Rare First Edition of “Partisan Life with Col. John S. Mosby” by Major John Scott

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Rare First Edition of “Partisan Life with Col. John S. Mosby” by Major John Scott – New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1867. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good binding. Small quarto; in the publisher’s green cloth with titling and decorations in gilt to the spine and Col Mosby’s facsimile signature in gilt to the upper board; [vii] – xvi pages, followed by a blank leaf, [19-492 pages; with frontispiece, illustrations, portraits, and folded map.

John Scott, the author of this book, wrote the Partisan Ranger Law on March 27, 1862; the law was approved by the Confederate Congress, on April 21, 1862. The rangers operated, for the most part, autonomously, but they did communicate with regular Confederate forces when they were in close proximity. The intention of the creation of the Partisan Rangers was to provide protection from invading Union armies; however, due to the lack of formal military organization and discipline, caused many of these units to be ineffectual and disorganized. A noteworthy exception was the command of Col. John Singleton Mosby. Operating in Northern Virginia, Mosby’s troops were markedly more organized than most of the partisan groups; indeed, the “ubiquitous Mosby,” as one journalist called him, appeared to be everywhere, and his operations proved to be remarkably effective. This book is a first- hand account of the impressive operations of Mosby’s Partisan Rangers. The book remains in very good condition.