Col. John Singleton Mosby (1833-1916: Confederate cavalry battalion commander, known as the "Gray Ghost" fro his partisan guerrilla tactics; after Appomattox, disbanded his force rather than surrender) Original handwritten and signed address to his troops, dated at Fauquier, northern Virginia, April 21, 1865, in which he acknowledges defeat, continuing, "I disband your organization in preference to surrendering it to our enemies - I am now no longer your commander;" written in brown ink on lined paper, 9 7/8 x 7 3/4 in.; a vertical fold at center and five horizontal folds. (Multiple copies of the address were written out by Mosby and distributed to his junior officers, who in turn read it to their men)

Laid down on late 19th century photograph mat (a water stain and some uneven toning not affecting the document). Some splitting apparent along the document's folds; the paper toned, with scattered very light foxing; signature slightly bled