Mosby's men in Southern MD., part 2

[John Stanton]

There was another battle across the Potomac on 17 March where Mosby was involved. It was in Mattox Creek. Mosby had sent some of his men to the Northern Neck for the winter. He called for their return in the spring, and they gathered at Sgt. Brogden's Camp on Mattox Creek. (Brogden, himself, was not there, having had a transfer to Richmond in January). The Rangers were restless and began to shoot at the Union Gunboats. The Navy wasn't going to allow that, so they sent several Gunboats over to Virginia to punish the shooters. Tidwell mentions this Pg 345, but he is off just a little. The Navy was in Small Boats. (They
hadn't landed yet.) My info comes from the Union Log Books. The small boats were needed because the Gunboats had too much draft, and they grounded. It is not my purpose to fight the Battle, I only mention it to show Mosby's men were here - a long way fron "Home". The subject has pushed my Button, and I can't stop (or be brief). Based on this, we can see that Mosby had called ALL of his men back to Fauquier/Loudoun County area. I can't believe he would have left a "few" to conduct a Battle. Also, Mosby was "Antibattle". He never dug in and slugged it out. He was a raider. He went in - bang bang - and was out.

This may have been the "Battle" aluded to, BUT I have another possibility to consider. There was a Confererate Navy Partisan Group operating here (in VA.) whose job it was to go to Maryland and raise Hell. They were paid comsurate with the damage they inflicted. They were led by a So. MD man - Captain Hebb. (See Baker's Hist. of the Secret Service) he captured Hebb and printed his diary in his book. The Navy Group operated long after Mosby vacated this area. I am ready to bet that Mosby was not here, or any of his men, since they were called home, and any Battle was between Union Troops and the Navy Partisans.

I would appreciate a slam-bang discussion on this topic, if the Symposium is interested.

[BettyO]

(08-27-2012 04:11 AM)John Stanton Wrote:  There was another battle across the Potomac on 17 March where Mosby was involved. It was in Mattox Creek. Mosby had sent some of his men to the Northern Neck for the winter. He called for their return in the spring, and they gathered at Sgt. Brogden's Camp on Mattox Creek. (Brogden, himself, was not there, having had a transfer to Richmond in January). The Rangers were restless and began to shoot at the Union Gunboats. The Navy wasn't going to allow that, so they sent several Gunboats over to Virginia to punish the shooters. Tidwell mentions this Pg 345, but he is off just a little. The Navy was in Small Boats. (They
hadn't landed yet.) My info comes from the Union Log Books. The small boats were needed because the Gunboats had too much draft, and they grounded. It is not my purpose to fight the Battle, I only mention it to show Mosby's men were here - a long way fron "Home". The subject has pushed my Button, and I can't stop (or be brief). Based on this, we can see that Mosby had called ALL of his men back to Fauquier/Loudoun County area. I can't believe he would have left a "few" to conduct a Battle. Also, Mosby was "Antibattle". He never dug in and slugged it out. He was a raider. He went in - bang bang - and was out.

This may have been the "Battle" aluded to, BUT I have another possibility to consider. There was a Confererate Navy Partisan Group operating here (in VA.) whose job it was to go to Maryland and raise Hell. They were paid comsurate with the damage they inflicted. They were led by a So. MD man - Captain Hebb. (See Baker's Hist. of the Secret Service) he captured Hebb and printed his diary in his book. The Navy Group operated long after Mosby vacated this area. I am ready to bet that Mosby was not here, or any of his men, since they were called home, and any Battle was between Union Troops and the Navy Partisans.

I would appreciate a slam-bang discussion on this topic, if the Symposium is interested.

I'm not familiar with this particular engagement, John! Thanks for the information --

I did find this in Tidwell's April 1865 -

"In Early September 1863, two parties of Navy irregulars containing people trained at Buffalo Springs crossed over into Southern Maryland to operate against Union targets. One team was headed by Captain John W. Hebb and the other by Walter Bowie...."

I'm familiar with Bowie, of course, but have really never heard of Hebb other than what's in Tidwell's book --

[Laurie Verge]

We need Messrs. Richter and Smith to comment on the Mosby angle. Wat Bowie is very familiar to anyone who has read about the Civil War in Maryland, but Capt. Hebb is not. Do you know where he was from in Southern Maryland, John?

Also, why had Mosby sent some of his men to winter camp in the Northern Neck of Virginia? Did his timing coincide with Booth arriving in Southern Maryland with his kidnap plans in November of 1864? The timelines here seem eerily linked.

[BettyO]

(08-27-2012 10:13 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  We need Messrs. Richter and Smith to comment on the Mosby angle. Wat Bowie is very familiar to anyone who has read about the Civil War in Maryland, but Capt. Hebb is not. Do you know where he was from in Southern Maryland, John?

