The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Colonel John Singleton Mosby - May 3rd, 2003

http://www.angelfire.com/va3/valleywar/people/mosby.html ^

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

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FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

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Colonel John Singleton Mosby
(1833-1916)

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The Gray Ghost - Colonel John Singleton Mosby

On December 6, 1833, Virginia McLaurine Mosby, wife of Alfred Daniel Mosby, gave birth to a son and named him John Singleton, after his paternal grandfather. Mosby lived in Nelson County, Va. until the age of six when his father moved to adjoining Albemarle County, four miles from Charlottesville and within viewing distance of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. After showing proficiency in Greek during grade school, he enrolled at the University of Virginia on October 3, 1850. But after shooting a fellow student after a dispute, Mosby was expelled from the University, and took up several months of study in a local law office. He soon passed the bar and set up his own practice in nearby Howardsville, also in Albemarle County.



A town visitor, Pauline Clarke, captured Mosby's affection. After courting her, he moved to her hometown of Bristol, on the Tennessee border. On December 30, 1857 they were married. Their first child, a daughter named May, was born on May 10, 1859. When Virginia followed other Southern states and voted to secede from the Union following Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency in 1860, Mosby decided to enlist in the Confederate army.

At first Mosby followed a local company of infantry, but quickly transfered to the cavalry corps of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, and became acquainted with the duties of a scout. Before too long, however, Mosby became anxious to form his own command, that would not be bound by traditional army conventions. In January 1863, Stuart approved Mosby's plan and gave him a few men to begin his operation. Mosby and his partisan rangers were later incorporated into the regular Confederate army. Their primary objective consisted of destroying railroad supply lines between Washington and Northern Virginia, as well as intercepting dispatches and horses and capturing Union soldiers. Mosby's numbers rose from one dozen to a few hundred by the end of the war. Mosby's rank likewise rose steadily; his final promotion to colonel came in January 1865. Gen. Robert E. Lee cited Mosby for meritorious service more often than any other Confederate officer during the course of the war.



It has been claimed by some that the activities of partisan ranger bands in northern and western Virginia, especially those of John S. Mosby, may have prevented a Union victory in the summer or fall of 1864. A Virginian with a penchant for violence, Mosby had been practicing law at the outbreak of the war. His assignments included:

• Private, lst Virginia Cavalry (1861);
• First Lieutenant, 1st Virginia Cavalry (February 1862);
• Captain, PACS (March 15, 1863);
• Major, PACS (March 26, 1863);
• Major, 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion (June 10, 1863);
• Lieutenant Colonel, 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion (January 21, 1864);
• and Colonel, Mosby's (Va.) Cavalry Regiment (December 7, 1864).

Originally an enlisted man and officer in the 1st Virginia Cavalry, he came into conflict with that unit's colonel, "Grumble Jones," and joined JEB Stuart's staff as a scout. During the Peninsula Campaign he paved the way for Stuart's famous ride around McClellan. After a brief period of captivity in July 1862 he rejoined Stuart and was rewarded with the authority to raise a band of partisans for service in the Loudoun Valley in northern Virginia. Originally a battalion, his command was raised to a regiment in the last months of the war.

In the meantime he managed to wreak havoc among the Union supply lines, forcing field commanders to detach large numbers of troops to guard their communications. His forays took him within the lines guarding Washington, with Mosby himself often doing the advance scouting in disguise.



Early in 1863, with 29 men, he rode into Fairfax Court House and roused Union General Edwin H. Stoughton from bed with a slap on the rear end. Following the capture of Generals Crook and Kelley by McNeil's partisans, Mosby complimented them, stating that he would have to ride into Washington and bring out Abraham Lincoln to top their success. On another occasion he came near capturing the train on which Grant was traveling.

The disruption of supply lines and the constant disappearance of couriers frustrated army, and lesser-group, commanders to such a degree that some took to the summary execution of guerrillas, i.e. partisan rangers. George Custer executed six of Mosby's men in 1864, and the partisan chief retaliated with seven of Custer's. A note attached to one of the bodies stated that Mosby would treat all further captives as prisoners of war unless Custer committed some new act of cruelty. The killings stopped.

With the surrender of Lee, Mosby simply disbanded his command on April 20, 1865, rather than formally surrender. While the partisans were certainly a nuisance to federal commanders, it is an open question as to how effective they were in prolonging the conflict. Many Southerners were very critical of the partisans, only some Southerners excepting Mosby's command.


