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A detailed account of Mosby's famous "Greenback Raid", in a Confederate newspaper.....



Item # 679256

October 18, 1864

DAILY DISPATCH, Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 18, 1864 

* John S. Mosby - Guerrilla leader
* 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
* From the capital of the Confederacy


This newspaper from the capital of the Confederacy has much reporting on the Civil War, but perhaps the most significant is a front page account with heads: "Mosby On the Grand Round" which begins: "Mosby is again on the grand round..." and includes a dispatch signed in type by: R. E. Lee noting: "On the 14th instant Colonel Mosby struck the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at Duffield & destroyed a U.S. mail train consisting of a locomotive and 10 cars & securing 20 prisoners and 15 horses. Among the prisoners are 2 paymasters with $168,000 in government funds."
Further on is another more detailed account headed: "Brilliant Dash or Mosby--A Train Captured with $200,000 in Greenbacks--Other Movements" which begins: "Mosby has been doing a very handsome little thing in the speculating way on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad..." and includes the details of this famous raid.
This is an account of Mosby's famous "Greenback Raid" during which he derailed a train and robbed the paymaster's box of $173,000. This successful Confederate attack on a major transportation artery of the Yankee forces did much to boost morale in the Confederacy during the closing months of the Civil War, and also was the exploit for which John Mosby would be forever known.
Terrific to not only have this report on the front page of a Confederate newspaper, but also to have mention of "greenbacks" as the term "Greenback Raid" was not ascribed to this event until some time later.
Many other reports on the Civil War but they pale in comparison to the noted content. The back page does have a lengthy & very nice editorial speculating the success of Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming election.
Complete as a single sheet newspaper, folio size, very nice condition.

Category: Yankee