Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-08-06
Col. R. Preston Chew.
From the Richmond Times Dispatch ]

I
Colonel R. Preston Chew, who delivered
the principal address at the unwilling OF the
Stonewall Jackson statue June 49, Lexlng
ton, Va was a graduate at the V. NJ l. IL
1861. AS pupil he had been in close con
tact with Professor T. j Jackson severa
sessions. and in the shock of battle the
gallant Chew sustained the immortal Stone
wall Jackson in his unparalleled military
achievements until the last battle. There
fore. Colonel Chew was we'll qualified to re-
view the record of the wonderful success Of
Stonewall Jackson in his brief military
clreer. That Colonel Chew acquitted bis
task with credit and honor is the opinion
of Confederate veterans who enjoyed the
pleasure of hearing him.
In the spring of 1861, Chew organized an
artillery company, known as Horse Artill-
cry. all cannoneers being mounted, and he
was made captain and assigned to General
Ashbys Brigade for duty by General Stone
wall Jackson, who commended him for
gallant service. Later General Jackson
recommended Captain Chew for promotion
to Major of Artillery, and in 1854 he was
promoted to lieutenant.colonel,c command
ing Stuarts Horse Artillery, comprising
| five batteries.
When Stonewnll Jackson succeeded in
defeating the Federal armies in the Shen-
andoah Valley in the spring of 1862 with
II 900 soldiers against 10000 Federal SOL
| <fG Eo
Fremont, Shields and Milroy, General Jack
son said to Hon. Alexander Boteler that if
he had 40, 1000 infantry, with Ashby's cavalry
and Chew's Battery, he would march
through the Northern States.
Following are several testimonials from
Confederate officers who were aligned with
| Colonel Chew on the firing line, and the
records of these heroic soldiers are we'll
| known:
| A letter from General Thomas t. Nun
| ford to member of Chew's Battery says:
II was four years a cavalry officer in the
Confederate army. / have no enemies to
punish, but owe much to my comrads who
supported me amid peculiar career. The
noblest and among the most splendid caval-
nv officers Virginia ever gave TO the field
was General Turner Ashby. / was under
him and the senior colonel of his command,
and at his death succeeded him at Cross
Keys and commanded his brigade until
Beverly Royerston, West Pointer, was as
signed to the command. "Chew's Battery
was Ashby's pet. and it was under the gall
liant Chew, as much Ashby's right arm as
Ashby was the right arm OF Stonewall
Jackson, and no man or men in his whole
command and in his whole career, did more
TO bring out his glory. ! don't believe any
army ever had a better battery of horse ar
tillery than Captain Preston Chew in the
campaign of 1862 Chew had the dash, and
he was educated as soldier at the Virginia
Military Institute under Jackson, and was
greatly admired by Jackson. ! know this
personally, as was with Jackson at the V,
NJ. |. as the adjutant of the corps of cadets
when he acted as commandant and knew
him well. have tented with him asleep
in the same bed with him. mention thi:
simply to show that l bad an opportunity
of knowing his opinion of Chew's Horse
Artillery He told me he never knew {
better battery more than once. | say thi
to you to show you that know what an
talking and writing about. Having serves
with that battery all through the Vale,
campaign Of 1862, and had it under my i'm
mediate command during tie Marylan
| 6 nf ae
comrade should love to. 1t was ever rea
and always equal to all demands with hal
a chance. / often think of my ASSOCIATION
with Chews splendid Battery of Ashby
command. Gallant Ashbyl Yes, super
Ashby: glorious battery: battery that Il
"Great Alexander" who inaugurated Il
Flying Artillery, would have been prot
of, Light hearted dashing daredevil fe
lows. who relied upon their guns. ar
whose motto was level firing, with gra
and canister" Louis XIV, had on all 4
guns their names near the muzzles, th'
"nec pluribus impair" This was vauntin
but the French stood to their guns, al
never lost them while there were IN
enough to man them. l know that t
men of Chew's Battery felt that their GU
were to fight with, and would quote
unsavory words of McDuff, and damned
he who first cries hold enough
Major General M. q. Butler, writing FRI
Washington, D. G., March 7, 1904, says:
Il beg to say when l first met Chew
the Army of Northern Virginia he was
captain of battery of horse artillery, q
from that time to the end be was cons
cuous figure in that dashing branch of
service. was with him On many try
occasions. and he was one Of the coo
men in battle was ever associated W
He was then very young man, bo5 isll
1 appearance, bat no veteran in any al
ever stood the shock of battle with II
courage aud composure than Chew.
1 Young and handsome. a superb no
man, always cool and self possessed. he
1 the bean ideal Of battery commander,
1 later as the COMMANDED of battalion
h. rse artillery He was most companf
/ able, agreeable conrad in camp and as d
i ing dare devil in battle as .ver dre'
il sword | can scarcely find words to
III press my admiration and regard for Col
Chew as soldier and man. Our reiat
have alwsys been of the most lie sssnt c
III acter. and am gratifed that YOU give
this opportunity I, pay this itsdeg
II tribute to hia cha -aeter What spie
III lot OF young fellows of The Horse Arti
81 in that incom parable army-Pe ham 6
III Brethed, Hart. McGregor and other
III can pay Chew no higher compliment
al to say be was easily .he peer of the bes
III them
I'll Msjor-General L. L. Lomax, writing
Washington. D. c., March p 1904, say