Mosby and the Lincoln Conspiracies

[wpbinzel]

I have learned from Dave Goetz that his latest book, Ever the Gray Ghost: Colonel John Singleton Mosby and the Lincoln Conspiracies has just been published. For those who do not know him, Mr. Goetz is a foremost authority on Mosby. Dave said, "I have just under 150 images, more than 600 end-notes and a 6,400-word bibliography in this heavily-annotated work." An overview of the book is pasted below.

Hard-bound copies of the book may be ordered for $35.00 (including tax, shipping and handling). Send your check payble and to: David Goetz, P. O. Box 1240, Warrenton, VA, 20188.

David Goetz presents: Ever the Gray Ghost: Colonel John
Singleton Mosby and the Lincoln Conspiracy

In his presentation of Ever the Gray Ghost: Colonel John Singleton Mosby and the Lincoln Conspiracies, author David Goetz begins by examining the background of individuals and groups from both sides in the War Between the States who wanted to capture or kill Confederate President Jefferson Davis and U. S. President Abraham Lincoln.

From these outlines, Goetz explores Colonel Mosby’s role, as well as that of his Rangers in the war, but especially the Lincoln conspiracies. He further reviews Mosby’s service as a soldier and spy under his commanding officer, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and, after Stuart’s death, Gen. Robert E. Lee; his perfection of the concept of need to know; his communications system with Richmond and the Northern Neck of Virginia and the importance of cover stories for his various actions and those of his men.

Goetz investigates deep-cover Confederate clandestine operatives in Washington and Baltimore. He also traces how Mosby Ranger Lewis Powell was drawn into clandestine work by the Confederate Secret Service and ultimately introduced to John Wilkes Booth, becoming part of his group. He further explores the wide net cast by Mosby’s men and others who observed Booth and David Herold as they fled Washington after Lincoln’s murder.

Further, Goetz examines how the Confederate underground and some of Mosby’s men shadowed Booth and David Herold as they fled down the Secret Line from Washington through Maryland and over to Virginia and, ultimately, on to Garrett’s farm in Caroline County.

A fresh look is given to Mosby’s forming his last company, Co. H, on April 5, 1865, four days before Lee’s surrender to Grant, and how Confederate munitions expert Sgt. Frank Harney was embedded into it. It is believed his mission was to blow up the White House with Lincoln and his cabinet in it, but Co. H was routed in a fight with federal cavalry in Fairfax County, Va. on April 10; Harney and several of his team were captured miles away near the Potomac River. Some of Mosby’s stay-behind group was also in place in Virginia and Maryland to assist Harney escape had his plan succeeded.

The central question in all of this is how much did Mosby know, and was he complicit in an attempt to murder the president of the United States?
It is a fascinating story and offers new insights and focuses on numerous attempts to capture or kill Abraham Lincoln. Although Colonel Mosby’s and his Rangers’ roles have been discussed in many books and publications, Goetz is the first to write a book considering Mosby as an integral part of the Lincoln conspiracies.

In 2012, Goetz published his first book, “Hell is Being a Republican in Virginia”: The Postwar Relationship Between John Singleton Mosby and Ulysses Grant, which explores the search for peace and reconciliation between two former enemies during Reconstruction. Mr. Goetz spent much of his adult life in public relations, sales and marketing, mostly for non-profit organizations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky and a Master of Science in Community Development from the University of Louisville. He is a U.S. Army veteran and received an Honorable Discharge. Now retired, he lives in Culpeper County, Virginia.

[Steve]

Here's a link to an upcoming talk Goetz is scheduled to give about his book on 03 Dec. 2017 in Manassas, for those readers in that area of Virginia who might be interested in attending:

https://www2.virginia.org/listings/Event...spiracies/

[L Verge]

We've been working with Dave for a number of years as he did his research, and he also helped us with some bus trips to Mosby's Valley. Great guy, and I expect this to be a great book. It's about time that someone picked up on the Mosby and the conspirators idea that Tidwell, Hall, and Gaddy introduced nearly thirty years ago.

[Steve]

I'm really interested in reading this book, but I don't see it on Amazon yet. Do you know if it will eventually be available in paperback or will it only be available in hardback?

[L Verge]

(11-07-2017 05:51 PM)Steve Wrote:  I'm really interested in reading this book, but I don't see it on Amazon yet. Do you know if it will eventually be available in paperback or will it only be available in hardback?

I hope to have an answer for you tomorrow because I hope the package from Dave that was sitting on my desk when I left work on Monday is a complimentary copy. If the wholesale price is right, Surratt House will likely be ordering copies for the gift shop.

[L Verge]

Dave Goetz's book on Mosby and connections with the Lincoln conspiracies will soon be in the Surratt House gift shop. It is a very nice, large hardback and is privately published and currently only available through Dave. Because Dave has financed the publication, Surratt House will be selling it at the same price that he is -- $35 plus $3 shipping. If buying through the museum, check or money order to Surratt House Museum, 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735. Visa/MC by phone at 301-868-1121. This would be a great Christmas present.

[BettyO]

I'll definitely be getting a copy - please let us know as soon as possible, Laurie! Thanks!

[L Verge]

(11-09-2017 10:57 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I'll definitely be getting a copy - please let us know as soon as possible, Laurie! Thanks!

I hope we can iron out some problems. Because Dave financed his own publication, he is only accepting cash, checks, or money orders. Our government agency prefers paying via credit, but will agree to a check request if absolutely necessary -- it just takes up to six weeks to get all the paperwork cleared through channels. Also, Dave must register as a vendor and get approved.

If we can't come to a mutual agreement, and you want a speedy copy, I suggest buying from him directly. He will be at the April conference to sign, and I have invited him to speak in 2019.

BTW: The book is dedicated to the staff and volunteers at Surratt House, and acknowledgements are given to our former librarian, Sandra Walia, Joan Chaconas, and myself. Betty, your help is also acknowledged.

[L Verge]

(11-09-2017 04:35 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(11-09-2017 10:57 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I'll definitely be getting a copy - please let us know as soon as possible, Laurie! Thanks!

I hope we can iron out some problems. Because Dave financed his own publication, he is only accepting cash, checks, or money orders. Our government agency prefers paying via credit, but will agree to a check request if absolutely necessary -- it just takes up to six weeks to get all the paperwork cleared through channels. Also, Dave must register as a vendor and get approved.

If we can't come to a mutual agreement, and you want a speedy copy, I suggest buying from him directly. He will be at the April conference to sign, and I have invited him to speak in 2019.

BTW: The book is dedicated to the staff and volunteers at Surratt House, and acknowledgements are given to our former librarian, Sandra Walia, Joan Chaconas, and myself. Betty, your help is also acknowledged.

Hang tight -- it appears that we will be getting a supply of Dave's Mosby book in the gift shop at Surratt House in the near future. We will be offering it at the same price of $35 plus postage and would appreciate your business.

[L Verge]

David Goetz brought his Mosby book to Surratt House in person yesterday, and we now have them priced and on the shelves (a limited supply right now). If interested, contact the museum at 301-868-1121 to make a credit card purchase (Visa, MC, Discover, or AmEx) or send check or money order in the amount of $35 plus $3 postage to 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735. If we are shipping to a Maryland address, 6% sales tax must be added ($2.10).

We cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas if ordered after December 12. We rely on a government mailroom.

Just a note that we found significant errors in the two pages related to the early history of Mary Surratt and the tavern. Therefore, we have included a corrections sheet in the books we are selling (with permission of Dave, who has asked for the corrections for the next printing). Of course, the Surratt history is just a small part of the overall Mosby information contained in this large (312 pages) and well-illustrated book.