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Cary speaks in Virginia

Carolyn Cary, the local author and historian from Fayette CountyÊwho wrote “William Thomas Overby, Proud Partisan Ranger,” was the keynote speaker in Front Royal, Va., at the annual Memorial Ceremony. The eventÊhonors the bravery ofÊseven men of Colonel John Singleton Mosby's Battalion, the 43rdÊVirginia Cavalry. Overby, of Coweta County,Êwas one of these men.

The city of Front Royal and the surrounding counties were known as Mosby's Confederacy. The "Gray Ghost" so dominated the wartimeÊevents of this areaÊthat its estimated that this 800 manÊConfederate unit tied up and kept occupied andÊaway from other duties between thirty and forty thousand Union Troops. The frustration of being unable to successfully cope with Mosby and his tactics wasÊbehind the execution slayings of six of his solders Sept. 23, 1864,Êfor their failure to divulge information as toÊMosbys headquarters location.

As four were executed by firing squad and two were hanged, William Thomas Overby wasÊhung and was defiant to the end, stating, "Mosby will hang ten of you for every one of us." A local witness recalled that Overby had his head erect, had the look of a knight of old.

After the war the survivors of Mosby's command raised funds for a monument to these heroes. It was placed at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Front Royal Sept. 23, 1899 — 35 years after the slayings. The 25-foot monument is made of granite and has the six men's names engraved upon it plus a seventh that was executed a few days later.

William Thomas Overby's short life affected many people from Coweta County to Virginia. Cary has brought these people together and told an important story.

Cary is a member of The Ladies Auxiliary of The Sharpsburg Sharpshooters/Private William Thomas Overby Memorial Camp #1729 in Sharpsburg.