John Baxter Moseley

He was four years at VMI and was dismissed twice for drinking, but reinstated both times. He enlisted as Captain of Company A in the 21st Infantry on 20 June 1861, and was elected Major of the Regiment on 22 April 1862. He temporarily commanded the 48th Virginia Infantry in May 1862, led them in action at First Winchester, and wrote the after-action report.

He may have commanded the 21st Virginia Infantry by the close of the Battle on 17 September.

He offered his resignation on 26 May 1863, and it was accepted 10 June - possibly related to pending absent without leave (AWOL) charges. He enlisted again, in Company B of the 14th Virginia Cavalry, on 23 August 1864, as Private. He was reported AWOL later that year and on "horse detail" in early 1865.

He was a farmer and music teacher in Virginia.

Service details from the OR1, VMI Archives2, and from Riggs3, who says "[at Antietam]... apparently regimental command devolved upon John B. Moseley." It's not clear why the Major wouldn't have been in command earlier, or gone to Brigade, given the absence of other field-grade officers by the end of the day on 17 September.

The Virginia Historical Society in Richmond has: "A photocopy of a diary, 20 November 1864ñ6 April 1865, kept by John Baxter Moseley (1834ñ1897) of Company B of the 14th Virginia Cavalry Regiment. Entries in the diary concern life in camp (including descriptions of drill, picket duty, and drunkenness in the regiment) and brief accounts of the battle of Five Forks and a cavalry fight near Liberty Mills in December 1864." (MSS5:1M8525:1)

03/12/1834; Appomattox County, VA

08/27/1897; Buckingham County, VA