Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-01
THE VIRGINIA FREE PREss~~TaE OLD FAM1lV JOURNAL.

The Baltim0rean of Saturday last con-
tanned excellent portraits of Gen. Turner
Ashby, Gen1 Rosser and Col. R. P. Chew,
with sketches of the last two. We append
the sketch of our townsman:
Col. K. Preston Chew, the Chief of Stu
/ arts Horse Artillery, was born in Loudoun
county, Va, April 9th, 1913. He received
a GOOD education at the Charlestown (W.
Va Academy, and the Virginia Military
Institute, graduating at the latter school in
1861. Shortly afterwards he entered the
Confederate service as 8 Lieutenant of ar
tillery. -
In November 1861, then being but IS
wears old, young Chew organized battery
of Horse Artillery, the first of the kind
formed in the Confederate army. Under
the name of Chew's Battery, this company
gained great repute, sharing honOrs with
Stonewall Jackson in many of his brilliant
achievements in the Shenandoah Valley.
Chew's Battery was early identified with
Ashbv's old command, which afterwards
was known as the Laurel Brigade"
On February p, 1864, Captain Chew was
promoted to the command of battalion OF
Horse Artillery under Gen. Stuart, and sub
seduently was put at the head of all the
Horse Artillery connected with the cavalry
corps of the Army of Northern Virginia,
then consisting of five batteries. In this
capacity Col. Chew served with Gen. Wade
Hampton until the close of the war, render
ing service that won the praise Of his official
superiors in every respect.
As "bOy" Captain, though full of dash,
he was noted for great intrepidity and Judg-
ment in action. As the Chief of Stuarts
Horse Artillery, he so handled his batteries
as to greatly contribute 20 Hamptons many
victories. Col Chew and Major Pelham
were probably the youngest artillery officers
of their rank in the Confederate army, and
the tactics of both were similar in warfare
rapid firing and effective work. FIRE.
quently their guns were in advance Of the
main body, pouring destructive shot into
the enemy.
As in war, so in peace, Col. Chew enjoys
conspicuous leadership in all movements
that look to the public good. Three success
sive terms have the people of Jefferson
county, w. Va, sent him % their delegate
TO the Legislature, where he was leader OF
the Jefersonian Democracy, and he did his
State much valuable service. Great credit
is due Col. Chew for the passage of the Aus
tralian ballot law in the House of Delegates;
though the measure was defeated by the Re-
publicans in the Senate He is very popu-
lar with the best people throughout West
Virginia, who will doubtless call upon him
in due time to serve them in the highest Of
fetal trusts of the State.
At present Col. Chew is President of the
Charlestown wv. VA Land and Improve
ment Company, also President Of the Go
shen va. Land and Improvement Com
pany, and engaged in other enterprises.
In 1871 Col. Chew married Miss Wash
ington, the accomplished daughter of Col.
Augustine Washington, near descendant
of Gen. George Washington. Mrs. Chew's
father, Col. Washington, was an aid to Gen:
R. E. Lee in the early part of the war, and
was killed in West Virginia, when the ar
mics of Lee and Mcclellan fought in the
mountains.
Col. Chew resides in Charlestown, w. Va,
and his charming home is blessed with four
interesting children.