born Dec. 6, 1833, Edgemont, Va., U.S.
died May 30, 1916, Washington, D.C.
U.S. guerrilla leader.
He joined the Confederate cavalry in the American Civil War and was a scout with Jeb Stuart 's troops. He led guerrilla units, called Mosby's Rangers, on raids on Union outposts in northern Virginia and Maryland, disrupting supply and communication lines. His capture of a Union general and 100 of his men behind federal lines (1863) earned him promotion to colonel. After the war he resumed his law practice, and he later served as U.S. consul to Hong Kong (1878–85) and as assistant attorney in the U.S. Justice Department (1904–10).