John Randolph Chambliss Jr. | |
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| Born | (1833-01-23)January 23, 1833 Greensville County, Virginia, US |
| Died | August 16, 1864(1864-08-16) (aged 31) Henrico County, Virginia, US |
| Allegiance | United States Confederate States of America |
| Service | United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1853–1854 (USA) 1861–1864 (CSA) |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant (USA) Brigadier General (CSA) |
| Commands | - 13th Virginia Cavalry- Chambliss's Brigade, W.H.F. Lee's Division, Cavalry Corps,Army of Northern Virginia |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
| Signature |  |
John Randolph Chambliss Jr. (January 23, 1833 – August 16, 1864) was a career military officer from Virginia who served in theConfederate States Army. He reached the rank ofbrigadier general ofcavalry before being killed in action in August 1864 during theSecond Battle of Deep Bottom. Born to a lawyer, Colonel and Mrs John Chambliss of Hicksford, Va, John, jr. graduated from West Point (1853) with several future generals, particularly his friend David McGregg, a future Union General as their paths would have an ominous crossing in August 1864.
Chambliss was born atHicksford inGreensville County, Virginia. His father,John R. Chambliss Sr., was a lawyer, plantation owner, and politician who later served in theConfederate States Congress.
The younger Chambliss was appointed to theUnited States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated 31st of 52 in the Class of 1853. It was distinguished by having 15 future Civil War generals in it, including fellow SouthernersJohn S. Bowen,Henry B. Davidson, and Hood, who all joined the CSA.[1]
Chambliss was commissioned as abrevetsecond lieutenant in themounted infantry and taught at the cavalry school atCarlisle, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1855, he resigned.
Believing that military opportunities were limited, he returned home to Hicksford (Emporia), where his father was a wealthy planter. Chambliss also engaged in agriculture until the spring of 1861.
But, based on the advantage of his military education, he was appointed asaide-de-camp toGovernorHenry A. Wise, with the initial rank ofmajor, serving from 1856–61. Chambliss was appointed ascolonel of aregiment of Virginia militia, serving from 1858–61. He was the brigadeinspector general for the Commonwealth for two years.
His father was chosen as a delegate to thesecessionconvention in 1861, and the younger Chambliss also maintained a strong allegiance to Virginia.[2]
With the outbreak of war, Chambliss was commissioned colonel of the13th Virginia Cavalry in July 1861. Until the fall of 1862 he was under the orders of Maj. Gen.D. H. Hill, in the department south of theJames River. During theMaryland Campaign, he was put in command of the forces on theRappahannock River, betweenWarrenton andFredericksburg, with the 13th Virginia,2nd North Carolina Cavalry, and61st Virginia Infantry. He received a commendation for his performance from GeneralRobert E. Lee. In November he was assigned with his regiment toFitzhugh Lee's cavalrybrigade.[2]
In April 1863, when the cavalry corps of theUnionArmy of the Potomac attempted to cross the Rappahannock and cut General Lee's communications withRichmond, 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 generals Robert. E. Lee andJ.E.B. Stuart.
In theBattle of Brandy Station, afterFitzhugh Lee was wounded and Col. Solomon Williams killed, Chambliss took command of the brigade. He served in that capacity during the fighting inAldie andMiddleburg.
Riding with Stuart intoPennsylvania, Chambliss attacked the18th Pennsylvania Cavalry ofJudson Kilpatrick's division atHanover, driving the Union force through the town, capturing its ambulances and a number of prisoners. His brigade andFitzhugh Lee's reachedGettysburg late on July 2. On July 3, he engaged in the fierce fighting atEast Cavalry Field. Upon the withdrawal of the army to safety in Virginia, his brigade covered the movement of the Confederate trains.[2]
During the subsequentBristoe Campaign, still in command of the brigade, Chambliss reinforcedLunsford 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 theRapidan River to the James. He defeated the Federals atStony Creek, Virginia.
Finally, in a cavalry battle on theCharles City Road, on the north side of the James River, Chambliss was killed while leading his men. His body was buried with honor by the Federals. Soon afterward, on 17 August 1864, a detachment of Confederate soldiers came across the union lines under a flag of truce to retrieve Chambliss's body.[3] His body was delivered to friends and returned for burial in the Chambliss Family Cemetery inEmporia, 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."[4]
