Spirit Of Jefferson

TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 14, 1890.

Col. R. P. Chew.

The Baltimorean of a recent date contained excellent portraits of Gen. Turner Ashby, Gen'l Rosser and Col. R. P. Chew, with sketches of the last two. We append the sketch of our townman:

"Col. R. Preston Chew, the Chief of Stuart's Horse Artillery, was born in Loudoun county, Va., April 9th, 1843. 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 a Lieutenant of artillery.

In November, 1861, then being but 18 years old, young Chew organized a 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 Ashby's old command, which afterwards was known as the "Laurel Brigade."

On February 24, 1864, Captain Chew was promoted to the command of a battalion of Horse Artillery under Gen. Stuart, and subsequently 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, rendering service that won the praise of his official superiors in every respect.

As a 'boy' Captain, though full of dash, he was noted for great intrepidity and judgement in action. As the Chief of Stuart's Horse Artillery, he so handled his batteries as to greatly contribute to Hampton's 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. Frequently 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 successive terms have the people of Jefferson county, W. Va., sent him as their delegate to the Jeffersonian "Democracy, and he did his State much valuable service.

Great credit is due Col. Chew for the passage of the Australian ballot law in the House of Delegates; though the measure was defeated by the Republicans in the Senate. He is very popular with the best people throughout West Virginia, who will doubtless call upon him in due time to serve them in the highest official trusts of the State.

At present Col. Chew is President of the Charlestown (W. Va.) Land and Improvement Company, also President of the Goshen (Va.) Land and Improvement Company, and engaged in other enterprises.

In 1871 Col. Chew married Miss Washington, the accomplished daughter of Col. Augustine Washington, a 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 armies 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."