Dern Tooten I'm a Rebel!

I get asked quite often at living histories and reenactments why a guy from New York(albeit Southern New York) would chose to be on "their" side. The "their" referring to the Confederates. I have at least 4 known relatives who fought on the side of the Union during The American Civil War. Three in the state of New York and one in Pennsylvania. I even had one relative, Nicholas Robinson, die of wounds suffered at The Battle of Bermuda Hundred in 1864. Nicholas was my ggggrandfather, who was part of the 100th NYVI. Now, back to why I chose to be on "their" side. Upon studying the leaders of the Civil War, I came to observe one thing about the Confederacy. The majority of their leaders were God-fearing men who had put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Lee, Jackson, Stuart,Mosby, Polk, Davis, Hood, Armistead plus many other leaders from general on down were not quiet about their religious beliefs and many revivals took place during the war.(More on that in a later "Wandering".) If being on "their" side is the worst thing I could do,Your dern tooten' I'm a Rebel.

"No, but he has caught you!"

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."

Will The Real Mosby Please Stand Up!

Here is a great photo of Col.John S. Mosby in 1865. Boy!That Mosby on the right sure was a good lookin' fella! P.S. Thanks to my Bro-in law Mike Beers.

Mosby's Good Lookin' Family

Here's a photo taken at you know where. It's a nice photo of our family. Taken by my mother "Mother Mosby", Joan Payne.

This Guys Trigger Happy!

Another great photo from the Pierce Creek Event. If you look closely at the guns ,Cousin Mike has his finger on the trigger. The Gray Ghost doesn't. I wonder if General Grant put him up to this.

I Think I Could Have Taken Him....

This photo, which happens to be my current screensaver, has the Chaplain dueling with the Gray Ghost. I won't tell you who won this "battle." HINT: It was a stalemate, but I think I could have taken him if I got ahold of his whiskers.

Family Reunion: Civil War Style

Had a great time this last weekend at The Pierce Creek Civil War Weekend. My long lost cuzzin,(Who probably didn't know he was lost) and I were reunited. It was as if the Blue had met the Gray on the field of battle, (Wait a minute, thats what happened.) My cousin Mike Gillett, all the way from the Yankee state of Michigan was (coincidentally) in town for the same reenactment. My mother and I had seen this distinguished looking gentleman (Not in my family) walking around taking pictures of anything that wouldn't move, and some things that did. We weren't sure if it was cousin Mike(We weren't sure if he was going to be there) or not. I approached him at one of the sutlers and asked if he was from Michigan, he said he was. I asked if his name was Mike Gillett, he said it was. I said I'm your cousin Scott. He sized me up for a second and replied, "My cousin, not in that uniform your not!" Mike is part of the 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry where he is a 1st Lt and a chaplain. We had a great time swapping yarns about our kin, and getting to know some new kin. He had never met my wife Barbara, my son Brad, and my daughter Karissa. It was a great day and were all still buzzing about it.