John Mobberly

John W. Mobberly
Military Portrait of John Mobberly
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service / branch	Confederate 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 -

John W. Mobberly, also known as John Mobley or Morbly, (June 1, 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.

Biography

Mobberly was born near Neersville, Virginia. During the Civil War, after an altercation with Federal troops at a local farm, 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.

During a May 17, 1864, skirmish with the Loudoun Rangers at Waterford, Mobberly shot Charles Stewart in the face, drawing ire from Federal sympathizers. Eight days later, he raided Berlin, Maryland (present day Brunswick).

On November 10, in what became known as the Halltown Raid, he attacked a supply wagon en route to Halltown from Charles Town. On the 19th, Mobberly led a charge of the 35th against the pro-Union Swamp Dragons in central West Virginia.

On January 17, 1865, while serving as a scout, Mobberly led the advance guard in the George's Schoolhouse Raid. His luck ran out on April 5 when Charles Stewart, who survived the wounds inflicted by Mobberly in 1864, and a group of locals and Loudoun Rangers ambushed and killed Mobberly at Luther H. Potterfield's barn outside of Lovettsville.

References

• Crouch, Richard E. Rough-Riding Scout: The Story of John Mobberly, Loudoun's Own Civil War Guerrilla Hero. Elden Editions: Arlington, Va., 1994.

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