Mosby's Men

By: John H. Alexander

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

Mosby's Men is John H. Alexander's eyewitness account of his days with Mosby's Confederate Raiders, a small band of about 400 rough riders who chased 40,000 Union soldiers during the height of the Civil War. Riding 50 miles a day with very little rest, Mosby's Men perfected the "skedaddle", a baffling, highly effective guerrilla tactic that enabled them to make sneak attacks, evade capture, and constantly traverse enemy territory. The Raiders gained great acclaim in the Confederacy for their success, and ultimately forced the Union soldiers to within 50 miles of their capital. Alexander's detailed, down-to-earth, disarming account makes Mosby's Men an essential memoir about the Civil War and some of its most daring soldiers.

Public Domain (P)1988 Recorded Books, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Dietz brings our the color and adventure of Alexander's well-written book." (The Express)

brave rebel heart / cool yankee mind

john mosby's early life was a steady dose of adversity
he flunked out of hampden-sydney college after 2 years
never weighing more than 125 lbs. he was picked on constantly

he couldn't get through UVA without being thrown in jail
after becoming a lawyer he moved to far away SW virginia
he wanted to leave privilege and landed gentry behind

prior to the war he supported the union and feared secession
when the conflict finally came he enlisted as a CSA private
he didn't seek or receive any special treatment

the confederate generals fought as they were taught at west point
their union general classmates sort of knew what to expect
mosby would have none of that style of war

vietnam / afghanistan / guatemala / eastern congo
prolonged small arms insurgency and local guerilla warfare
mosby knew this hit-and-run style of war by heart

the story is told with excellent narration and an ironic text
? could the south have held out longer
? was a guerilla style of war better suited to their assets

it is hard to sympathize with an army that fought to defend slavery
the south was outgunned and outmanned from the beginning
john mosby did 1) what he could 2) with what he had 3) where he was

there is a lesson there for modern southern readers
think strategically and move the fight to the arena of your advantage
have a brave rebel heart but connect it to a cool yankee mind

Not all that good.

The story told is about the writer, not about Mosby. I found it lacking in substance and a bit short on story. Not worth the credit or money.