TOPIC: Rock N' Roll

You don't have massive fires in Virginia? You'd figure with all those trees you would! Only the really rich people's mud slides, so I don't need to worry about that 

No big fires in VA - Mosby's Raiders, still riding around, apparently stamp them out...

You lost me there, Mosby's Raiders?

Basic Civil War history... 

John Mosby was a general in the Confederate Army of the South, or CSA.  He lead a group of cavalry soldiers, all free-wheeling wild men, undisciplined and smart.  He was allowed free reign, by Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson, to act in ways that weren't typically army like.  There was no saluting, they used guerrilla tactics (learned from studying George Washington), didn't march, camped where ever they wanted and generally had Northern Virginia to themselves (sounds like my Boy Scout troop - you should see one of our Capture the Flag games...).  They liked a small mountain right near my house.  A real group of rascals.

They are regarded as the reason Lincoln didn't send too many thrusts into Northern Virginia.  Lincoln lost both Manassas campaigns, an important railroad cross roads.

They were sometimes referred to as Mosby's Ghosts.  Once they went into Fairfax City and kidnapped three high-ranking Union soldiers, including a general, from the courthouse, escaping before word even got out that he was missing (that night they stayed in my backyard...)  That raid gave them the moniker of "ghosts."  I drive by that courthouse often - it is still there.

The reason Virginia folklore has people paint their front porches light sky blue is to ward off ghosts.  If you do not, it is said, you can still hear Mosby's Raiders as they ride through the area, usually at night, always as a group and heard stopping at your door.  It is also said that they stamp out forest fires to help protect and preserve their former territory.

Here's a quick link:

www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/John_S_Mosby_Raiders.htm

Basic Civil War history...

You do know that Stonewall Jackson is buried in two different spots... right?

No I didn't. I always aced history, love the subject, but I've replaced most of the knowledge with bits and bytes.