R. Preston Chew
Encyclopedia
Roger Preston Chew was a noted horse artillery
commander in the Confederate
Army of Northern Virginia
during the American Civil War
. After the war, he was a prominent West Virginia
businessman and railroad executive.
Chew was born into a prominent family in Charles Town, West Virginia
(then Virginia). The Chew family owned the The Hermitage
, one of the oldest houses in western Virginia.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, young Chew raised a battery of horse artillery
, "Chew's Battery," which eventually became part of the famous Laurel Brigade under Stonewall Jackson
's command. He participated in all Jackson's campaigns until Jackson's death in May 1863; and, despite his youth, was promoted to the chief of the cavalry's guns under J.E.B. Stuart
. He served through the Gettysburg Campaign
, the Wilderness
, Spotsylvania Court House
, Cold Harbor
, the Siege of Petersburg
, and the Appomattox Campaign
.
After the war, Chew married Louise Fontaine Washington, daughter of the last owner of Mount Vernon
at Blakeley
. He engaged in numerous business ventures and was the president of the Eagle Manufacturing Company. In 1883, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
constructed what became known as Chew's Siding, a private spur that led from the main line to Chew's business. In 1890, with several business partners, he formed the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company
and became its first president.
Chew's wife, purchased her financially struggling uncle's mansion, "Blakeley"
, in 1875, and maintained ownership until 1892 when she sold it.
Horse artillery
Horse artillery was a type of light, fast-moving and fast-firing artillery which provided highly mobile fire support to European and American armies from the 17th to the early 20th century...
commander in the Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After the war, he was a prominent West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
businessman and railroad executive.
Chew was born into a prominent family in Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
(then Virginia). The Chew family owned the The Hermitage
The Hermitage (Charles Town, West Virginia)
The Hermitage near Charles Town, West Virginia is a small stone cottage dating to circa 1734, making it one of the oldest buildings in West Virginia. A stone privy is believed to be the oldest structure of its kind in the state. The house is associated with the Chew family, and in particular...
, one of the oldest houses in western Virginia.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, young Chew raised a battery of horse artillery
Horse artillery
Horse artillery was a type of light, fast-moving and fast-firing artillery which provided highly mobile fire support to European and American armies from the 17th to the early 20th century...
, "Chew's Battery," which eventually became part of the famous Laurel Brigade under Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
's command. He participated in all Jackson's campaigns until Jackson's death in May 1863; and, despite his youth, was promoted to the chief of the cavalry's guns under J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart
James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was a U.S. Army officer from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names. Stuart was a cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use...
. He served through the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
, the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
, Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
, Cold Harbor
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought from May 31 to June 12, 1864 . It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign during the American Civil War, and is remembered as one of American history's bloodiest, most lopsided battles...
, the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
, and the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
.
After the war, Chew married Louise Fontaine Washington, daughter of the last owner of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
at Blakeley
Blakeley (West Virginia)
Blakeley, near Charles Town, West Virginia is also known as the Washington - Chew - Funkhouser House, and was built in 1820 by John Augustine Washington II, great-nephew of George Washington and son of John Augustine Washington. It is a contemporary of its neighbor, Claymont Court, built across...
. He engaged in numerous business ventures and was the president of the Eagle Manufacturing Company. In 1883, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad (N&W)
Shenandoah Valley Railroad was a line completed on June 19, 1882 extending down the Shenandoah Valley from Hagerstown, Maryland USA through the West Virginia panhandle into Virginia to reach Roanoke, Virginia and to connect with the Norfolk and Western Railway . The development of this railroad had...
constructed what became known as Chew's Siding, a private spur that led from the main line to Chew's business. In 1890, with several business partners, he formed the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company
Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company Building
The Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company Building in Ranson, West Virginia is a Romanesque Revival building that now serves as Ranson's City Hall. It was built for the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company in 1891 as its headquarters. The CMM&I sought...
and became its first president.
Chew's wife, purchased her financially struggling uncle's mansion, "Blakeley"
Blakeley (West Virginia)
Blakeley, near Charles Town, West Virginia is also known as the Washington - Chew - Funkhouser House, and was built in 1820 by John Augustine Washington II, great-nephew of George Washington and son of John Augustine Washington. It is a contemporary of its neighbor, Claymont Court, built across...
, in 1875, and maintained ownership until 1892 when she sold it.