Mosby's Raids in Civil War Northern Virginia

by William Connery

The most famous Civil War name in Northern Virginia, other than General Lee, belongs to Colonel John Singleton Mosby, the Gray Ghost. The most famous Civil War name in Northern Virginia, other than General Lee, belongs to Colonel John Singleton Mosby, the Gray Ghost. His early life characterized by abuse of childhood bullies, a less-than-outstanding academic career, and even a brief incarceration, Mosby stands out among nearly one thousand generals who served in the war. Even though Mosby was opposed to secession, he joined the Confederate army as a private in Virginia, he quickly rose through the ranks and became celebrated for his raids that captured Union general Edwin Stoughton in Fairfax and Colonel Daniel French Dulany in Rose Hill. By 1864, he was a feared partisan guerrilla in the North and a nightmare for Union troops protecting Washington City. After the war, his support for presidential candidate Ulysses S. Grant forced Mosby to leave his native Virginia for Hong Kong as U.S. consul. A mentor to young George S. Patton, Mosby's military legacy extended far beyond the War Between the States and into World War II. William S. Connery brings alive the many dimensions of this American hero.

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2013

Reviews

[Duane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting story, kind of but so poorly told its impossible to recommend. This author clearly loves his subject material, which is interesting, but his writing is just terrible. It feels like he's just writing his note cards into the text. He has no ability to decide what facts he's uncovered matter to the reader or to the story. Endless recitations of how Mosby or his opponents ate breakfast, repetitions of how Mosby's ostensibly figured out that pistols were better than sabers, and no real attempt to get into his mindset, what drove him, how he felt about anything, or anything else. So much repetition of how great he was with little else. About the only thing that was really fun--instead of the excitement of his raiding--was the way the little towns that are now Northern Virginia suburbs are always popping up in the story.

[William Olenick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short read is packed with information. This are plenty of photos and illustrations but few maps. The book is as the title suggests covering his most popular raids. His later years are well covered as well.

[Tom Darrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad biography of Mosby, but it has a few flaws. First, the title is a bit deceptive. It implies that the entirety of the book is about Mosby's raids during the Civil War. It's more of a biography of Mosby which includes information about his whole life.

Additionally, its source material is somewhat suspect. Among its broadcast sources are links to a Youtube video and a Wikipedia page. The sources are also not footnoted or endednoted in the chapters.

Finally, there are a few minor historical flaws.

[W Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for the basics.