Description:

Mosby John 1833 - 1916 "Gray Ghost" Mosby thrice signed and inscribed print of his Rangers' return from the attack on Sheridan's Wagon Train.

A handsome signed and inscribed albumen print, 7.25" x 4.25", on a lightly textured backing to a size of 10" x 7". Outer edge of mat evenly toned, two tiny nicks within the photo, else near fine. John Mosby signed and inscribed entirely in his own hand the bottom edge of the mounting with "Mosby's battalion - returning from Berryville raid - Aug. 13th, 1864" . On the verso, Mosby has signed and inscribed twice, first as "Colonial John S. Mosley / Adjutant Wm H. Mosby ....", and again under his penned presentation of "Presented to my dear friend / Mrs. Kate Noland Garnett - / John S. Mosby".

A fantastic scene, and an epic moment in history, perfectly depicted in this twice signed vintage albumen photograph of John Mosby's Rangers returning from the Berryville raid in which they attacked General Sheridan's wagon train. On August 13th, 1864, John Mosby's Rangers attacked a wagon train delivering supplies to Union General Phil Sheridan. This stunning move was written up in the Philadelphia Inquirer by in August 1864 as follows:

"About the only aggressive enemy in the Military Division is MOSBY, and the only dangerous place appears to be the rear of our army on its communication with this point . . . . The Valley of the Shenandoah has been almost completely stripped of its wheat crop, and as cattle, sheep and hogs have disappeared long ago, it is now more difficult to advance through it with an army than ever before. As it is impossible to glean any subsistence from the country, the supply question has already become the great vexation. Our losses by the attack on our wagon train at Berryville were seventy-two wagons, over two hundred mules, and one hundred and fifty prisoners . . . .

Just after dawn on 13 Aug. 1864, Col. John Singleton Mosby and 300 of his 43d Battalion Partisan Rangers attacked the rear section of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's 600-vehicle wagon train . . . . Mosby surprised and routed the Federals as they rested, cooked breakfast, and hitched their horses. Mosby's men, losing only one killed and one mortally wounded, captured 200 beef cattle, 500-600 horses, 100 wagons, and 200 soldiers. The raid ended by 6:30 a.m.

During the Wagon Train Raid, a detachment from the 144th Ohio took a position behind a stone wall at the Buck Marsh Church . . . . However, they were shattered by a strong Rebel charge . . . .The 144th Ohio's loss in this disastrous affair was 5 killed, 10 wounded, and 76 captured . . . ."

Sheridan's supplies were profoundly disrupted. But, in a message a few days later to Gen. U.S. Grant, the supreme Union commander, Sheridan brazenly lied: "Mosby has annoyed me and captured a few wagons." Sheridan could have been a great White House Press Secretary!

A perfect description of the event is noted on the "historical marker sign" which sits where the raid occurred 150 years ago:

"Just after dawn, on 13 Aug 1864, Col John Singleton Mosby and 300 of his 43rd Battalion Partisan Rangers attacked the rear section of Maj Gen Philip H. Sheridan's 600 - vehicle wagon train here. The train, headed for Winchester carried supplied for Sheridan's cavalry. Mosby surprised and routed the Federals as they rested, cooked breakfast, and hitched their horse. Mortally wounded, captured 200 beef cattle, 500-600 horses, 100 wagons, and 200 soldiers. The raid ended by 6:30 a.m. Berryville's citizen's, including many small boys, helped burn the wagons after liberating their contents."

A fantastic piece of history, especially scarce thrice signed and inscribed by Mosby!

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