Also, why had Mosby sent some of his men to winter camp in the Northern Neck of Virginia? Did his timing coincide with Booth arriving in Southern Maryland with his kidnap plans in November of 1864? The timelines here seem eerily linked.

Indeed they do - about this time, late 1864-1865, Powell was bragging to others about his "raid into Maryland".....indeed makes one wonder!

[Bill Richter]

All I can refer to is William A Tidwell, April 15, 1865, Surratt Courier 22 (April-May-June1997), 6-10, 5-10, 4-9, which refers to the "Battle" of Mechanicsville. This is more of a gunfight in the dark with a few men on each side, but it secured the higher ground around Charlotte Hall for the Yankee patrols and caused LT W. Garland Smith of Mosby's command to withdraw and disband his men because he was short on supplies and in danger of being captured. It is in my Last Confed Heroes, II, 186 ff.

[Rick Smith]

Bill / Laurie,

With you on this one. Most definite that Garland Smith was in So. Md. with at least a portion of Co. G of Mosby's command. He was looking for Booth and anyone with him who may have evaded pursiut out of the City. It is foolishness to think that Mosby had pulled all elements of his command out of lower Md. & the No. Neck. Booth was still on the loose and had to be found and removed or eliminated. What else were Bainbridge, Ruggles, Jett, Mason & Lightfoot {Mosby men} spooking around for? It was no coincidence; there is no such thing as coincidence in this operation.

General Tidwell had it right.

Rick

[John Stanton]

Betty O. Here's a bit on Hebb. He was John W.Hebb. Residence 1860 Great Mills, MD. (1839 - 1910). He became a Doctor after the war. He led one of the "Navy Irregulars". Two of his men were James R. Milburn and his brother Charles W. Milburn, from St. Mary's Co. They were the the ones who were arrested by Baker. Gaddy wrote a blurb on them, I'll see if he still has a copy handy.

Laurie. Mosby sent his troops to remote Counties for the winter months, to provide some relief for the farmers who had been feeding them , bandaging them, and burying them - when appropriate. He would recall them when the weather became favorable to resume the war.

Rick. It is not strange that Ruggles, Bainbridge, Jett and Mason were in King George - they lived here. Ruggles was 2nd in command to Thomas N.Conrad at his spycamp, in this County. Thus , Ruggles was not a Mosby man. I do agree that we are not dealing with Coincidences here. I am probably foolish to to think that Mosby would pull out his entire Company, but I will say he pulle out all of his KNOWN Company. Some people did remain - on detached duty, but they were not the ones we are talking about.
Booth may have been "Found" at Dr. Stuart's Cleydael, or at Charles Mason's (Mt. Alta) or for sure at McDaniels, when he stopped for breakfast. McDaniel is one Agent not talked about, because not much is known. His home was at the intersection of Rt 301 and RT 3. Ibelieve he ran a "Safe House" in the "Secret Line". Also, he was realted to Thomas Harbin and Thomas Jones.
Charles Mason was aBIG MANin King George. He was wealthy, was a State Senator, and was married to Thomas Jefforson's grand daughter. (That a story , all it's own.)
From the time that Booth ate breakfast, he was deffinately back in the hands of The Secret Service. So, from there he was under surveilance.
Enoch's meeting may have been a coincidence, since he was headed south to let the System know that Booth was found. He left Booth Immediately and most likely went to Milford, VA where there was a RR Station and the telegraph. But Ruggles was to intercept Booth at the River -and STAY WITH HIM. WHo ordered that? I don't know, but I will make a guess.....Charles Mason.

[Rsmyth]

Hi John,
Concerning Booth and Herold's stops in MD.and VA. we know that they had been either previously introduced to their hosts or were led to them. What is the evidence that they stopped at McDaniel's.

[John Stanton]

(08-29-2012 07:48 AM)Rsmyth Wrote:  Hi John,
Concerning Booth and Herold's stops in MD.and VA. we know that they had been either previously introduced to their hosts or were led to them. What is the evidence that they stopped at McDaniel's.

For the stop at McDaniel's see pg 467 of "Come Retribution". This name is not indexed. The index shows "Wm. Mc Donald, see Wm. McDonald" Whatever that means. The correct index would be "Wm. McDoniel, see Wm. McDaniel". (McDoniel is McDaniel said with an Irish accent) This same error appears in the US Census. Years ago I spoke with Thornton McDaniel, a descendant and asked about his GrandFather serving Booth a meal. He answered "No! No!" My heart sank. Then he added "The servants served Booth his breakfast."

Others: for Mosby's activities in the Northern Neck see Pg 461 of "C.R." It describes his removal of his whole command from the Northern Neck.
Also, someone asked if Ruggles ever wrote anything. See "Century Magazine" June 1890.
"If any of your command is in the Northern Neck, call them to you." Another item, "300 of Mosby's Command went through Falmouth (VA. Across the river from Fredericksburg) on April 11, under L/C Chapman.