Thursday, October 23 (7:30pm) – Saturday, October 25 (5pm)
Sterling, Virginia
Tour Leader: Horace Mewborn and Bob O’Neill
Registration Fee: $325
Immortalized with the sobriquet “The Gray Ghost” for his legendary hit-and-run tactics, Colonel John S. Mosby seemingly controlled a vast region of fertile farmland and small villages in parts of Fairfax, Loudoun, Clarke and Fauquier counties. From 1863 until the end of the war, this area was known as “Mosby’s Confederacy.” Union forces expended significant amounts of manpower and treasure attempting to gain the upper hand on Mosby’s partisan rangers. But time and again, the diminutive cavalryman foiled numerous Yankee efforts to defeat him and his guerilla band. Our tour is designed to take you to places both inside and outside the boundaries of “Mosby’s Confederacy” as well as some sites little visited by Mosby enthusiasts.
On our first day we will start with a walking tour of Fairfax Court House (present-day downtown Fairfax City.) You will see the Judge William Thomas home which served as headquarters for the mustachioed and controversial Col. Sir Percy Wyndham. We’ll also see the Joshua Gunnell house where Lt. Col. Robert Johnstone stayed and the Antonia Ford house. Ford was a close friend of Jeb Stuart and allegedly spied for Mosby. The final site in Fairfax CH will be the Dr. William Gunnell’s house where Mosby captured Union Brig. Gen Edwin Stoughton in March 1863 while the general was in bed. We will drive to Machen Farm where Mosby’s Rangers surprised a detachment of 16th New York cavalrymen, capturing none other than the later famous Boston Corbett. Before lunch we’ll visit Miskell’s Farm where on April 1, 1863 a detachment of the 1st Vermont Cavalry surprised Mosby in a fight that could have gone either way. After lunch we’ll get inside Mount Zion Church where Mosby formed a 15-man unit for his first raid and where in July 1863 a group Rangers battled the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry in the nearby fields. We’ll pay a visit of Aldie Mill where Mosby first surprised the 1st Vermont Cavalry. Then it’s on to Rector’s Crossroads and the Rector House where Mosby formed Company A, 43rd Battalion and where he met Jeb Stuart to finalize plans for the Gray Cavalier’s famous ride through the Army of the Potomac in June 1863. We’ll drive through Upperville on our return to the hotel.On Saturday we’ll start our tour at Warrenton where we’ll visit the graves of John Mosby and other Rangers. From there we’ll go to Vint Hill to discuss Mosby’s use of artillery in May 1863. Then it’s on to Millwood where, on two occasions, Mosby discussed terms of surrender for his battalion with Union officers. After lunch in Berryville, we visit the site of the Wagon Train Raid where on August 13, 1864 Mosby attacked Sheridan’s supply train as it made its way to Winchester. Finally, we’ll stop at the site of the famous Greenback Raid where Mosby and his Rangers derailed a B&O RR train carrying a Union payroll. Of course, there will be many stories covered by our tour leaders about Mosby and the frustrated Federal cavalry assigned to stop his raiding exploits in northern Virginia.
Our Tour Leaders: Horace Mewborn is an experienced tour leader who has co-authored the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry Mosby’s Command, edited From Mosby’s Command: Newspaper Letters & Articles by and about John S. Mosby and his Rangers, and written three feature issues for Blue & Gray magazine on Mosby’s Rangers. Horace has led numerous tours of “Mosby’s Confederacy” and has lectured widely on the partisan leader throughout the country. He is a veteran of the U. S. Special Forces and spent 20 years with the FBI. This is a rare opportunity to hear about John S. Mosby from a nationally recognized expert.
Robert F. O’Neill is an author, cavalry historian, and experienced battlefield guide. Bob has written articles for Blue & Gray, Gettysburg and other Civil War publications. His study of the cavalry fighting at Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville is considered the definitive work on these battles. His most recent book is Chasing Jeb Stuart and John Mosby: The Union Cavalry in Northern Virginia from Second Manassas to Gettysburg.
Tour Registration Fee: $325
What’s included: motor coach transportation, two lunches, beverage and snack breaks, a map and materials package, all admissions and gratuities, and the services of two experienced tour leaders. Our hotel will provide a complimentary hot and cold breakfast buffet each day. Our headquarters hotel will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from Dulles International Airport. Tour participants are responsible for transportation to the headquarters hotel, and securing a room reservation, if necessary. Dinner is on your own. Tour goes out rain or shine. Please see our policy page for information about cancellations.
Hotel: We have arranged with the headquarters hotel for a group rate of $85.00 per night plus tax (double or single occupancy.) Please call the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott, 22595 Shaw Road, Dulles, VA 20166 at 703-444-3944 and ask for the America’s History group rate. Complimentary airport shuttle provided. This rate will be guaranteed until October 9, so please make your reservations soon.
Register Online:
Register by phone, e-mail or postal mail:
- Toll-free: 1-855-OUR-HISTORY (687-4478)
- Email us at: info@AmericasHistoryLLC.com
- Postal mail: America’s History LLC, P. O. Box 1076, Goochland, VA 23063
Visa, Master Card and Discover accepted. We take checks too!