In
Fairfax County in the year
1863, there wasn't a soul in the city or countryside who didn't know the name
John Singleton Mosby. Also
known as "The Gray Ghost", Mosby was a small-town lawyer, turned ingenious
Confederate citizen soldier who struck fear in the hearts of his Union
counterparts.
Mosby first enlisted after Virginia seceded from the Union
as a member of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. His study of military history led him
to believe that a small number of men staying at safe houses over a large rural
area could launch devastating surprise attacks by day or night that would weaken
the enemy's morale and tie up troops that would otherwise threaten the main
Confederate forces. He was right. And the raids he led became the stuff of
legend.
The 150th anniversary commemorations of two of his famous raids
will take place this March:
- Mosby's Fairfax Raid,
March 9th. The early morning capture of Union General Edwin Stoughton, 18 armed
men and several horses—without firing a single shot—is Mosby's most storied
achievement.
- Mosby's Raid on Herndon
Station, March 17th. The Saint Patrick's Day skirmish will take place once
again as reenactors capture 25 members of the 1st Vermont Cavalry.
After the war, Mosby moved
on, befriending President Grant and working for Uncle Sam. But his service
to the south is still legend in Northern Virginia. While here for the
sesquicentennial, be sure to visit
The Stuart-Mosby Civil War
Cavalry Museum in Centreville and
follow in his footsteps
down the Route 50 corridor. The
Mosby Heritage Area
Association website has
even more ideas to round
out your experience.
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