Gary Roth - A.K.A. John W. Munson
John Munson was born in 1845 and was 15 when the war started. Like many young men, he was caught up in the excitement and longed to be a part of the struggle. At age 17, Johnny just had to meet and join the already notable John Mosby. Johnny walked 10 days from Richmond to Mr. Blackwell's home, which was Mosby's headquarters at the time to join up.
John Munson participated in most of the actions of Mosby's Rangers through the end of the war. Munson didn't talk much when he rode and Mosby liked that because he often planned actions while he rode and didn't like his thoughts interrupted. Mosby often said to Johnny "Mount your horse Munson and come along with me".
Munson rode as a member of Company D, known for its flamboyant style and dress. He was shot in the back near Dranesville by a prisoner of his whom he failed to disarm. He was also captured in October 1864 near Upperville by the 8th Illinois Cavalry and escaped soon after to rejoin Mosby through out the end of the war.
After the war, Munson married, had six children, and operated the Munson Stencil Machine Company in St. Louis. He eventually moved to Orange NJ and then retired to Long Island where he raised pure bred horses. He died there on March 12, 1908 at age 63. A few years before his death he wrote a book about his experiences with the Rangers, entitled "Reminiscences of a Mosby Guerilla" published in 1906.
I selected John Munson as my persona for several reasons. Johnny saw nearly all of the actions of Mosby's Rangers and, with his book, he would be good "eyes' to view the Mosby's Rangers history. He was quiet, observant, and willing to carry out orders. Johnny had a career in managing a manufacturing company. Perhaps most attractive was his enjoyment of horses. My horse Orion has agreed to take the persona of Johnny's favorite war horse "Champ", known to be "absolutely controllable in the hottest sort of action".