John W. Mobberly | |
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Military Portrait of John Mobberly
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Born |
Loudoun County, Virginia |
June 1, 1844
Died | April 5, 1865 Loudoun County, Virginia |
(aged 20)
Place of burial | Neersville, Virginia |
Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
Service/branch | Confederate States Army |
Years of service | 1862–65 |
Rank | Private |
Unit | Co. A 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry |
Battles/wars |
American Civil War -Battle of Brandy Station -George's Schoolhouse Raid |
John W. Mobberly, also known as John Mobley or Morbly, (C. 1844 – April 5, 1865) was a Confederate guerrilla who operated in the Loudoun Valley and Between the Hills region of Loudoun County, Virginia during the American Civil War. He also served as regular soldier in Elijah V. White's 35th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, nicknamed the "Comanches." Mobberly is sometimes reported as serving under John Mosby, although this is not grounded in fact. His legacy is surrounded in controversy as Federal soldiers and Union sympathizers in Loudoun County accused him of committing war atrocities, including slave-rustling, while pro-Southern Loudoun residents claimed him to be a hero, second only to Mosby in local popularity.
Mobberly was born near Neersville, Virginia around the year 1844 [1]. At the start of the American Civil War Mobberly enlisted in Company A of the 35th Battalion at Hillsboro on September 15, 1862. He saw his first significant combat action at the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863 where he had a horse shot out from under him.
Mobberly, with Mosby's Rangers, fought a May 17, 1864 skirmish with the Loudoun Rangers at Waterford, Mobberly shot a wounded Ranger Charles Stewart several times execution style, drawing ire from Federal sympathizers. Eight days later, he raided Berlin, Maryland (present day Brunswick).