John Mosby Bio

John S. Mosby:

By the close of the Civil War, John Mosby had become notorious as a raider and master of Guerrilla tactics.  The illustration at right appeared in the January 21, 1865 edition of Harper's Weekly, a New York newspaper.  The paper included the following description of Mosby:

The Rebel Colonel Mosby

John Singleton Mosby, long notorious as a rebel guerrilla, was born in Virginia in 1832.  Little is popularly known of his career before the war.  In 1862 he was a Lieutenant in Lee's army, and for his services in harassing our troops encamped near Fredericksburg, met with General Lee's approval and was promoted Major. In March, 1863, he captured General Stoughton at Fairfax Court House. He was wounded near this same place in August of that year, and was unable previous to January, 1864, to resume his official duties. 

Last August he was again wounded and put hors du combat for two months, after which he again appeared in a raid on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for which he was made Lieutenant-Colonel. December 10 he was given the full rank of Colonel.  We give above an account, entitled "Two Days with Mosby," which, as being substantially true, will prove very interesting to our readers.  This rebel Colonel has been the centre of a great deal of fabulous romance during the war.  He has been recently wounded again, and so seriously that his friends, it is reported, despair of his recovery.

- - End Harper's Story - -

John S. Mosby Portrait Appearing in the January 21, 1865 Edition of Harper's Weekly