When
attorney John S. Mosby (1833-1916) decided to become a Confederate partisan
ranger, he knew that members of irregular units were in far greater danger than
conventional soldiers. Very early, Federal actions had made it clear that
rangers not shot on sight would be relentlessly hunted. Undeterred by danger,
Mosby’s wife frequently stayed close to him even during his famous raids in the
Loudoun Valley of Virginia.
Federal
soldiers once broke into the house where the pair was sleeping, but found no
one there but Mrs. Mosby. Warned by her to get out quickly, Mosby had climbed
into a tree wearing only his underwear. He remained in his perch and kept very
quiet until the Federals departed, enabling him to return to bed with his wife.
The
enclosed photo is an artist’s depiction of John S. Mosby and his wife.
