Roger Preston Chew

"Roger Preston Chew was the organizer of the first horse artillery company in Virginia and the Confederate service in November 1861."

"Chew, a native of Charles Town, Va. (W.Va.) had attended the Virginia Military Institute and had studied artillery tactics under Professor Thomas J. Jackson before the opening of the war. As most cadets from VMI, Chew was assigned as a drillmaster in Richmond in April 1861. Chew was later temporarily assigned to the Lee (Va.) Battery at Monterey, Virginia and served from July 1861 through September 1861. Appointed as lieutenant of artillery, the Jefferson County native served with Brigadier General Edward Johnson until involved in the organization of Colonel Turner Ashby's horse artillery on November 13, 1861. Soon after the organization of the company, a new Tredegar three-inch rifle and an English Blakely gun were turned over to the group of young cannoneers. "
(quoted from Mr Moore)

Like his unit, he was probably not actually engaged at Sharpsburg on September 17th. The battery at Sherpherdstown until at least 3 pm that day, and they marched, but did not reach the battlefield til sundown or later.

He was a farmer, real estate and insurance agent. He was a member of the West Virginia Legislature from 1882 - 1890.

Source: Bio sketch by Robert H. Moore, II, found online at the Civil War Artillery page.

1843 in VA

3/16/1921; Charlestown, WV; burial in Mt. Zion Episcopal Church, Charlestown, WV.