Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-05-24
COL. ELIJAH v. WHITE.

In q recent number Of the Confederate Hel
eran, published at Nashville, Tenn, appear
q sketch Of the military achievements of tn
late Col. Elijah V. White, native of thi
county. The article is from the pen Of Mr.
Magnus 8. Thompson, of Washington city
who was member of the Battalion. Tw,
companies of the command of Col. Whit
were composed principally Of men from thi
county-one commanded by the late Capt
George w. Chiswell, and the other by Capt
James Anderson, Of Rockville. The fol
lowing gives the principal points in this
able and truthful article:
Col. E. V. White was Marylander by
i birth and Virginian by adoption. HI
commanded and gave to the 35th Battalion
Virginia Cavalry its existence, and led il
through many campaigns, battles and raid:
to place In the history Of the war second
to no command OF its numbers, and distin-
guished under the special notice of such
leaders as Lee, jackson, Ewell Stuart, Jones
Rosser and Butler, besides receiving the
highest encomiums from one Of the greatest
cavalry commanders since the days OF Murat
Gen. Wade Hampton.
Col. White began his military life during
the Kansas troubles when, joining Mis-.
souri, command, he took an active part in
staying the serious trouble that threatened
the country. At its close he returned and
settled in Virginia, only to spring to her
defence in 1859, when second signal
given by John Brown at Harper's Ferry
aroused the entire South TO a realization oil
impending trouble.
In 1861, when war was Inevitable, he
Joined company of cavalry under the ia
nous Ashby, and at once became most
valuable scout, operating principally In Lou
| doun county under direction OF Gen. N. q.
Evans, who was in command that summer.
During the battle OF Balls Bluff, although
o private, he became one of the most con-
spicuous figures on the field. Being famil-
lar with the ground, he was assigned the
duty of placing commands In advantageous
positions, which he accomplished with very
marked skill and daring, the result of which
was complete victory to our arms. At night
with q handful of men he captured and
brought in 1896 prisoners. In the official re-
port made he was highly complimented and
recommended for captains commission.
He soon raised q company Of as fine ma
terial as ever entered the field, and made a
career as brilliant and as daring as any OF
| record. During the winter of 1861 and the
bpIluR VI 1COG uC was htbuGhCu W 0GuClh
Jacksons and General Ewel's commands
for scouting and headquarters service dur
ing the campaign that resulted in the defeat
and rout of three Federal commands under
Generals Fremont, Banks and Shields.
On the 28th OF October, 1862, five addi
tional companies united with his, forming
the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry,
when he was unanimously elected major
commanding. Soon thereafter the battalion
was mustered into the regular service, and
In the fight between A. p. Hill and Burn
side in Smokers Gap he rendered such val
liable and conspicuous service as to elicit
from Gen. j. Il. b. Stuart, commanding the
cavalry in the army of Northern Virginia,
letter of commentator, in which he said
he had heard with much pleasure Of the
successful operations of his battalion in the
actions with the enemy at Smokers Gap and
hoped that it "may be a forerunner of still
further deeds of daring, skill and success by
your command"
After this engagement the enemy with
drew and moved south along the base Of the
mountain with Major White raiding his
rear, and within few days he captured
about 1000 prisoners, 200 wagons, and an
immense amount Of stores, arms, ETC., among
them the headquarters wagon OF Col. W. L.
Wainwright, OF the 91st Pennsylvania Vol
unteers, including his sword, the Colonel
barely escaping. Major White sent, among
other trophies, the Colonies sword to Gen.
jackson, and received the following reply !:
Major: The beautiful sword which you
have 80 kindly presented me and also the
other much priced presents have been re-
ceived from Lieutenant NARROW, OF your
distinguished command.
"Please accept my thanks for them. Ihave
f-n.chnf With s.ea. interest POM, brillignt
exploits. Your men may well feel proud OF
successful career.
with high esteem am, Major, very truly
your friend,
T. j. JACKSON,
Lieutenant General.
Early in February, 1868, Major White
was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by the
President, and few days thereafter was or
dered to report to General JACKSON for spe
cial duty.
On May 81 the brigade returned from an
extended raid in West Virginia, covering
seven hundred miles in twenty, one days
through q rough and sterile country in
which they were very successful, having
captured about seven hundred prisoners,
one piece of artillery, two trains Of cars,
burned sixteen railroad bridges, one hun.
dred and fifty thousand barrels of oil, many
engines, ETC., besides bringing back one
thousand head of cattle and about twelve
hundred horses. Through IL all Whites
command bore a conspicuous part, as was
the case wherever placed, until June / they
rested and recruited In the beautiful Shen.
andosh Valley, when their march began to.
ward Culpepper, where on the 9th of June,
at Brandy Station, was fought the most san
culinary and hotly contested cavalry battle
known to history. In this engagement,
lasting all day, Whites Battalion won un-
dying fame.
Moving from there to Gettysburg with
Lees army, they met en- route at Catocton
Creek Cole's Battalion and at Point of Rocks
Sam Mead's command, defeating and rout-
ing both. Then, taking the advance OF the
army, they were the first TO enter Gettys
burg.
Upon returning to Virginia, the battalion
resumed scouting and raiding In Loudoun
county and vicinity, making many success
ful captures.
Upon the arrival of the battalion at Lees
burg, Col. White and his men were pre-
scented with warm congratulartory address
BY the ladies of that town.
On the 18th OF December the brigade, I'M
der General Rosser, than whom no Drawer
ever lived, crossed the river at Fredericks-
burg and made raid around Gen. Meade's
army at Culpepper, marching over ninety
miles through rain and mud in twenty-iour
hours, capturing fortified camp at Sang
ster Station with their colors, arriving at
Berry's Ferry, on the Shenandoah River,
safely.
In January, 1864, the brigade made
most successful raid TO West Virginia, cap
turing a loaded train Of one hundred and
nine wagons and over four hundred mules.
ON May l we marched to the Wilderness
and participated in the battle of the 9th and
9th. and on June 10 engaged In the battle Of
Treyilian Station, where we defeated Sheri-
dan land here let me add that Gen. Wade
Hampton, commanding our cavalry, told
me that If he had acted upon the suggestion
and appeal Of Colonel White at the close OF
the engagement, while Sheridan's forces
were retreating in great disorder, he was
that mo nonh have annihiiafad