Execution of Mosby’s Men Marker

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Near Front Royal in Warren County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Execution of Mosby’s Men

By Craig Swain, October 7, 2007

1. Execution of Mosby’s Men Marker

Inscription. On 23 Sept. 1864 in a fight south of town, some of Lt. Col. John S. Mosby’s Rangers mortally wounded Lt. Charles McMaster, 2nd U. S. Cavalry, after he allegedly surrendered. Union Gen. Alfred T. A. Torbert’s cavalrymen retaliated by executing six captured Rangers nearby. They shot David L. Jones and Lucien Love behind the Methodist Church, Thomas E. Anderson beneath an Elm Tree, and Front Royal Resident Henry Rhodes in a field in front of Rose Hill. They hanged William Thomas Overby and a Ranger named Carter at the W. E. Carson house. Mosby, believing Gen. George A. Custer responsible, on 6 Nov. ordered an equal number of his men executed near Berryville.

Erected 2004 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J 9.)

Location. 38° 57.166′ N, 78° 12.007′ W. Marker is near Front Royal, Virginia, in Warren County. Marker is at the intersection of Winchester Avenue (U.S. 340/522) and Guard Hill Road (County Route 637) on Winchester Avenue. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Front Royal VA 22630, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Guard Hill Engagement (here, next to this marker); Guard Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Bridges (approx. 0.8 miles away); Recreational Center of Front Royal (approx. 1.1 miles away); Execution of Mosby’s Rangers (approx. 1.2 miles away); Richardson’s Hill (approx. 1.2 miles away); Rose Hill (approx. 1.6 miles away); The McKay Home (approx. 2.1 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Front Royal.

By Tom Fuchs, August 19, 2007

2. Execution of Mosby's Men Marker

More about this marker. This marker replaced a marker from the late 1920s or early 1930s with this same number but titled simply “Mosby’s Men” which read, “Near this spot several of Mosby’s men were executed by order of General Custer, September 23, 1864.” The older marker was about 1½ miles closer to Front Royal, near where the execution took place.

Regarding Execution of Mosby’s Men. This marker is one of several from a driving tour of the Front Royal Battlefield. The markers are listed in sequence on the Battle of Front Royal Virtual Tour by Markers link below.

Also see . . . Battle of Front Royal Virtual Tour by Markers. (Submitted on November 18, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Credits. This page originally submitted on September 11, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 779 times since then. Photos: 1. Submitted on October 13, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. Submitted on September 11, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.