HALF DOLLAR TAKEN FROM MOSEBY THE GUERRILLA

1630Boston

Moseby the Guerrilla. is a direct reference to John Singleton Mosby (also spelled Moseby by the contemporary press), the Confederate guerrilla also known as the .Gray Ghost.. During the Civil War, Mosby joined Stuart.s cavalry at Bunker Hill, and made his first scout at Bull Run. Throughout the war he did much to harass the north. While in a sense independent, his command was always part of the cavalry of the army, and he made reports regularly to General Stuart or Lee.

Mosby.s activities during the war are well documented. The challenge is the inscription on this coin . could it have been taken directly from Mosby or one of his guerrillas in December of 1864? Why would he, or for that matter any of his men, be carrying such a high grade 1834 Half Dollar? Who were B.H. and J.P.B.? Union or Confederate soldiers?

Towards the closing months of 1864 the Federal Army was determined to put an end to Mosby's maraudering, yet they were frustrated in every attempt. "Mosby is an old rat," Colonel Charles Russell Lowell of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry wrote, "and has a great many holes."

"The whole country is full of guerillas," reflected Colonel Henry S. Gansevoort of the 13th New York Cavalry. Gansevoort "wearied of the thankless task of fighting guerillas," noting that "Mosby is continually around us."

Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant was so distressed by Mosby's successes that he ordered the partisan commander and his men hanged without trial when captured. Major General Philip Sheridan organized a special task force of 100 men armed with Spencer carbines to hunt down and destroy Mosby's command.

On November 18, 1864, Mosby killed or captured all but two of this force. Mosby was promoted colonel in December 1864 and his command had increased to 800 men, however, the war was by now coming to its conclusion. Twelve days after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox on April 9, 1865, Mosby reviewed his troops for the last time and disbanded them at Salem, Virginia. "I am no longer your commander," Mosby told his men, "Farewell."

oldabeintx

One of the more interesting posts. Who remembers The Gray Ghost TV show in the 50's?

Meltdown

Wow. Very interesting. Is the coin now yours? That'd be quite the treasure.

yspsales

Challenge Coin from the day?

Would be neat if other examples exist.

Some research might reveal more.

Saw a college professor on CSPAN the other night talk about Union spy Rebecca Wright. General Sheridan gave her a gold keepsake after the war. After being discovered and run out of town Sheridan got her a job in gov't. Was a neat story.

Hydrant

Very special. Thanks for posting it.

JBK

Fascinating.

The issue is how was it "taken" as Mosby was never captured, although he did have a few close calls.

From Wikipedia, this may have been the connection:

"Mosby had his closest brush with death on December 21, 1864, near Rector's Crossroads in Virginia. While dining with a local family, Mosby was fired on through a window, and the ball entered his abdomen two inches below the navel. He managed to stagger into the bedroom and hide his coat, which had his only insignia of rank. The commander of the Union detachment, Maj. Douglas Frazar of the 13th New York Cavalry, entered the house and—not knowing Mosby's identity—inspected the wound and pronounced it mortal. Although left for dead, Mosby recovered and returned to the war effort once again two months later."

I also found this interesting, as is shows the reconciliation between the North and South following the war:

"After the war, Mosby became a Republican and worked as an attorney, supporting his former enemy's commander, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. He also served as the American consul to Hong Kong and in the U.S. Department of Justice. "

In the 1880s my great-grandfather wrote to notable figures to get their autograph, and Mosby of "Mosby's Rangers (also Raiders)" was one of them,

1630Boston

.> @Meltdown said:

Wow. Very interesting. Is the coin now yours? That'd be quite the treasure.

