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Chantilly Cavalry Skirmish – Route 50
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Here near Cub Run On March 23, 1863, at Saunders Toll Gate a short
distance away, near present day Centreville Road and Route 50, Colonel John
Singleton Mosby, and 55 of his rangers, had encountered about 100 troopers
of the 5th New York Cavalry commanded by Lieutenant Robert “Outhouse”
Johnstone. Mosby fled westward on Route 50 from that point heading toward
Cub Run. As he was going down the turnpike he noticed some downed trees on
both the left and the right, and he secreted several of his men on both
sides of the road behind those trees and brush. He then proceeded down
Route 50 only to find the road barricaded at Cub Run. Meanwhile as the 5th
New York reached the point where Mosby's men were concealed behind the
downed trees, Mosby's men opened fire and the Fifth New York panicked from
the ambush. When Mosby heard the gunfire, he wheeled and charged strait into
the Fifth New York to join the fray. Mosby killed 5 Union troopers, wounded
an unknown number and captured 36. Lieutenant Johnstone was relieved of
command following this action. When he heard of Mosby’s victory here General
Robert E. Lee said “ Hurrah for Mosby! I wish I had a hundred more like
him”. Mosby received his commission as a Captain following this fight
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