--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only three men in the Confederate army…" description: "\"Only three men in the Confederate army knew what I was doing or intended to do; they were Lee and Stuart and myself.\" — John S. Mosby" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg" --- # Only three men in the Confederate army knew what I was… ![“Only three men in the Confederate army knew what I was doing or intended to do; they were Lee and Stuart and myself.” quote by John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg) > “Only three men in the Confederate army knew what I was doing or intended to do; they were Lee and Stuart and myself.” [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mosby claims only three Confederate leaders understood his plans, highlighting his isolation and unique tactics. **In simple terms:** Few understood his strategy. Key Takeaway Embrace unique approaches despite limited support. Themes leadership strategy isolation military history Mood reflective historical Type biographical strategic When to use this quote - military training - leadership workshops - historical analysis Key Concepts unconventional warfare personal legacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess the impact of your ideas? - What value does isolation bring to innovation? A Different Perspective May overstate personal importance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-knew-990718/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) [Confederate Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate-army-1789937/) [Lee Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lee-stuart-2273300/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-confederate-1789935/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [...there are at the present moment many colored men in the Confederate Army...as real soldiers, having muskets on their shoulders, and bullets in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/there-are-at-the-present-moment-many-colored-men-in-the-confederate-2/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“The copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel successes, and belittled those of the Union army. It was, with a large following, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-copperhead-disreputable-portion-of-the-press-magnified-rebel/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [There are at present many Coloured men in the Confederate Army doing duty not only as cooks, servants and labourers, but real soldiers, having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/there-are-at-present-many-coloured-men-in-the-confederate-army-doing/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There are at the present moment many colored men in the Confederate army doing duty not only as cooks, servants and laborers , but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/there-are-at-the-present-moment-many-colored-men-in-the-confederate/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Wheelock Commandery 5, Texas, ceased to exist when its 55 members joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and all were subsequently killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-harrison/wheelock-commandery-5-texas-ceased-to-exist-when-its-55-members/) [Steven L. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-l-harrison/) > [“This was crazy. Celeste had merely said her relatives would love to have her stay with them, they had plenty of room. She hadn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-noble/this-was-crazy-celeste-had-merely-said-her-relatives-would-love-to/) [Shelley Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-noble/) > [At least in cities where the Confederate Army established a base of operations, young women were overwhelmed by the number of prospective suitors. Thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/at-least-in-cities-where-the-confederate-army-established-a-base-of/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [Sir" said Mrs. Meade indignantly. "There are NO deserters in the Confederate army." "I beg your pardon," said Rhett with mock humility. "I meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/sir-said-mrs-meade-indignantly-there-are-no-deserters-in-the/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the beginning of the war, Southern women wanted their men to leave - in droves, and as quickly as possible. They were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/in-the-beginning-of-the-war-southern-women-wanted-their-men-to-leave/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [In the Confederate Army, an officer was judged by stark courage alone, and this made it possible for the Confederacy to live four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesty-puller/in-the-confederate-army-an-officer-was-judged-by-stark-courage-alone/) [Chesty Puller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesty-puller/) > [“As he reached the slight elevation he beheld the Confederate army sweeping down upon him. Their skirmish line fired at him, killing his orderly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-olney/as-he-reached-the-slight-elevation-he-beheld-the-confederate-army/) [Warren Olney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-olney/) > [I'd learned a lot in the Army. I knew that above all things in the world I had to become so big, so strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-d-learned-a-lot-in-the-army-i-knew-that-above-all-things-in-the/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I had to join the army, because I knew I would be inside or dead otherwise. I needed someone to channel my anger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-had-to-join-the-army-because-i-knew-i-would-be-inside-or-dead/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [Frankly, I joined the Army because college is really damn expensive, and they were going to help with that, and I joined the Army…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/frankly-i-joined-the-army-because-college-is-really-damn-expensive/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“Though the army knew the M-16 had technical problems that needed technical solutions, combat units were blamed for their rifle’s worrisome traits. The troops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-chivers/though-the-army-knew-the-m-16-had-technical-problems-that-needed/) [C.J. Chivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-chivers/) ## More by John S. Mosby > [He was a Baptist minister who prayed through his six-shooter which he claimed was the most efficacious form of prayer, especially in dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/he-was-a-baptist-minister-who-prayed-through-his-six-shooter-which-he/) [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) > [Well, it made you famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/well-it-made-you-famous/) [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) > [War loses a great deal of its romance after a soldier has seen his first battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/war-loses-a-great-deal-of-its-romance-after-a-soldier-has-seen-his/) [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) > [General, get up dress quick you are a prisoner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/general-get-up-dress-quick-you-are-a-prisoner/) [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) > [War loses a great deal of its romance after a soldier has seen his first battle. I have a more vivid recollection of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/war-loses-a-great-deal-of-its-romance-after-a-soldier-has-seen-his-2/) [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) > [The military value of a partisan's work is not measured by the amount of property destroyed, or the number of men killed or captured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/the-military-value-of-a-partisan-s-work-is-not-measured-by-the-amount/) [John S. Mosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) [Explore all 7 John S. Mosby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only three men in the Confederate army knew what I was doing or intended to do; they were Lee and Stuart and myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John S. Mosby" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-knew-what-i-was-doing-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-knew-what-i-was-doing-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-s-mosby-49466_army_only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-k_1020657.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only three men in the Confederate army knew what I was doing or intended to do; they were Lee and Stuart and…” — John S. Mosby", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John S. Mosby", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-mosby/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only three men in the Confederate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-knew-what-i-was-doing-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-mosby/only-three-men-in-the-confederate-army-knew-what-i-was-doing-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```