The aura built around Colonel John S. Mosby has caused the exploits of another “Border Partisan” to be almost entirely ignored. Lt. Col. E. V. White, dashing leader of the 35th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, rendered service to the Confederacy on a scale greater than that of the more renowned Mosby. Too often White’s Battalion was called from its warfare to fight with other segments of the army, thus he was not afforded the opportunity to be identified solely as a partisan. The hard bloody fighting, while filling pages of the Official Records, does not appeal to the romantic writer. Elijah Viers White was born near Poolesville, Maryland, but at the outbreak of war was farming in Loudoun County, Virginia. For distinguished service as a volunteer aide to Colonel Eppa Hunton at Ball’s Bluff, White was commissioned captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederacy with permission to organize an independent company for service along the border. The original company was organized at Leesburg in December, 1861. This company became the nucleus of the 35th Battalion, better known as White’s Battalion or “The Comanches.” This hardy band, under the daring leadership of White, possibly saw as much action as any unit in the Confederate Army. Excellent riders, well mounted, armed with two revolvers and a sabre, their attacks created terror in the unsuspecting enemy. Their first service with the regular army was as scouts and couriers for General Ewell in the Valley. A strange attachment sprang up between “Old Bald Head” and this little band of “Comanches.” Ewell relied on their information and they in turn idolized this eccentric dyspeptic. White suffered the first of several wounds during the Valley Campaign, but returned to duty in time to lead his men in the battles around Richmond. They followed Ewell’s Division on to Cedar Mountain where they preyed on scattered parties from Pope’s Army. As the armies moved on toward Second Manassas, White returned to Loudoun where he surrounded Captain Means’ Loudoun Rangers in the Waterford Baptist Church. After a two hour battle in which both sides suffered heavily the Rangers surrendered and were paroled. He then joined the main Confederate Army as it invaded Maryland. At Frederick, White fell under the displeasure of General Stuart who ordered him back to the south side of the river. (This was probably a renewal of the old argument that White had organized only for border service.) Finally General Lee resolved their differences by ordering White on a scouting expedition to Harpers Ferry and to report only to him (Lee). The “Comanches” returned to Loudoun and were engaged with Union Cavalry under Kilpatrick at Leesburg. In charging 400 Blue cavalrymen the Confederates were repulsed and their commander suffered a shoulder wound.