Ashby (Virginia) Horse Artillery

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Virginia

“Chew’s Battery”

1861
November 11 Organized with 33 men at Flowing Spring in Jefferson County under the command of Captain Roger Preston Chew (19 years old), 1st Lieutenant Milton Rouse (17 years old), and 2nd Lieutenant James Thomson (18 years old), all former students of Professor Thomas Jackson at Virginia Military Institute.
November-December Operations between Martinsburg, VA., and Dam No. 5 on the Potomac River.
December Assigned to Cavalry, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia, Commanded by legendary cavalry leader Turner Ashby, it would come to be known as the Laurel Brigade.
1862
January 4-15 Bath and Romney expeditions
January 15-
February 23		 Went into winter quarters near Martinsburg
February 24-
March 22		 Operations around Winchester
March 23

Battle of Kernstown

The battery was armed with one 3″ iron rifle, one 12-pounder howitzer, and one 3.1″ Blakely Rifle.
May 19 The battery reorganized. It was assigned to the Cavalry Brigade, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia
May-June
Shenandoah Valley Campaign
May 25

First Battle of Winchester
June 6

Skirmish near Harrisonburg.

Brigadier General Turner Ashby was killed. Brigadier General Beverly H. Robertson took command of Ashby’s Cavalry Brigade.
June 9

Battle of Port Republic
June 18-July 10 Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
July 11-August 9 Operations along the Rapidan River
August 9 Assigned to the Horse Artillery Battalion, Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia
August 28-31

Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)
September 4 Colonel Thomas Taylor Munford took command of the brigade.
September 8 Skirmishing at Poolesvilla and Sugar Loaf Mountain.
September 14

Battle of South Mountain

The battery fought at Crampton’s Gap
September 17

Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The battery was still at Shepherdstown at midafternoon waiting for the recently repaired Blakely Rifle to arrive from Martinsburg. The battery did not reach the battlefield until the fighting ceased around sundown.
September 19-
November 9		 Operations around Charlestown.
November 8 Brigadier General William Jones took command of the brigade.
November 11-14 Operations around Front Royal..
November 15-23 Operations around Charlestown.
November 24-
December 3		 Operations around Winchester.
December Operations between Strasburg and Winchester.
1863
January 2-6 Moorefield, Virginia
January 8-
February 28		 Winter quarters near New Market.
March 1-
April 21

Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
April 21-24 Jones’ Raid into West Virginia. Turned back due to weather and high water in the streams.
April 25-30 March from Franklin to Harrisonburg.
May 1-30 Operations around Harrisonburg
June 9-July 13

Gettysburg Campaign
June 9

Battle of Brandy Station
June 17

Battle of Upperville
July 3

Engagement near Fairfield, Pennsylvania
July 10-13 Skirmishes at Williamsport, Beaver Dam Creek, and Boonsboro
June 14 Retreat behind the Rapidan River
August 2-
October 8		 Operations along the Rapidan
September 16 Assigned to the Horse Artillery Battalion, Fitz Lee’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign
October Brigadier General Thomas Rosser took command of the brigade.
October 19

Battle of Buckland Mills (“Buckland Races”).
October 23 -November 25 Operations along the Rappahannock River.
November 26 –
December 1

Mine Run Campaign
December 2 Went into winter quarters
1864
February Captain Chew was promoted to Chief of the Horse Artillery for the Army of Northern Virginia.
March 3-
May 3		 Operations along the Rappahannock River.
May 3-7

Battle of The Wilderness
May 8-21

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 11

Battle of Yellow Tavern

Major General Stuart was mortally wounded.
May 23-26

North Anna
June 1-3

Battle of Haw’s Shop
June 11
Battle of Trevilian Station
June16-26 Operations around Richmond
June 27-
August 12

Operations around Petersburg
August 13-18 March to Gordonsville
August 18-
September 26		 Encamped at Gordonsville
September Assigned to the Horse Artillery Battalion, Rosser’s Cavalry Division, Army of the Valley.
September 27

Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
October 19

Battle of Tom’s Brook

Neese’s Section was captured.
October 19

Battle of Cedar Creek
1865
January 16 Unable to feed the horses or men, the battery was temporarily disbanded for the winter with orders to reassemble in Lynchburg on April 1.
March Assigned to Breathed’s Battalion, Hose Artillery, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee’s army. The battery broke through the Union lines and escaped capture with Rosser’s Cavalry. They would attempt to join up with Johnston’s army and were paroled with Johnston, burying their cannon and making their way home to the Shenandoah Valley.