n up
your nose at him, but regard him thoroughly, as the foundation for a
large fortune in a single year. He may, individually, be a nuisance,
but 'there is that within which passeth show'--$100,000.00 a year."

Horses, supplies, good fighting men and pickets were important to
the Confederates. So were spies. Mosby was aided greatly by two
young ladies who resided in Fairfax. One was Laura Ratcliffe and the
other was Antonia Ford.

[Illustration]

X. SPIES

Little is known of Laura Ratcliffe's activities but she was often
called "Mosby's pet" and was the heroine subject of many poems
dedicated to her by Mosby and J. E. B. Stuart. She was devotedly
attached to the Confederate cause and sought every opportunity to
become possessed of the secrets and movements of the Union Forces.
She is reported to have been a maiden lady of great intelligence and
high accomplishments and was very well spoken of by people who knew
her. She resided near Fairfax during the entire war, communicating
with Mosby whenever he came through this section, and it is a
mystery that she succeeded in eluding the vigilance of Union Scouts.

Not so fortunate was her contemporary, Antonia Ford, who spent many
months in Old Capitol Prison, as the result of a raid made on her
home after Mosby's successful capture of Stoughton. Union officers
felt so strongly that she had had a part in this affair that her
home was ordered searched and they found a commission from J. E. B.
Stuart which read as follows:

"TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

KNOW YE:

That reposing special confidence in the patriotism, fidelity and
ability of Antonia J. Ford, I, James E. B. Stuart, by virtue of the
power vested in me as brigadier general in the Provisional Army of
the Confederate States of America, do hereby appoint and commission
her my honorary aide-de-camp, to rank as such from this date.

She will be obeyed, respected and admired by all true lovers of a
---- nature. Given under my hand and seal at the headquarters of
the Cavalry Brigade at Camp Beverly the 7th October, A. D., 1861,
and the first year of our independence.

(signet ring seal) (signed) J. E. B. Stuart

(X true copy) (signed) L. L. Lomax"

Antonia was an attractive, young, dark-haired lady, charming to talk
with, witty, and well received in both Washington and Virginia
Society.

Extracts from a pamphlet written by