No study of the Civil War is complete without Private John S. Mosby, 1st Virginia Cavalry by Gregory P. Wilson. For fans of Mosby, this book is a unique perspective on the larger-than-life character as a young soldier picketing Northern Virginia. This work is a must-have for anyone learning about US history and the sociopolitical reality of its greatest armed conflict.

For those unfamiliar with Mosby, he was known as the Confederacy's "Gray Ghost," a nickname earned later in the war, but grounded in his initial duty in Fairfax County. He was just a green picket and scout, gathering intelligence at a time when the country was experiencing its most divisive, internal turmoil. The parallels between this era and modern times can be drawn easily-and they should be.

Through Private Mosby's eyes, the reader will learn much about the development of tensions in the South throughout the years leading up to the rebellion. The stories of the war are utterly engaging, full of rare moments ignored by many historians. What makes this book so special is the wealth of first-person accounts, Mosby's personal letters, a chapter about his slave and wartime companion, and the vivid stories retold by Wilson.