John R . Chambliss John Randolph Chambliss , Jr . ( January 23 , 1833 – August 16 , 1864 ) was a career military officer , serving in the United States Army and then , during the American Civil War , in the Confederate States Army . A brigadier general of cavalry , Chambliss was killed in action during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom . Early life . Chambliss was born at Hicksford in Greensville County , Virginia . His father , John R . Chambliss , Sr . , was a lawyer and politician who later served in the Confederate States Congress . The younger Chambliss was appointed to the United States Military Academy , graduating 31st of 52 in the Class of 1853 , distinguished by having 15 future Civil War generals in it , including fellow Confederates John S . Bowen , John Bell Hood , and Henry B . Davidson . Antebellum military career . Chambliss was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant in the mounted infantry , and taught at the cavalry school at Carlisle , Pennsylvania until the following spring , when he resigned . He then returned home to Hicksford , where his father was a wealthy planter , and was engaged in agriculture until the spring of 1861 . Taking advantage of his military education , he served as aide - de - camp to Governor Henry A . Wise , with the initial rank of major , from 1856 – 61 . Chambliss was colonel of a regiment of Virginia militia from 1858 – 61 . He was the brigade inspector general for the Commonwealth for two years . His father was a delegate to the secession convention in 1861 , and the younger Chambliss maintained a strong allegiance to Virginia . Civil War . With the outbreak of the Civil War , Chambliss was commissioned colonel of the 13th Virginia Cavalry in July 1861 , and until the fall of 1862 was under the orders of Maj . Gen . D . H . Hill , in the department south of the James River . During the Maryland Campaign , he was put in command of the forces on the Rappahannock River , between Warrenton and Fredericksburg , with the 13th Virginia , 2nd North Carolina Cavalry , and 61st Virginia Infantry . He received a commendation for his performance from General Robert E . Lee . In November he was assigned with his regiment to W . H . F . " Rooney " Lee ' s cavalry brigade . In April 1863 , when the cavalry corps of the Union Army of the Potomac attempted to cross the Rappahannock and cut Lee ' s communications with Richmond , Chambliss was particularly prominent in turning back this movement . At Beverly Ford with 50 men , he drove two Federal squadrons into the river , capturing a number of prisoners . He and his men were commended for bravery by both Generals R . E . Lee and J . E . B . Stuart . Gettysburg Campaign . In the Battle of Brandy Station , after Rooney Lee was wounded and Col . Solomon Williams killed , Chambliss took command of the brigade , and served in that capacity during the fighting about Aldie and Middleburg . Riding with Stuart into Pennsylvania , Chambliss attacked the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry of Judson Kilpatrick ' s division at Hanover , driving the Union force through the town , capturing its ambulances and a number of prisoners . His brigade and Fitzhugh Lee ' s reached Gettysburg late on July 2 . On July 3 , he engaged in the fierce fighting at East Cavalry Field . Upon the withdrawal of the army to safety in Virginia , his brigade covered the movement of the Confederate trains . During the subsequent Bristoe Campaign , still in command of the brigade , Chambliss reinforced Lunsford L . Lomax at Morton ' s Ford and defeated the enemy . Engaged again near Brandy Station , the same two brigades fought with gallantry and Chambliss again received Stuart ' s written commendation . Death . Promoted to brigadier general , Chambliss continued in command of the brigade , through the cavalry fighting from the Rapidan River to the James , gaining fresh laurels in the defeat of the Federals at Stony Creek . Finally , in a cavalry battle on the Charles City Road , on the north side of the James , he was killed while leading his men . His body was buried with honor by the Federals , and soon afterward , On Wednesday the 17th of August 1864 , a detachment of confederate soldiers came across the union lines under a flag of truce to retrieve Chambliss ' s body . Thereafter , he was exhumed and delivered to his friends . It was buried in the family graveyard in Emporia , Virginia . Robert E . Lee wrote that " the loss sustained by the cavalry in the fall of General Chambliss will be felt throughout the army , in which , by his courage , energy and skill , he had won for himself an honorable name . "