Col. Mosby at age 77 with grandchildren, wearing his uniform in 1910 movie "All's Fair in Love and War"

Mosby retreated into a self-imposed exile after the war until he acquired his parole from General U.S. Grant in 1866. He settled down in Warrenton, Va. in Fauquier County to re-establish his law practice. Mosby practiced law and befriended Grant. Politics, however, called to him. When Grant became president in 1869, Mosby visited him in the White House and offered his support. Mosby publicly backed the Republican in his 1872 re-election bid, and Grant carried Virginia. For supporting Grant, a Republican, in the 1868 and 1872 elections, he earned the emnity of many Southerners. Under Hayes, Grant's successor, Mosby became a consul to Hong Kong (1878-1885).

After returning to the United States, he became active on the lecture circuit and penned his war reminiscences and several other works for magazines and newspapers, spreading his account of his exploits during the war. After a series of physical debilitations, Mosby died on May 30, 1916 at the age of 82.



Who gave John Mosby the moniker,"Gray Ghost"?
The answer is at the end of the first post.

[Non-Sequitur]

Sometimes I think it's the stories about the smaller units like Moseby's Raiders and Blazer's Scouts that are the most interesting.

[ravinson]

John Haskell Calef

His service with the 2nd Artillery would bring him deeply into the Gettysburg Campaign in the summer of 1863. Attached to Colonel William Gamble's First Cavalry Brigade of General John Buford's Division, Calef's men, horses, and guns made the hard march with the horsemen on their advance into Pennsylvania, dogging Lee's Confederate Army. On the morning of July 1, 1863, and throughout the afternoon, Calef and his men would see some of their hardest fighting in the war.

Calef was a young buck right out of West Point when the war broke out and he had a long and illustrious career in the Army. I'm sure Calef's artillery skill was much appreciated by my two ggguncles fighting in Colonel Gamble's Brigade at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. Five days later, one of my ggguncles was mortally wounded while helping to rescue Calef's battery during Buford's attack on Lee's retreating forces at Williamsburg, MD.

[wardaddy]

Wasn't there a TV series or Disney movie about him? I remember a TV show as well whose theme song was When Johnny Comes Marchin Home...it may have been a periodic Disney episode.

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you, what a life Mosby led!

I'm also glad to see your still hanging in there with the computer. :)

[Light Speed]

Thanks for sharing about ggguncle R : )

Actually learned of Calef today while researching an add on to compliment SAMs thread.

2 Family members served with the 8th and 10th Wisconsin Light Artillery in the Army of the Tennessee.

2 saw action at Gettysburg 66TH N.Y. and the 20th Mass.

Headquarters 8th Ill. Cav.
Camp near Washington D.C. March 10, '64

W. S. Church Esq
Chicago Ill.

My Dear Sir

When I last saw you before leaving Chicago, you requested me to give you some information in regard to the operation of Illinois troops at the Battle of Gettysburg, which was fought on the 1st, 2d & 3d days of July 1863.

On the afternoon of the 30th June the 1st Cav. Brigade of Buford's Division, commanded by Col. W. Gamble 8th Ill. Cav. leading the advance, arrived at Gettysburg. The 8th Ill. Cav. in front. Col. Gamble received orders to pass through the town on the Cashtown Road, and select the most eligible line of battle beyond the Seminary that could be found, encamp the Brigade, and send forward one or two squadrons to find the enemy and remain in front on picket to watch the movements of the enemy. These orders were promptly carried out. The squadrons for advance picket duty were taken from the 8th Ill. Cav. who advanced three miles further, found the enemy, remained in front until 7 o'clock the next morning when the enemy commenced advancing in three divisions under Genl. A. P. Hill, and with shell and musketry drove in the squadrons mentioned, and the 8th Ill. Cav. had the honor of being first fired on by the enemy and returning their fire.

The advance of the enemy was immediately reported to Genl. Meade, the infantry advance being eight miles in our rear, were ordered up to support the cavalry.

The cavalry of Buford's Division were ordered to fight the enemy. I dismounted part of the 8th Ill. 8th N.Y. and 3d Inda. Cav in all about 900 men and ordered them to the front to keep back the enemy as long as possible till our Infantry came up to our support.

Devin's Brigade N.Y. Cav. was on our right and Merritt's Brigade of Regular Cav. was on our left - we had to fight the whole Army Corps. of Genl. A. P. Hill 25,000 strong for three & ½ hours, from 7 A.M. til 10½ A.M. to hold the original line of battle selected by me according to previous orders.

Tidball's Horse Battery A. 2d U.S. Artillery was attached to my Brigade that day.