Not Mine but interesting

1630Boston

Rather than meeting their enemies in open battle, Mosby’s unit would often slip behind Union lines under cover of darkness and capture soldiers and supplies. In one infamous raid in Fairfax County, Virginia, Mosby’s Rangers crept around Union defenses and proceeded to capture 30 soldiers, 50 horses and several officers without ever firing a shot. According to his memoirs, Mosby personally captured General Edwin H. Stoughton by waking him from his bed with a slap to the back. Mosby continued to operate with impunity in Virginia until the end of the war; the regions he haunted became known as “Mosby’s Confederacy.” When Robert E. Lee surrendered in 1865, Mosby disbanded his unit and returned to civilian life. In a startling move that proved controversial in the South, he went on to join Lincoln’s Republican party and serve in Ulysses S. Grant’s presidential administration as the United States consul to Hong Kong

yspsales

Read the account of his being shot. Initials don't match anyone mentioned on the CSA side.

Union soldier did take his pants and boots. Days later they realized it was the Gray Ghost.

Some libraries carry the records of the War. Something like 60 volumes. I am sure this would have been included and fairly easy to track down what Union soldiers played a significant role in the confrontation. Especially after they searched for him days later.

I know where a set used to be, so will take a look if they are open on Saturday.

If digitized can be found, it likely to be in one of these two... The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Volume XLII and XLIII - published around 1893

astrorat

Very cool CBH.

1630Boston

Mosby during the 1860s

Birth name John Singleton Mosby
Nickname(s) "The Gray Ghost"[1]
Born December 6, 1833
Powhatan County, Virginia, U.S.
Died May 30, 1916 (aged 82)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried Warrenton Cemetery
Warrenton, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance Confederate States
Service/branch Confederate States Army
Years of service 1861–1865
Rank Confederate States of America Colonel.png Colonel
Unit 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
Commands held Mosby's Rangers
Battles/wars American Civil War
Battle of Bull Run
Peninsular Campaign
Signature John S Mosby signature.svg

1630Boston

Mosby during the American Civil Wa

Mosby's Rangers-Top row (left to right): Lee Herverson, Ben Palmer, John Puryear, Tom Booker, Norman Randolph, Frank Raham.# Second row: Robert Blanks Parrott, John Troop, John W. Munson, John S. Mosby, Newell, Neely, Quarles.# Third row: Walter Gosden, Harry T. Sinnott, Butler, Gentry.

Mosby had his closest brush with death on December 21, 1864, near Rector's Crossroads in Virginia. While dining with a local family, Mosby was fired on through a window, and the ball entered his abdomen two inches below the navel.[32] He managed to stagger into the bedroom and hide his coat, which had his only insignia of rank. The commander of the Union detachment, Maj. Douglas Frazar of the 13th New York Cavalry, entered the house and—not knowing Mosby's identity—inspected the wound and pronounced it mortal. Although left for dead, Mosby recovered and returned to the war effort once again two months later.[44]

So he was shot on Dec. 21.

JBK

@yspsales said:

Union soldier did take his pants and boots. Days later they realized it was the Gray Ghost.

Maybe it was in his pocket.

Namvet69

Well the date on the coin is very close to the date Mosby was wounded so I think that is significant. Now to link the two sets of initials to Union soldiers would be something special. Peace Roy

1630Boston

Mosby's grave in Warrenton, Virginia

291fifth

The fact that the coin is high grade does nothing to prove it could not have been taken from Moseby in 1864. Half dollars of this type were used as bank reserves and many did not circulate. They just saw around in bank vaults. That is why Capped Bust halves in high grade are so common today.

1630Boston

Of the heist, Confederate General Robert E. Lee would say: “Hurrah for Mosby! I wish I had a hundred like him!” On the other hand, when President Abraham Lincoln heard of the raid, he expressed more concern for the loss of the horses than of his general,
** stating: “I can make brigadier generals, but I can’t make horses.”**

ricko

Seems likely (as posited above) that the coin could have been in his pants (removed by a Union soldier), and when later they realized who he was, had the coin inscribed and gifted to someone. Excellent engraving, so likely had it done by a professional. Cheers, RickO

thebeav

That's a very cool coin. It would be even better if the initials could be identified.

StrikeOutXXX

@yspsales said:
If digitized can be found, it likely to be in one of these two... The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Volume XLII and XLIII - published around 1893

http://collections.library.cornell.edu/moa_new/waro.html