Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Mosbys rangers collectors library of the civil war by. His articles and essays on the civil war have appeared in many publications, including civil war times illustrated, american history illustrated, and blue and gray. Cbs television produced the gray ghost during the 195758 television season. His father was a member of an old virginia family of english origin whose. No single battalion was more feared during the civil war than the 43rd battalion of virginia cavalry, better known as mosbys rangers. Better known as mosbys rangers, they were an elite guerrilla unit that operated with stunning success in northern virginia and maryland from 1863 to the last days of the war. The commander of mosbys rangers, john singleton mosby, is the most famous member of the unit he created the 43rd battalion virginia cavalry but he was supremely fortunate in the quality of the men who served under him. Mosbys rangers audiobook by james joseph williamson. I think they should be taken and kept at fort mchenry, or some secure place, as hostages for the good conduct of mosby and his men. The members of the battalion were referred to as soldiers, partisans, rangers, and guerillas.
His command, the 43rd battalion, virginia cavalry, known as mosbys rangers. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in military and civil war history. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Mosby was named after his paternal grandfather, john singleton. Herndon resident, kitty kitchen, circa 1905, from the reminiscences book. After each sortie, the confederate guerrillas would hide in safe houses provided by the. Muster rolls, occupation and present whereabouts of surviving members. The families of most of mosbys men are known, and can be collected. This organization began with a scouting assignment from confederate gen. A new jersey yankee now living in the area of virginia known as mosbys confederacy during the civil war, curator kathleen golden shares what she finds so interesting about john s. Finally, on april 21, 1865, in salem, virginia, mosby disbanded the rangers. These safe houses dotted the landscape and allowed mosby s men to melt away into the countryside whenever union forces conducted scouts through the area.
In 1863, john singleton mosby and his band of irregulars, recruited in unionoccupied northern virginia, began raiding yankee outposts, wagon trains, troop detachments, headquarters and railroad lines. Virgil carrington jones published ranger mosby 1944, and gray ghosts and rebel raiders 1956. Wellwritten and informative, this book is sure to provoke new thought about the effect of the memory of mosbyand the memory of the civil waron. Click to read more about mosbys rangers by jeffry d. The mosby myth is the first book devoted to explaining mosbys place in american culture, myth, and legend. A former history teacher at penns valley high school, he lives in centre hall. To understand and enjoy the book you do need some background knowledge about the civil war. Nicknamed the gray ghost, the cavalry commander led. Mosby s ranger is a narrative on the history of this storied band. During the civil war mosbys rangers were an irregular body of confederate troops under the command of col. S personal copy of ranger mosby, an account of civil war raids by mosbys rangers, signed by him patton, george s.
The depth with which wert has researched the individuals in the group provides a clear picture into the inner workings of the rangers, and the civilians living within mosbys confederacy. Mosbys rangers is one of the best primary accounts of mosby and the 43rd battalion. This book is a collection of biographical information about the 57 men who matriculated at the virginia military institute vmi and also rode with the 43rd battalion virginia cavalry mosbys rangers. Grant, diplomat, and inspiration for a 1950s television showon his 180th birthday.
Here, in vivid and fascinating detail, is the most authoritative account of the rangers infamous adventures, written by a prizewinning historian. Panelists talked about john singleton mosbys life before, during, and after the american civil war and the men under his command. Each october, members travel to virginia to ride the same trails mosbys rangers rode in the blue ridge mountains. Mosbys keydet rangers mosbys keydet rangers second edition. The book provides not just a biography of john mosbys life, but a study of his legacy.
See more ideas about american civil war, civil war, civil war history. I enjoyed listening to tom perkins, who was the reader, read williamsons book. By the end of the war, its roster would number almost 2,000 men. Mosby disbanded the 43rd at salem on april 21,18651. It is not a personal biography of the leader or a fictionalized and romanticized tale meant while the author asserts that john mosby is a wellknown civil war leader and the deeds of his rangers well known, time has wiped away the memory of the partisans from many history texts.
Mosby they executed small raids behind union lines, raiding at will and then vanishing quickly into the countryside to remain undetected. John mosby center and some rangers of the 43rd va cavalry. The 43rd battalion, virginia cavalry, also known as mosbys rangers, mosbys raiders or mosbys men, was a battalion of partisan cavalry in the confederate army during the american civil war. Some of these books are available through the authors, and most through ordinary channels. Wert is the author of eight previous books on civil war topics, most recently cavalryman of the lost cause and the sword of lincoln. Although mosbys tactic of dispersing his men after a raid preserved the battalion from destruction, it increased the risk of capture for individual rangers. James joseph william was one of mosbys rangers from 1863 through until the end of the war. Union troopers out of town became so excited that he mounted a pony and joined in the chase with no weapon except his textbook. In this first modern study of probably the most renowned combat unit of the civil war, wert from winchester to cedar creek. John singleton mosby and some members of mosbys rangers. Mosbys rangers were some of the most feared confederate troops of the american civil war. This book, mosbys rangers, by james joseph williamson, is a replication of a book originally published before 1909. Final ride mosbys rangers scattered throughout virginia are small groups of mosbys rangers. This book is a collection of biographical information about the 57 men who matriculated at the virginia military institute vmi and also rode with the 43rd battalion virginia cavalry mosby s rangers.
