The Gray Ghost

[M E Wolf]

The Book:

Ranger Mosby by Virgile Carrington Jones, copyrighted in 1944 is what I have.

Mr. Jones had the ability to interview J. S. Mosby's son - Mr. Beverly C. Mosby (Washington, D.C.); Daughters -Mrs. Stuart Mosby Coleman and Miss Pauline Mosby in Warrenton.

That said...

I live in the vicinity of Annandale, Virginia. One of Mosby's Raiders points of interest. One of the riders in Mosby's Raiders was a Fountain Beatty, Mosby's Lieutenant--and, post Civil War bought Green Springs Farm, to which was a mansion built in the late 1700's. The Minor Family farm was across the road (Little River Turnpike) and another Minor farm was a bit more west and also on the Little River Turnpike.

Further assisting Mosby and his men, was the unfinished Independent line of the Manassas Gap Railroad. It was graded but, no further work on it was done so--it was a super highway from Annandale through Fairfax and into Loudoun County, Virginia.

Ravensworth, a plantation that the Fitzhugh family owned. General Robert E. Lee's wife fled there after the secession was declared. It is where General Fitzhugh Lee was born, It is where George Washington Custis Lee would pass away. Only General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee (Rooney) and Captain Robert E. Lee would be born at Arlington House/Mansion. [South on Ravensworth Road from Braddock Road about a mile--home burned down in the 1970's. It was beautiful though run down when I saw it, and leads into Annandale.]

It must be said, in addition to the uniformed members of Mosby's Raiders, Mosby recruited farmers and locals. Without the locals, Mosby would not have been as efficient. And, certainly operated within his own rules and didn't do the drills and such as other units within the Confederate military. Though under General J.E.B. Stuart--Mosby operated loosely.

In having neighbors in my youth who were generations related to many Confederates and old time families like the Minors, Padgetts, Munson, Mason and such -- Annandale was as far east as Mosby dared go. Otherwise, he mainly operated within a pie slice, per se. Between the Alexandria Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad (last known by Washington & Old Dominion Railroad) and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which had a Warrenton spur and another branch of the Manassas Gap Railroad (not connected with the Independent line that was unfinished in Annandale. Using the old turnpikes and coaching routes to the Blue Ridge Mountain range that is a part of the Shenandoah Valley, which extends north into Maryland.

I am rather lucky to visit any time, Green Springs Farm--now in Fairfax County Park Authority hands.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

 

[Jon G.]

The Book:

Ranger Mosby by Virgile Carrington Jones, copyrighted in 1944 is what I have.

Mr. Jones had the ability to interview J. S. Mosby's son - Mr. Beverly C. Mosby (Washington, D.C.); Daughters -Mrs. Stuart Mosby Coleman and Miss Pauline Mosby in Warrenton.

That said...

I live in the vicinity of Annandale, Virginia. One of Mosby's Raiders points of interest. One of the riders in Mosby's Raiders was a Fountain Beatty, Mosby's Lieutenant--and, post Civil War bought Green Springs Farm, to which was a mansion built in the late 1700's. The Minor Family farm was across the road (Little River Turnpike) and another Minor farm was a bit more west and also on the Little River Turnpike.

Further assisting Mosby and his men, was the unfinished Independent line of the Manassas Gap Railroad. It was graded but, no further work on it was done so--it was a super highway from Annandale through Fairfax and into Loudoun County, Virginia.

Ravensworth, a plantation that the Fitzhugh family owned. General Robert E. Lee's wife fled there after the secession was declared. It is where General Fitzhugh Lee was born, It is where George Washington Custis Lee would pass away. Only General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee (Rooney) and Captain Robert E. Lee would be born at Arlington House/Mansion. [South on Ravensworth Road from Braddock Road about a mile--home burned down in the 1970's. It was beautiful though run down when I saw it, and leads into Annandale.]

It must be said, in addition to the uniformed members of Mosby's Raiders, Mosby recruited farmers and locals. Without the locals, Mosby would not have been as efficient. And, certainly operated within his own rules and didn't do the drills and such as other units within the Confederate military. Though under General J.E.B. Stuart--Mosby operated loosely.

