John R. Chambliss

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John Randolph Chambliss, Jr.
January 23, 1833 – August 16, 1864
Place of birth	Greensville County, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America, Confederate States of America
Years of service	1853–54 (USA), 1861–64 (CSA)
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	American Civil War - Battle of Brandy Station - Battle of Aldie - Battle of Middleburg - Battle of Hanover - Battle of Gettysburg - Overland Campaign - Second Battle of Deep Bottom

John Randolph Chambliss, Jr. (January 23, 1833 – August 16, 1864) was a career military officer, serving in the United States Army and then in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. A noted brigadier general of cavalry, Chambliss was killed in action during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom.

Chambliss was born at Hicksford in Greensville County, Virginia. His father, John R. Chambliss, Sr., was a noted politician. 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. He 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.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Chambliss was commissioned Colonel of the 13th Virginia cavalry regiment 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 performed his duties with such vigilance and activity as to receive the warm commendation of Gen. 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 proposed to cross the Rappahannock and cut off 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 both by Generals Lee and Stuart as deserving the highest praise for distinguished bravery. In the Battle of Brandy Station, after W. H. F. 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. Then riding with Stuart into Pennsylvania, he made a brilliant attack upon Judson Kilpatrick at Hanover, driving him through the town and capturing his ambulances and a number of prisoners. His brigade and Fitz 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, he efficiently aided in the protection of the Confederate trains. During the subsequent Bristoe Campaign, still in command of the brigade, he 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.

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 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."

[edit] References

• Evans, Clement A., Confederate Military History, 1899