History of the Herndon Raid:
Source MaterialsPartisan Life with Col. John S. Mosby
1867, reprinted by Old Soldier Books, Gaithersburg, Maryland.Chapter VIII: Capture of the Pickets at Herndon's Station. Pages 54-58
Part 1:A proclamation was at once made of an intended raid, and his little band, and all others disposed to unite in the enterprise, were notified to meet at Rector's Cross-roads on the 16th of March.
In response to his call, forty men assembled, of whom the usual proportion were "conglomerates." The command was drawn up, and General Stuart's order in reference to the capture of Stoughton was read, and was received with a round of cheers. We then proceeded down the Little River Turnpike till we reached a point below Middleburg, where we struck across the country to our left till we reached the neighborhood of Ball's Mill. Here the men were divided into two parties, one of which was sent with Dick Moran to find quarters at the house of a citizen, while Mosby, with the other party, passed the night with Nat Skinner, his faithful friend and supporter.
At an early hour the next day the command was brought together, and marched in the direction of Dranesville. Except the direction of the march, no one, save the guide Underwood, knew aught of our leader's purposes. As we tramped through the mud and snow, we occupied ourselves with many a conjecture on this head, but such was the confidence with which he had inspired all hearts that not a man doubted but that ahead somewhere there. was a good thing in store for us. Underwood, of course, determined the route. At one time we were on a highway, at another traversing the blasted and uninclosed fields of Fairfax, and anon we were treading unfrequented by-paths, which pursued their devious course through some dense and tangled forest of pine.
Toward noon we struck the Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, about three miles northwest of Herndon's Station, and, crossing it, we entered a pine forest which stretched along the railroad toward Alexandria. After about an hour's ride we discovered that Underwood had conducted the command to the rear of the picket at Herndon's Station, and that we were approaching it on the road leading from Dranesville.
Mosby now prepared to attack. His first step was to send forward two men to capture the vedette, whose attention was engaged with a newspaper. He had seen the party as they drew near, but had taken it for the relief which was expected at that hour. His capture was in consequence effected without difficulty, and the command pressed forward at a rapid pace. As soon as we emerged from the woods and were in full view of the object of attack, the force at the station, fifty in number, were distinctly seen lounging about tJ.~ie place, wholly unconscious of the impending danger.
A charge was now ordered with drawn sabres, and the men dashed for4 ward on the surprised Yankees. Some were at once taken prisoner, but the most found shelter in the houses about the Station. The sabre was then exchanged for the pistol, and soon an effective fire was opened on the enemy through the thin weather-boarding with which the houses were incased. A speedy surrender was the consequence. A considerable number of the Yankees, however, had sought refuge in a saw-mill close at hand. Into this building Mosby entered, accompanied by John De Butts, and demanded and received the surrender of the whole party without a shot being fired.
Read PART TWO
How to buy the above-referenced book:Local / Northern Va:
Clio's History Bookshop P.O. Box 168, 103 Loudoun St SW, Leesburg VA 22075, 703-777-1815 Note: their online catalogue does NOT include their extensive Civil War offerings -- call or write for a written catalogue.
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Richard Downer: mosbysraid@HRIAssociates.com
(general information, logistics, civic involvement)
Kathryn Coombs: MosbyWeb@aol.com
(reenactors, living history program, website)