The 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment

The men who rode with the regiment rallied to the call in defense of Southern rights from five Virginia counties and one county in the state of Maryland. They were gentleman farmers, dirt farmers, merchants, doctors, lawyers, tradesmen and former soldiers. Some, though not most, were even slave owners, and a few were Black freedmen. Other Blacks were man-servants and teamsters. All had come to defend their homes from a bullying federal government and a presumptuous and hypocritical Northern people.

At the start of the war, all soldiers had to provide their own uniforms: many their own weapons and equipment. Cavalry soldiers had to provide their own horses throughout the war. The Companies formed and gathered under Colonel MacDonald at Romney, Virginia in June of 1861. These included Turner Ashby's Mounted Militia Company and Doctor John Q. Winfields's Company of the 4th Virginia Militia Infantry. Ultimately twenty-nine companies would gather to serve under the regiment's first commander of note, Brigadier General Turner Ashby. After his death, they were broken apart and reorganized to meet the needs of the Confederacy. Companies of the 7th Virginia Cavalry would become "Chew's Battery" of J.E.B. Stuart's elite Horse Artillery. Many other companies would become part of the acclaimed "Laurel Brigade". The legacy and spirit of the men organized and led by Turner Ashby, would have a long reach and be felt, and rightly feared, by the Federal Army throughout the bloody war.

Among the commands they served were those of such leaders as Generals J.E.B. Stuart, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The martial record of the 7th Virginia is a remarkable one, and began with picket duty guarding a 125 mile line along the Potomac River from Martinsburg to Harper's Ferry. They mostly operated in the vicinity of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. They also participated in major operations such as 2nd Manassas (Bull Run), Brandy Station, Gettysburg, and were present in the final fighting around Appomattox, where they captured a brigade commander from the Union's 2nd Cavalry Division.

The 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment fought against Union commanders such as Buford, Custer, and Sheridan. All told, some 2,641 are listed on the roles as having served at some point with the 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment. 128 were killed in action or died of wounds. Over 440 were wounded, and 519 captured. Only 34 surrendered at Appomattox.

The 7th Virginia Cavalry in the CCWR has two companies, Company "A", a mounted unit, and Company "D", a dismounted unit. Looking forward to seeing you in the CCWR and the 7th Virginia Cavalry.

If you would like to join the CCWR 7th Virginia Cavalry or would like to learn more about our Unit, contact Captain Vic Genovese.

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