No study of the Civil War is complete without Private John S. Mosby, 1st Virginia Cavalry by Gregory P. Wilson. For fans of Mosby, this book is a unique perspective on the larger-than-life character as a young soldier picketing Northern Virginia. This work is a must-have for anyone learning about US history and the sociopolitical reality of its greatest armed conflict.
For those unfamiliar with Mosby, he was known as the Confederacy's "Gray Ghost," a nickname earned later in the war, but grounded in his initial duty in Fairfax County. He was just a green picket and scout, gathering intelligence at a time when the country was experiencing its most divisive, internal turmoil. The parallels between this era and modern times can be drawn easily-and they should be.
Through Private Mosby's eyes, the reader will learn much about the development of tensions in the South throughout the years leading up to the rebellion. The stories of the war are utterly engaging, full of rare moments ignored by many historians. What makes this book so special is the wealth of first-person accounts, Mosby's personal letters, a chapter about his slave and wartime companion, and the vivid stories retold by Wilson.
About the Author: Gregory P. Wilson's great-great-grandfather, Fairfax Quaker Jonathan Roberts, served the Union as an army scout and Fairfax County (Virginia) sheriff. With his interest piqued in the study of this divisive war, Wilson majored in history and politics at Ohio Wesleyan University. Although he currently consults in the financial services industry, it is obvious his nascent interests have never waned.
Wilson is the author of two books about the Civil War. During his exhaustive research for his first book, he became increasingly intrigued with the Confederate partisan ranger most responsible for his ancestor's life-crippling injury in the line of duty. This led to his second book on the topic, Private John S. Mosby, 1st Virginia Cavalry. Mosby is a well-documented character, but Wilson offers a fresh, new perspective about his first formative months as a rebel soldier picketing Fairfax County.
Wilson works and resides in Fairfax County, Virginia.
