy lost five killed and nine wounded; whilst Mosby's loss was two killed and three wounded. Mosby captured three non-commissioned officers and thirty-seven privates, with their arms, equipments, and horses.--The rest of the party escaped. The prisoners are en route for Richmond. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Village Record – January 6th, 1865 Richmond papers of the 28th ult. say that guerilla chief Moseby’s wound was not mortal; that he is still living and will recover. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Army-Navy Journal - January 7th, 1865 The principal news from the Shenandoah Valley is the wounding of the great guerrilla leader Mosby. An expedition consisting of the Thirteenth and Sixteenth New York and the Eighth Illinois cavalry started on the 17th, to scout the east side of the Blue Ridge. Next day, Captain Taylor’s company of the Thirteenth New York surrounded a house near Middleburgh when a man fired through the window at Corporal Kane. The latter returned it, and dangerously wounded the other. It was Mosby, who had supposed himself discovered. Our men left the wounded man, without learning that it was Mosby. At last accounts, he was alive, though in a dangerous condition at Fredericksburg. About three weeks before, one of Mosby’s captains, Montjoy, was killed between Leesburgh and the Point of Rocks. Previous to that time, Montjoy had, according to the Richmond Sentinel, wounded or captured 83 men during his raid. ++++++++++++++++++++
Mosby was captured twice. The first time was in 1862 when Stuart sent him to Jackson to see if that General could supply Stuart's little scout with a few men for partisan operations. On his way, Mosby decided to visit his family by train and while waiting at Beaver Dam station, he was captured by a flying squad of Yankee cavalry who thought him rather amusing, calling him "slender but well made" and "sprightly". He was sent to Old Capitol prison where in ten days he was exchanged for a lieutenant who was never heard of again. The second time Mosby was captured was in the evening of December 21st, 1864 while at the home of Ludwell Lake. He was not recognized by the rather inebriated officers of the Yankee cavalry and during his interrogation (he hid the stars on his collar under his hand), a shot came through the window and severely wounded him. When the Yankees departed, they took Tom Love, the Ranger who was with him, but left "Lieutenant Johnson" of the 6th Virginia Cavalry behind to die.
Mosby was wounded at least four times, three of those serious enough to cause him to be reported dead. He suffered a saber wound to the left shoulder in one engagement which left him with a scar but did not unhorse him; he shot the cavalryman who had wounded him. The other three wounds were bullet wounds, the last of which - December 21st, 1864 - was in the belly and Mosby thought it to be mortal.
