Collection is open for research.
Permission to publish material from the Roger P. Chew Report must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Roger P. Chew Report, Ms2013-038, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Roger P. Chew Report was completed in July 2013.
The collection was purchased by Special Collections in July 2013.
Roger Preston Chew, born April 9, 1843 in Loudan County, Virginia, was a Confederate commander during the Civil War. Having graduated from the Virginia Military Institute after completing an accelerated program, Chew served as captain of the "Ashby" Battery of the horse artillery, serving under Stonewall Jackson until his death. Following Jackson's death, Chew was promoted to chief of the cavalry guns under J.E.B. Stuart. Under Stuart, Chew served through the Gettysburg Campaign, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, the Siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign, eventually being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on February 18, 1865.
After the war, Chew married Louise Fontaine Washington, daughter of John Augustine Washington. Chew went on to serve the West Virginia Legislature from 1882-1888. In 1890, with several business partners, Chew formed the Charles Town Mining, Manufacturing, and Improvement Company and became its first president. Chew died on March 16, 1921 in Charles Town, West Virginia.
The collection contains a Confederate Campaign report, "Headquarters Horse Artillery," Nov. 16, 1864, signed by Major Roger Preston Chew (1843-1921) as the major commanding Stuart's Horse Artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia. Chew submits a report outlining: "...operations of the Horse Artillery from the 4th May 1864 to the 31st Aug. 1864." Here Chew describes in detail his actions during the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. Chew's Horse Artillery fought battle after battle over the next three months, all of which Chew gives a detailed account.
The collection includes a transcript of the report.