Covers Mosby’s exploits during the Civil War and his life afterwards.
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars Interesting man, horrible narrative
As another reviewer mentioned, the telling of the Mosby story is done so awfully. I could not finish the book because I was not able to get into a rhythm (keep in mind I read about 3-4 books a month). Parts where you’re expecting to have details he summarizes in broad strokes, meanwhile in other places pages and pages are spent on meaningless points.
I gave the book two stars because when the narrative is good (in a few places) it is very good and you learn some interesting facts. There are also some excellent photos/illustrations.
Other than that, I just got done watching a Civil War Journal episode done on Mosby and it pretty much summed up much more effectively what Virgil took about 300 pages doing. It doesn’t look like there is a solid bio out there, other than his own memoirs. I should have started their in the first place.
1 Star Painful reading – disjointed and stilted language
I bought this book with great enthusiasm due to the reviews I read here. It has taken me three weeks to literaly “plow” through this disjointed and just plain difficult to follow narrative. The attemps at literary fluorish are constant distraction and hinder the reader’s progress. This book is written as if someone simply took various accounts from other sources and cobbled them together with no idea how to make truly fascinating events into a readable story. There are areas where there is given painfully intricate detail in non-essential minutae and then where there could be benefit from detail there is only the briefest passing mention of important events. There has to be a better book on this.
5 Stars Fascinating!
I was totally amazed at the greatness and importance of Mosby. If only there were more men like him in the South! His valiant deeds extended the war (not that long wars are better) quite a bit, I think. This book shows you a new (at least not as well known) aspect of the Civil War. Those of you who love the South will find their hearts beating as Mosby makes his dashing raides behind Yankee lines. It is almost unbelievable! Get it, by all means.
5 Stars Lost Opportunity for the South (& Viet Nam)
I would suspect that this book never made it to the shelves of West Point. The West Point Generals in the Civil War (as well as Vietnam) just never understood Guerilla warfare. If Generals Lee and Westmoreland had only employed Mosby’s techniques, we would have won both wars (I’m from Virginia). In reading the book from this point of view, it was a real “Fountainhead.” Ranger Mosby was Roak in every sense of the word. He was daring, he persevered, and he endured. The book brought to life more than any other book I’ve read (including Cold Mountain) the excitement of that era.
5 Stars Informative history and exciting reading – a must read!
I have read Mosby’s Memoirs, Mosby’s Rangers and Rebel-The Life & Times of John Singleton Mosby. Ranger Mosby by Virgil C Jones is the best of the lot. An insight to the adventurous daring of Mosby and his men; an event in history never to be repeated by men of such daring and cunning skills. Required reading for every Civil War enthusiast.
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