R. Preston Chew

Roger Preston Chew
Born	April 9, 1843 Loudoun County, Virginia
Died	March 16, 1921 (aged 77) Charles Town, West Virginia
Place of burial	Zion Episcopal Churchyard Charles Town, West Virginia
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–65 (CSA)
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	Stuart Horse Artillery
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Other work	West Virginia Legislature 1882–1888

Roger Preston Chew (April 9, 1843 – March 16, 1921) 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.

Biography

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.^[1]

After the war, Chew married Louise Fontaine Washington, daughter of the last owner of Mount Vernon at Blakeley.^[2] 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.^[3]

Chew's wife, purchased her financially struggling uncle's mansion, "Blakeley", in 1875, and maintained ownership until 1892 when she sold it.^[4]

Notes

1. Longacre (2002)
2. Jean T. Crolius (January 1993), National Register of Historic Places Nomination: The Hermitage (pdf), National Park Service
3. Geoffrey Henry and Jared N. Tuk (April 10, 2001), National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company Building (pdf), National Park Service
4. Michael Pauley (December 7, 1981), National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Blakeley (pdf), National Park Service

References

• Longacre, Edward G., Lee's Cavalrymen: A History of the Mounted Forces of the Army of Northern Virginia, Stackpole Books, 2002, ISBN 0-8117-0898-5.

External links

• Roger Preston Chew at Findagrave.com