The March 9 raid on fairfax Courthouse made Mosby's reputation, both among his colleagues in the Confederate Army and the enemy. The original target of the raidhad been Col. Sir Percy Wyndham, the British adventurer in command of Federal cavalry in the area. Wyndham had been openly critical of Mosby calling him a common horse thief, making him a prime target for receiving comeuppance. Wyhdham's commanding officer Brig. Gen. Edwin Stoughton was not so lucky. At the Dr. William Gunnell house on March 9, 1863, Lt. Prentiss, awakened by shouts that there were dispatches outside, was foolish enough to open the door. Six men strode in, but it was the smallest of them, the wiry one with the ostrich plume in his hat, who stuck a revolver in the lieutenants ribs. Upstairs the beplumed Mosby walked into the bedroom of Brig. Gen Edwin H. Stoughtonand pulled down the covers. Mosby lifted the somewhat intoxicated generals nightshirt and slapped him on the behind announcing "Get up general, and come with me!" Stoughton realized there was a man standing over him, and shouted "What is this? Do you know who I am,sir?" Mosby instantly replied,"I reckon I do General. Did you ever hear of Mosby?" "Yes,have you caught him?" said Stoughton. "No,but he has caught you!" 30 prisoners and 59 horses were seized during the raid. Upon hearing of this President Lincoln was more distressed at the loss of the horses than of Gen. Stoughton."Brigadier Generals I can make, but horses are hard to come by."