The Cavalry above mentioned fought Hill's Corps for 3½ hours on the morning of the 1st July and held the original line of battle selected beyond the Seminary until our Infantry came up, with a loss 111 officers & men killed(,) wounded & missing and 56 Cavalry Horses killed - 13 Artillery Horses killed & 15 Artillery men killed & wounded. Nothing of this is mentioned in the newspapers or dispatches, but the above are absolute facts under my own observation.

An hour before dark the rebels outflanked our left, this Brigade of Cavalry was again ordered to the front, dismounted, & fought the Rebels on the Seminary Ridge and saved a whole Division of our Infantry from being surrounded and captured - nothing of this either is mentioned in newspapers or dispatches, yet these facts occurred with the loss of some of our best officers and men.

I am very truly yours,
Wm. Gamble
Col 8th Ill. Cav.
Comd 1st Cav. Brig. at Gettysburg

[Victoria Delsoul]

Evening everyone!

It was Lincoln himself who named Mosby "The Gray Ghost." The Union Army's biggest fear in Washington was that Mosby would kidnap Lincoln from right beneath their nose. Lincoln, upon hearing several of his generals discussing Mosby and their fears, loudly announced, "Listen to you men, you speak of Mosby as though he is a ghost, a gray ghost." It wasn't until after the war that Mosby learned of this and that the nickname stuck.

[snippy_about_it]

Good evening Victoria. Hopefully Sam is still partaking of his well deserved rest. I don't know how he manages to do all the work for these threads! Amazing.

[snippy_about_it]

Music - Lee Greenwood - Dixie

[Victoria Delsoul]

True, he works very hard.

He must be having a nap, I hope he wakes up soon, LOL!

The link didn't work. :-(

[snippy_about_it]

Arrgh. I didn't realize it was geocities. Garbage. I'll see what I can find. :)

[snippy_about_it]

Let's try this. We can dedicate it to our sleepy head Sam.

Blue

[Seydlitz]

You say that the combat record of the French Waffen-SS division "Charlemagne" was poor becase they were ultimately defeated by the Soviets during the battle of Berlin. (Please read Robert Forbes' superb "Pour L'Europe" before opining on the subject.)

Defeat does not equate to poor combat performance.

I remember an American general named Robert E. Lee. At the end of his war, he was ultimately defeated. Yet, I'd have to say that he and his Army of Northern Virginia put up a great fight. Care to tell me why they weren't any good?

[SAMWolf]

I give R.E. Lee great credit for realizing this when he opted to surrender at Appomattox rather than to run to the hills to transform his army into a guerilla band.

IMHO one of the major differences between our war between the States and most civil wars. When it ended it didn't dissolve into a guerilla war for years afterwords.

[SAMWolf]

Evening PhilDragoo, fascinating reading you provided to the Foxhole today. I just loved this part:

Never a conformist, Mosby, however, did not "reconstruct" easily. Soon after his pardon in April 1866 in Leesburg, Va., he defied Union orders that no Confederate insignia be worn on the streets. When challenged by federal soldiers, he confronted them, stating that there were "not enough damn Yankees in Leesburg" to strip his uniform of its identification. The insignia stayed, and Mosby rode out of town triumphant.

[SAMWolf]

Yep. The focus tends to be on the big Battles. It's the events between and leading up to them that make for fascinating history.

[SAMWolf]

Good Evenig Victoria.

[weldgophardline]

Great Lesson today, We gave a lesson or two to the leftists today also.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks, but I think I got more tired than normal cuz I donated blood this morning.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Snippy. I never heard Lee Greenwood's version.

I have to admit I like the faster versions better.

[SAMWolf]

Mosby's Marauders (1966)

Nick Adams, Jack Ging, Peggy Lipton

Mosby's Marauders, a Disney production released theatrically in Europe, began life as a three-part offering on the TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. Jack Ging plays Lieutenant (later Major) Mosby, a Confederate spy who elusiveness earned him the nickname "The Gray Ghost." While Mosby's activities carry the intrigue portion of the program, the film concentrates on the adventures of Mosby's Marauders, a Disney production released theatrically in Europe, began life as a three-part offering on the TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. Jack Ging plays Lieutenant (later Major) Mosby, a Confederate spy who elusiveness earned him the nickname "The Gray Ghost." While Mosby's activities carry the intrigue portion of the program, the film concentrates on the adventures of young rebel soldier Willie Prentiss (Kurt Russell), who forms a shaky but basically solid friendship with Yankee corporal Henry Jenkins (James MacArthur). Mosby's Marauders was originally telecast over a three-week period in January of 1967 under the blanket title Willie and the Yank.


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