One and a half years into the American Civil War, Captain John Singleton Mosby was given a small group of rangers from his former commander, General JEB Stuart to conduct independent partisan operations into Northern Virginia. These rangers would eventually become the 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry and would grow from nine to around 2,000 men.
Mosby’s mission was to attack and harass as many Union outposts, camps, and supply points he could find operating in Northern Virginia. By successfully raiding behind enemy lines Mosby would keep large numbers of Union soldiers guarding the city of Washington, thus denying federal forces in the field from fighting against General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate army. Mosby is considered by military historians as the most successful leader of such partisan guerilla activities.
"Mosby's Confederacy" consisted of four counties in Northern Virginia situated to the west of Washington, with the closest to the Union Capital being Fairfax County. Six local historians take you to forty-two locations in Fairfax County where "Mosby's Rangers" conducted combat operations and describe in vivid detail what happened at each. Through on-site video, hundreds of historical photos, and an accompanying map, this documentary presents a unique visual history of the Civil War.
