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By RONA SCHAEPMAN
Arundel Newspapers Staff Writer
The Gray Ghost is coming back — but in a way even he might find curious: in poetry and opera.
Patrick Allen, who currently makes his home in Sperryville, has composed “Tales from the Debatable Land,” an opera based on the life and exploits of Confederate Col. John Singleton Mosby.
The production will premiere Jan. 20 at Washington’s Gay St. Theatre, under the auspices of the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and the Cjgjnmunity.
Col. Mosby, bom in Edgemont, Va. in 1833, was a Confederate scout and guerilla leader, at first associated with Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s regiment. In December of 1862, he formed an independent cavalry battalion, which became the legendary Mosby’s Raiders, known up and down the Shenandoah Valley.
Seemingly disorganized and undisciplined, Mosby’s Rangers raided Union camps, disrupted Federal supply lines and cut communications of the Northern commanders throughout Virginia and Maryland. With no regimentation or common camp, the Rangers boarded where it suited them and scattered after missions to link up later at predetermined rendezvous points.
Their habit of dividing captured Union property among themselves caused the Federal troops to regard them as common criminals rather than legitimate Confederate forces. ♦ Composer Allen said his time •spent in this area, including bike Itrips and a stint in the Navy, developed his love for Virginia and its history. Mosby’s life, which was told to ;Allen and later revealed through his •own explorations, inspired him and •awakened his life-long musical and rliterary talents. I However, he says, he is nothing ’like the fabled hero — except in taking risks. “I have no regrets. One jhas to take risks.” • He has seen a few during his life, •travelling through Canada, the ^Northwest, Southern United States land Mexico. He has held many jobs, Iranging from cafe entertainer to •computer software programmer. * Meanwhile, Allen has pursued jhis interest in Civil War history, bik*ing now from his base in Sperryville •or Manassas as he did from Oceania •and Virginia Beach. ! Mosby has been a long-time inJterest.
J “People kept dragging me •around to see places he’d been, to t t
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