Mosby's Rangers by Jeffry Wert

[1SGDan]

Six years ago I received this book as a Christmas present. Because I had no real interest in this unit I placed it at the bottom of my extensive to read pile. Six years later and out of new material I picked up this book. I wish I would have left it were it was. What a piece of ****! Wert has some reputation as a CW historian but he cannot be proud of this. I struggled through a quarter of the book before I had to quit. The reasons:
1. Total lack of objectivity. To start with the cover screams that this unit is "the most famous command of the Civil War." Wert also fills the pages with superlatives about the commander and his men while ignoring the fact that they were also thieves and murderers. Their extralegal tactics were so well known in the Union ranks that Mosby was placed under a death sentence by Grant if captured. These go, for the most part, ignored
2. Their exploits and their effect on Union operations is grossly inflated by the author. As horse raiders, scouts and bridge burners they may have caused some concern in the Union chain of command but they ultimately has very little impact on overall Federal operations.
3. Finally, the editing is this book is among the worst I have seen in a book by a otherwise reputable publisher (Simon and Schuster). Mosby's name is spelled differently on different pages. Early in the book Mosby is noted as having 175 horsemen yet 30 pages later a command of 100 is called the largest he would ever lead.
The authors totally biased descriptions, glorifications, and reluctance to tell the whole truth about this unit makes this book almost worthless as a reference. I cannot bring myself to finish it. Which is a very rare thing for me to say about any CW book.

 

[brass napoleon]

I have the book too. Got it many, many years ago. Don't remember much about it, other than it was pretty awful. I don't think I even made it to one quarter through.

 

[TerryB]

I've read it. Never been impressed with him as a TV talking head.

 

[mobile_96]

Lucky Me. Also have the book, unread. Kept pushing it down my Must read stack, then finally stuck it in a packing box. Looks like that will be its permanent home.

 

[Drew]

Their extralegal tactics were so well known in the Union ranks that Mosby was placed under a death sentence by Grant if captured. These go, for the most part, ignored

I'll not bother with this book, thanks. But, Mosby was excepted by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton under the terms of parole offered all Virginians, consistent with Grant's terms offered to the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse. General Grant intervened on Mosby's behalf and forced his inclusion in the general amnesty offered at the end of the war.

I won't speculate on how Stanton felt about it, but he lost to Grant's influence. Mosby's post-war observations are with us due Grant's intervention.

 

[brass napoleon]

I'll not bother with this book, thanks. But, Mosby was excepted by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton under the terms of parole offered all Virginians, consistent with Grant's terms offered to the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse. General Grant intervened on Mosby's behalf and forced his inclusion in the general amnesty offered at the end of the war.

I won't speculate on how Stanton felt about it, but he lost to Grant's influence. Mosby's post-war observations are with us due Grant's intervention.

Mosby is a fascinating character who is a worthy subject of a book. I do remember that I was really looking forward to this book when I ordered it. Sadly, I was sorely disappointed.

 

[Drew]

Mosby's memoir, his own words, is free to all, below. It would be great to have someone write about him today. I wonder what such an author might come up with. Wert ain't worth it.

http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/mosby/mosby.html

 

[diane]

Have to join the chorus. Bought my copy at a yard sale and thought I could have spent that two bits a whole lot better on gum balls and licorice!

 

[1SGDan]

Have to join the chorus. Bought my copy at a yard sale and thought I could have spent that two bits a whole lot better on gum balls and licorice!

Diane
Any money spent on red licorice is well spent! My Favorite candy.

 

[ole]

Diane
Any money spent on red licorice is well spent! My Favorite candy.

No. No! Black licorice. The red kind isn't really licorice.

 

[Patrick H]

So.......I guess the general review is not good? Just kidding. It's OBVIOUSLY not good. That's too bad, because I agree that Mosby should be worthy of a good biography.

 

[Dave Hull]

Wish I could find my original copy of Ranger Mosby from the 40's. I would like to see if it still resonates the same way today as when I read it 40 years ago. I believe more than anything else, that book captured my imagination about the Civil War. Aside from his own memoirs, I have not read any other book about the man, mainly out of fear of having one of my boyhood idols dashed upon the rocks.

 

[Old Bay]

I don't recall if I've ever read this one. If I did it was probably as a lad so didn't really have anything to filter it by.

3. Finally, the editing is this book is among the worst I have seen in a book by a otherwise reputable publisher (Simon and Schuster). Mosby's name is spelled differently on different pages. Early in the book Mosby is noted as having 175 horsemen yet 30 pages later a command of 100 is called the largest he would ever lead.

This one may have been an issue of clarity? His command (I think I've read upwards of 500 actually?) wasn't generally fielded at once. Especially once it got larger later on.