7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Virginia

The 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was formed in the spring of 1861 in the Shenandoah Valley and surrendered in April of 1865 at Appomattox Court House. It at one time had 27 companies until it was divided into two regiments and a battalion in June of 1862.

1861
Spring Organized in the Shenandoah Valley for one year state service under Colonel Angus W. Macdonald (West Point Class of 1817)
July 1 Transferred to Confederate service.
July 21 The regiment successfully screened Johnston’s army at Winchester as it slipped away from Patterson to join Confederate forces at Manassas.
July 23 Turner Ashby was appointed lieutenant colonel
September Colonel McDonald was forced to resign due to severe rheumatism. Colonel William E. Jones (West Point Class of 1848) of the 1st Virginia Cavalry failed election and was appointed colonel of the 7th Virginia Cavalry.
September 23 Hanging Rock Pass
September 24-25
Romney
October Assigned to Cavalry, Army of the Valley District
October 16 Bolivar Heights (four companies)
November 13 Chew’s Horse Artillery Battery organized as part of the regiment under the command of Captain R. Preston Chew.
1862
March Colonel Jones was promoted to brigadier general and Lieutenant Colonel Ashby was promoted to colonel.
March 23 
Battle of Kernstown
May – June
Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Assigned to Cavalry, Jackson’s Division, Army of the Valley District. The regiment mustered 27 infantry and cavalry companies. Colonel Ashby was appointed brigadier general on May 23 but was killed before he could be confirmed
June 6
Battle of Harrisonburg (or Good’s Farm)

Colonel Ashby was killed leading a charge against the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves. Colonel Richard H. Dulany took command of the regiment
June 21

The regiment was reorganized.
Ten companies were retained as the 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment.
Ten companies of the regiment were transferred to form the 12th Virginia Cavalry Regiment.
Seven companies were transferred to form the 17th Virginia Cavalry Battalion.
These continued to be brigaded with the 7th Virginia in the Laurel brigade.
One company was transferred to become Company G, 14th Virginia Cavalry Regiment under Major General William Loring.
One company became the Ashby Horse Artillery under Captain Chew.

Captain Thomas C. Marshall was elected major.
August Assigned to Robertson’s Cavalry Brigade, Jackson’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia
August-November Assigned to Robertson’s Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia
August 2

Orange Court House

Major Thomas C. Marshall was captured in a fight with the 5th New York Cavalry Regiment.
August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 28-30

Second Battle or Manassas (Bull Run) 
August 30 Lewis’s Ford
September 8
Poolesville

Captain Myers led a “gallant” charge that saved two guns of Chew’s Battery from capture by the 3rd Indiana Cavalry.
September 16-17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment was commanded by Captain Samuel B. Myers.

From the marker for Munford’s Brigade on the Antietam battlefield:

The 2nd and 12th Virginia Cavalry reached the field on September 16 and took position on the extreme right of the Army of Northern Virginia, to cover the lower crossing of the Antietam. The 7th Virginia took position, on the evening of the 16th, on the Hagerstown Pike, northwest of Sharpsburg. It joined the Brigade on the right on the 17th. The Brigade remained on the right until the close of the battle.
October 16 Charleston
October 30 Major Thomas Marshall was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Myers was promoted to major.
December Assigned to Robertson’s-Jones’s Cavalry Brigade, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia
1863
January 2-5 Expedition to Morefield and Petersburg
April 20-May 21
Jones’s and Imboden’s Raid
April 25 Greenland Gap
April 29 Fairmont
May Assigned to Jones’s Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia
June 9
Battle of Brandy Station
June 19 Middleburg
June 21 Upperville
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C.A. Marshall, Jr.
July 7 Funkstown
September Assigned to Jones’s-Rosser’s Brigade, Hampton’s-Butler’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
October 7 Utz’s Ford
October
Bristoe Campaign
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 22-26
North Anna
May 28 Battle of Haw’s Shop
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June
Siege of Petersburg
June 22
Battle of Reames Station

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C.A. Marshall was wounded.
September 16-17
Beefsteak Raid
September 16-17 Moved to the Shenandoah Valley and assigned to Rosser’s Brigade, F. Lee’s Division, Army of the Valley
September 24

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C.A. Marshall was killed at Luray.
October Major Thomas J. Berry of the 60th Georgia became Acting Colonel of the regiment.
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
November 28 New Creek
1865
January Major Samuel B. Myers died of illness due to exhaustion and exposure
March Assigned to Dearing’s Brigade, Rosser’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
April 9
Appomattox Court House