Book Review: The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations

Authors

Wylie W. Johnson

Files

Description

Author: Patrick K. O'Donnell

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, US Army War College class of 2010

The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations, by Patrick K. O’Donnell and reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, explores the Civil War–era precursors of today’s special operations forces. Broken into three sections, the book covers rival groups—the Jessie Scouts and Mosby’s Rangers, the Confederate Secret Service, and Sheridan’s Scouts and the retribution they wreaked upon their enemies. The reviewer calls it “. . . a strong reminder of the outsized impact that specialized units make upon military campaigns.”

©2025 Wylie W. Johnson

Publication Date

9-4-2025

Keywords

US Civil War, history, military leadership, military strategy

Disciplines

Defense and Security Studies

Recommended Citation

Wylie W. Johnson, Book Review: The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations ( US Army War College Press, 2025),
https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/86