Mosby's Rangers

Book excerpt: No single battalion was more feared during the Civil War than the 43rd Battalion of Virginia Cavalry. As one contemporary said, “They had…all the glamour of Robin Hood…all the courage and bravery of the ancient crusaders.” Better known as Mosby’s Rangers, they were an elite guerrilla unit that operated with stunning success in northern Virginia and Maryland from 1863 to the last days of the war. In this vivid account of the famous command of John Singleton Mosby, Jeffry D. Wert explores the personality of this iron-willed commander and brilliant tactician and gives us colorful profiles of the officers who served under him. Drawing on contemporary documents, including letters and diaries, this is the most complete and vivid account to date of the fighting unit that was so hated by General Ulysses S. Grant that he ordered any captured Ranger to be summarily executed without trial.