American Historical Ephemera and Photography

8 7/8 x 6 1/2 in. albumen print on cardstock mount (toning to print, soiling and wear to mount). Signed ("Jno. S. Mosby") on mount recto, along with inscription "Baltimore / March 1866" through which a bold line has been drawn to signify incorrect information. Below, "Richmond April 1887" has been inscribed in what appears to be the same hand. This likely signifies that though the original photograph might have been captured in Baltimore in 1866, this later albumen print was created, signed, and inscribed by Mosby in 1887. Verso bears 9 ink identifications that appear to be written in Mosby's hand, corresponding to red inked numbers written on the subjects themselves including 1. "John S. Mosby Colonel C.S.A." 4. "W. B. Palmer," 6. "Henry Sennott [sic]," 7. "John Puryear," 8. "John W. Munson," 10. "Tom Booker," 11. "A. G. Babcock," 14. "Norman Randolph," and 15. "Frank Raum." Modern pencil inscriptions fill in the remaining numbers. Affixed newspaper clippings appear next to the list of names, featuring coverage of Mosby and the unveiling of a Virginia monument honoring six of Mosby's men killed by order of General Custer:

"Mosby's command was composed of daring, reckless young fellows, who were reared among the scenes of their exploits in the valley of Virginia. Their dashing raids, their coups and their mysterious presence are matters of history. On the day of their death, the six men formed a portion of a squad which attacked a Federal ambulance train near Front Royal. They were repulsed by the timely arrival of a reserve brigade of cavalry belonging to Custer's division...Six of Mosby's men were captured, and in retaliation for McMasters's death, were killed by Gen. Custer's order, one of the men being dragged to death in the streets of Front Royal...It is in memory of the Confederates that the marble memorial was unveiled to-day with impressive ceremonies."

Mosby appears here in a plumed hat, surrounded by members of his cavalry regiment, the 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion, also known as "Mosby's Rangers" or "Mosby's Men." Front Row, left to right: Walter W. Gosden, Harry T. Sinnott, Otho L. Butler, Isaac A. Gentry. Middle Row, left to right: Sergeant Robert B. Parrott, Thomas Throop, John W. Munson, Colonel John Singleton Mosby, Alphonso M. Newell, Charles H. Quarles. Top Row, left to right: H. Lee Howison, Lieutenant W. Ben Palmer, Lieutenant John W. Puryear, Sergeant Thomas Booker, Sergeant Alexander G. Babcock, Norman V. Randolph, Lieutenant Frank H. Rahm.