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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