Near Front Royal in Warren County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Execution of Mosby’s Men
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 7, 2007
1. Execution of Mosby’s Men Marker
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.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 23, 1864.
Location. 38° 57.188′ N, 78° 12.007′ W. Marker is near Front Royal, Virginia, in Warren County. It is at the intersection of Winchester Avenue (U.S. 340/522) and Guard Hill Road (County Route 637) on Winchester Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Front Royal VA 22630, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in the Shenandoah Valley. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Guard Hill (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Bridges (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Execution of Mosby’s Rangers (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Richardson’s Hill (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
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.
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, August 19, 2007
2. Execution of Mosby's Men Marker
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Also see . . . Battle of Front Royal Virtual Tour by Markers. (Submitted on November 18, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 6,407 times since then and 68 times this year. 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.