In having neighbors in my youth who were generations related to many Confederates and old time families like the Minors, Padgetts, Munson, Mason and such -- Annandale was as far east as Mosby dared go. Otherwise, he mainly operated within a pie slice, per se. Between the Alexandria Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad (last known by Washington & Old Dominion Railroad) and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which had a Warrenton spur and another branch of the Manassas Gap Railroad (not connected with the Independent line that was unfinished in Annandale. Using the old turnpikes and coaching routes to the Blue Ridge Mountain range that is a part of the Shenandoah Valley, which extends north into Maryland.

I am rather lucky to visit any time, Green Springs Farm--now in Fairfax County Park Authority hands.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

That's all very interesting stuff M. E. and I enjoyed reading it while going back and forth perusing a map. It must have been fun growing up and living in such an historical area. And hearing about things before reading in a book, why that's just priceless!

That's the first I'd heard of Mosby having that "freeway" to the valley, or maybe I've forgotten. That rail-bed sure would have sped up his escapes a lot!

I think it's pretty common knowledge that he and his men needed the locals not only to be efficient as you said but virtually for survival. Many, if not most, paid a big price at some point but I doubt that any begrudged Mosby because of it.

I've driven up or down the Shenandoah valley a number of times on vacation and never tired of the wonderful scenery and seeing the roadsigns with all the town or place names that I'd only heard about while reading about Mosby many years ago. Of course the whole Commonwealth of Virginia has so much history anywhere you might be!

Thanks for posting that, I really enjoyed it!

Regards to all,
Jon G.

 

[M E Wolf]

Jon G., sir;

[Reference Post #22]

I am pleased that you found my memories, my current thoughts as I live so near Annandale, Virginia --informative.

Indeed, the Commonwealth of Virginia holds many cards to the past. From the founding of Jamestown by the Virginia Trading Company based in England to the present. Virginia has been the mother 'state' to eleven generals who became President; from Washington to Eisenhower. Eight Vice-Presidents became President upon the death of the sitting President. (As of 1988). Becoming a Royal Province in 1624. Maryland being founded by Lord Baltimore, in 1634--the Commonwealth of Virginia has indeed been witness to history.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[elfdream]

I think its interesting that there several houses up and down the Valley where it is claimed that "While being chased by Union forces Gen Mosby jumped out of the second story window of this house'.

It could well be true....

 

[Nathanb1]

There's an excellent article and cover photo of Mosby in the latest issue of America's Civil War (at least I think that's the one), with a map and photos of locations of his better-known exploits. I like the one where he climbed out the window into the tree (a walnut?) and sat over the heads of the Yankees while they searched for him. He was badly wounded--shot through a window, in the arm-- in another home, and while he was lying on the floor, the Yankees came in. He supposedly gave them another name and had blood running out of his mouth, so they left without him, thinking he was dying; the blood came from his arm. Gotta love the audacity.

 

[K Hale]

He supposedly gave them another name and had blood running out of his mouth, so they left without him, thinking he was dying; the blood came from his arm. Gotta love the audacity.

So you're saying Mosby was into autovampirism?

 

[Nathanb1]

So you're saying Mosby was into autovampirism?

Only in the cause of self-preservation.

 

[K Hale]

I saw an X-Files episode about that, once...

 

[donna]

Has any one read James A. Ramage's book on Mosby? It is "Gray Ghost: The Life of Col. John Singleton Mosby". Dr. Ramage also wrote "Rebel Raider: The Life Of General John Hunt Morgan. I have read where both his books are excellent.

 

[Jon G.]

Has any one read James A. Ramage's book on Mosby? It is "Gray Ghost: The Life of Col. John Singleton Mosby". Dr. Ramage also wrote "Rebel Raider: The Life Of General John Hunt Morgan. I have read where both his books are excellent.

They both sound like good reads and I put them both on my short list. I haven't read much about Morgan but am going to look on archives ebooks and see if there are any first person accounts there.

So many books, so little time!

Thanks for posting that!

Regards to all,
Jon G.