“The Sad, sorrowful, and pathetic scene at Salem”

Col. John S. Mosby Library of Congress
Col. John S. Mosby
Library of Congress

Growing up in the region called “Mosby’s Confederacy,” the memory of John S. Mosby was never far.  The main road I traveled as a kid was called “John S Mosby Highway.”  Historic markers line the road with references to Mosby and his band of Rangers or Raiders.  My high school (Loudoun County High School) mascot “Raiders” is based off of Mosby’s command. When people ask me “how did you become interested in history?” I usually reference John S. Mosby.  His tales were legendary, and even the true stories were pretty amazing too.  How could anyone grow up in this region, touching history every day, and not be impacted?

For me it was easy. Before my recollections, history—Civil War history—was a passion. I read about the Gray Ghost, his capture of a Union General, protecting the local population from the “Yankees.”  No, the politics of the war and slavery were not in the mind of a 9 year old—just the daring and dashing “Robin Hood” of Loudoun County.  I can clearly remember the day I learned that I had an ancestor that rode with Mosby.

So, it was always on April 21st that my mind would drift to a place called Marshall (war-time Salem).  A small town off of Interstate 66 in northern Fauquier County.  Here, nearly two weeks after Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Mosby called his men together like he had done so many times before. Messages were sent out to the area; men rendezvoused for one more mission.  Much like the Minutemen of 1775, these were citizen soldiers who responded to frequent calls to meet threats and to answer their commander’s call.

The men sat on horseback in a field just north of the main road leading through Salem.  Out rode Mosby and rode along the line of 200 rangers who were assembled.  Most guessed why they were here, but still none were prepared for the words that Mosby’s younger brother, William, read aloud: “Soldiers! I have summed you together for the last time.  The vision we have cherished of a free and independent country, has vanished, and that country, is not the spoil of a conqueror.  I disband your organization in preference to surrendering it to our enemies.  I am now no longer your commander.  After association of more than two eventful years, I part from you with a just pride, in the fame of your achievements, and grateful recollections of your generous kindness to myself. And now at this moment of bidding you a final adieu accept the assurance of my unchanging confidence and regard.  Farewell.  Jno S. Mosby Colonel.” tumblr_mcsh9h9MPB1rd3evlo1_500

With those simple words, the Gray Ghost was no more.  Mosby shook the hand of every Ranger who rode up to him.  There was not a dry eye among his men.  Many years later, Mosby described that day as “the sad, sorrowful and pathetic scene at Salem.”

On this, the 150th anniversary of Mosby’s disbandment, I will again drive to that place where the legend of the Gray Ghost was born.  Not to dive into the causes of the fight, not to debate the morality of the men who fought with Mosby.  But to remember them and to step where “history happened.”  And though now much older and wiser on the deep meanings and impacts of the war, I will probably think back to that 9-year-old kid who dreamed of riding with Mosby.



10 Responses to “The Sad, sorrowful, and pathetic scene at Salem”

  1. I too had an ancestor who rode with Mosby: Josiah Green Low of Company D. He was not present at Salem on April 21, but was imprisoned at Fort Warren. He had been captured March 5 and first went to Capitol Prison hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound. On his paperwork for the transfer from hospital to prison is scrawled in large, emphatic cursive: GUERRILLA. My great-great-grandfather, the guerrilla! He was not released from prison until the last week of June.

    1. Amanda. I am writing a book about Josiah’s cousin, John Low, who served in the Confederate States Navy for 4 years of the war. Before joining the navy he served in the Georgia Hussars in Savannah but left for the sea before they moved north to Virginia. There’s a record of a J.G. Low serving in the Georgia Volunteer Cavalry at about the same time. Would that be your great-great grandfather, Josiah Green Low? It would make sense that Josiah and John joined up together in May 1861 in Savannah.
      Also, Josiah had a younger brother, Andrew Morton Low. Do you know if he served in the army too?
      I’d love to hear anything you can tell me about Josiah and Andrew and their parents, John and Eliza (Green) Low. If you get this, please feel free to contact me at bobthorp30@gmail.com. I’m interested in all this because I’m descended from William C.
      Miller whose company built CSS Florida which John Low delivered from Liverpool to Lt. Maffitt at Nassau.

  2. You do a nice job of getting at the “human” element of this, Rob. Mosby is one of those legends that’s sometimes hard for people to see as flesh and blood. But this really does a nice job of showing his connection to his men–and your connection to him. Thanks for sharing.

  3. I grew up on Salem Avenue in Marshall (Salem) just around the corner from the assembly field. I too grew up on the Mosby stories and have a heavy heart today.

  4. Chuck, the event the Mosby Heritage Assn had this past Sunday was very well attended as well. Marshall is a great town, very changed in the past 10 years.

  5. A very well written account of John Singleton Mosby. Our family has many stories of the Civil War and tales of John S. Mosby and Robert E.Lee. My side of the family is related to Robert E. Lee, my husband is related to John S. Mosby. They were our (many) Great Uncles.
    Kathryn Lee Mosby

  6. I enjoyed the article very much. Thank you! I’m so glad someone wrote about the war’s end for the Rangers.
    I was wondering if you could recommend a favorite biography of J. Mosby? I recently read “Rebel” by Kevin Siepel, but would like to read another book more focused on Mosby’s war experiences. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

    1. I highly recommend both “Mosby’s Rangers” by Jeffrey Wert and “Gray Ghost” by James Ramage.

      1. Ah, thanks so much! I’ve actually been looked at “Mosby’s Rangers” by J. Wert at the library, but I haven’t brought it home yet. Nice to know it’s a good one! It would probably be a good book for the summer. Thanks for the recommendation.

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