Gray Ghost And His Featherbed Guerrillas: A Leadership Analysis Of John S. Mosby And The 43rd Virginia Cavalry by Pyott Major Michael D.;

Author:Pyott, Major Michael D.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Golden Springs Publishing
Published: 2014-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Growth of a Battalion

On 1 October 1863 Mosby assembled his men near Scuffleburg and he assigned sixty of them to Company B, 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry. He conducted an election as he had previously with the men only confirming the officers he selected.{168} In keeping with his practice of establishing confidence in the command, he sent Company B on a raid the very next day and they succeeded in capturing six prisoners and twenty-seven horses with no losses.{169}

Mosby spent the majority of October capturing prisoners, horses and mules and conducting reconnaissance for Stuart. On 26 October 1863 he conducted another daring operation. Mosby with fifty of his men infiltrated the Union lines near Warrenton pretending to be Union soldiers. They moved to a remote portion of the Warrenton and Gainesville Turnpike that they had previously scouted. Mosby observed a wagon train of approximately forty to fifty wagons that were escorted by two separate Union forces that protected only the front and rear of the wagon convoy. Mosby determined the best course of action was to attack the wagons in the center and leave before the Union forces could counterattack. Posing as Union officials Mosby and his men stopped the center of the wagon train without the wagon drivers raising an alarm. Union cavalry arrived before Mosby could destroy the wagons but he was able to capture 145 horses and mules, and a number of prisoners without firing a shot.{170} Mosby used the tactics of infiltration to surprise the Union forces instead of placing his men at risk by boldly attacking. This demonstrated that Mosby had assessed his previous mistakes and learned from them. He adapted to the situation and improved his tactical proficiency.

On 7 December 1863, Mosby called for a meeting of his men in Rectortown. Here, he formed Company C of the 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry and conducted elections as he had previously. Mosby also presented to his men membership cards signed by him recognizing the holder as a member of his command.{171} Mosby conducted an operation with this new company on Brandy Station along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Mosby discovered that the Union forces had placed a heavy guard force along the rail line and constructed fortified positions at stations and bridges. Mosby’s mission succeeded in only capturing prisoners.{172}

Mosby only conducted limited operations during December of 1863. The weather turned very cold and the strength of the Union forces prevented Mosby from conducting anything other than the capture of prisoners and some supplies. Mosby and his men spent a large amount of time resting and organizing.{173} It is important to mention Mosby’s men and his discipline because he was relying on them and their conduct as they stayed with supporters in the countryside.

Although for the most part good fighting men, his rangers were, in some ways, the “featherbed soldiers” they were accused of being. They were strangers to camp routine. They slept not outdoors but in comfortable quarters provided by a sympathetic populace. They seldom even made coffee for themselves, let alone fired bacon , soaked hardtack, or washed a shirt.

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