Mosbys rangers, a record of the operations of the fortythird battalion of virginia cavalry from its organization to the surrender. From this modest beginning whould grow on of the best know of all ranger. Where any of mosbys men are caught hang them without trial. Once the excitement died down and guns were holstered and horses tethered, janet whitehouse talked to the group about the goose creek associations success. From a threeman scout unit in 1862, mosbys force grew to an operation of eight companies of rangers by 1865. At final rest now, they are inseparable from the fellow warriors with whom they shared so much in life, so long ago. See more ideas about american civil war, civil war photos and confederate states of america. A 19 film entitled the pride of the south, starred actor joseph king as john mosby. Mosbythe ranger, fugitive, friend of president ulysses s. John singleton mosby december 6, 1833 may 30, 1916, also known by his nickname, the gray ghost, was a confederate army cavalry battalion commander in the american civil war. Their identities and exploits remembered by few, they lie.
He lectured in new england in connection with that first book and wrote. They operated from 1863 to 1865 south of the potomac, behind the union lines. I plan on reading moneys memoirs to see how it correspond with this book. Mosbys rangers operated out of middleburg, virginia. This book is a collection of biographical information about the 57 men who. Mosbys rangers included some of the best horsemen in the country, who frequently traveled by night on raids about the countryside. Mosbys rangers operated behind union lines south of the potomac.
Beginning as a soldier in the first manassas, mosby resigned his commission in april 1862, citing dislike of his new commanding officer, only to begin performing. Both books are only 99 cents on amazon so not an expensive read. Noted for their lightning strikes on union targets and their ability to consistently elude pursuit, the rangers disrupted federal communications and supply lines. It is a biography of the unit, with special attention towards the leader. Mosbys rangers is a perfect book for anyone interested in the partisan activities of mosby and his men through the course of the american civil war. Mosbys rangers and partisan warfare by maj freeman e. Formed in january 1863 and led by the aggressive and cunning col. In this vivid account of the famous command of john singleton mosby, jeffry d. Williamsons mosbys rangers draws upon his own diary to chronicle his life as a private under mosbys command. John singleton mosby and some members of mosbys rangers, 43rd virginia cavalry battalion. If you are a civil war historian you will enjoy the read. John singleton mosby december 6, 1833 may 30, 1916, also known by his nickname, the. For any hard core historian, civil war fanatic, or any mosby fan, it is a really worth while book.
It contains a ton of information, but is written in a less readable style than mosby uses himself. If you are interested in mosbys rangers, this is a great book. Mosbys rangers goodreads meet your next favorite book. Wert explores the personality of this ironwilled commander and brilliant tactician and. This copy with two scarce publishers prospectuses for the book laid in. The civil war guerrilla fighters that were a thorn in.
During a march 1865 battle at tysons corner, virginia, jones narrowly escaped death when his horse reared up and took the bullet intended for his rider. The book is written by one of the members of the rangers. One young ranger, john tyler waller grandson of president john tyler was described as the incarnation of recklessness. Mosbys raid and a cast of characters herndon, va patch. A record of the operations of the fortythird battalion virginia cavalry, from its organization to the surrender, from the diary of a private, supplemented and varified with official reports of federal officers and also of mosby. The 43rd battalion, virginia cavalry, also known as mosbys rangers, mosbys raiders, or mosbys men, was a battalion of partisan cavalry in the confederate army during the american civil war. The depth with which wert has researched the individuals in the group provides a clear picture into the inner workings of the rangers, and the civilians. Wert from winchester to cedar creek has written the first comprehensive study of mosbys rangers and offers new material about its organization, membership. Civil war links and information rosters of men who served virginia from the lower shenandoah valley roster of mosbys 43rd battalion cavalry. Mosbys ran gers relied on a number of sympathetic homeowners throughout mosby s confederacy who opened their doors to partisans. From this modest beginning whould grow on of the best know of all ranger commands. The inductees included men whose names will forever be etched in ranger legacy. Vmi and also rode with the 43rd battalion virginia cavalry mosbys rangers.
Again and again, zacks horses were wounded under him. Mosbys rangers by james joseph williamson, paperback. He also wrote the late1950s television program, the gray ghost. The book was gripping, especially for someone who grew up and lives on the edge of mosbys confederacy. The 43rd battalion, virginia cavalry, also known as mosbys rangers, mosbys raiders. Below is a list of authors who arewere members of the society and their works. The best known rangers of the civil war period were commanded by the confederate colonel john s. Mosby was born in powhatan county, virginia, to virginny mclaurine and alfred daniel mosby, a graduate of hampdensydney college and a member of an old virginia family of english origin whose ancestor, richard mosby, was born in england in 1600 1, settled in charles city, virginia in the early 17th century.