35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry
unit_name= 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry
colors=
colors_label=Stars and Bars


Flaglink= Flag of Virginia


caption=Flag of Virginia
dates= December 1862 to April 1865
country= Confederate States of America
allegiance= Confederate
branch= Cavalry
type= Partisan
size= 6 companies
equipment=
battles=Jackson's Valley Campaign-The Fight at Waterford-Battle of Brandy Station-Battle of Gettysburg-Battle of High Bridge-Battle of Cedar Creek
commander1=Elijah V. White
commander1_label=1st
commander2=
commander2_label=2nd
commander3=
commander3_label=3rd and Final
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=

The 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, also known as White's Battalion, White's Rebels and the Comanches, was a Confederate cavalry unit during the American Civil War.

History

Formed in December 1861 by Elijah V. White in Loudoun County, Virginia, the 35th was initially assigned to border service in that county, aiding the commands of General D.H. Hill in Leesburg and General Stonewall Jackson in Winchester. When D.H. Hill's command was evacuated from Leesburg to Richmond during the Peninsula Campaign, the 35th was assigned to Jackson, where it took part in his famous Valley Campaign. In late 1862 the 35th was briefly put under the control of General Jeb Stuart.

The 35th was also highly involved in the partisan warfare in Loudoun County. While mustered into the regular army, they were frequently granted extended leave to Loudoun to find forage and new mounts, and while at home often engaged the Federals in the area including their nemesis, the Loudoun Rangers, such as at The Fight at Waterford. In addition, Comanche John Mobberly broke off from the unit and formed an independent guerrilla command that terrorized northwest Loudoun during the later years of the war.

As a part of the brigade of William E. "Grumble" Jones in the Army of Northern Virginia, the 35th took part in the Battle of Brandy Station in June 1863. During the Gettysburg Campaign, the 35th was attached to General Richard Ewell and as such was one of the first units to arrive in the town, and fired some of the first shots of that famous battle when they drove Pennsylvania state militia from the town. Elements of the battalion were among the first Confederate troops to reach the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, before turning westward, where the 35th performed scouting and flank protection duty during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Later in 1863, the 35th was re-attached to the famed "Laurel Brigade," serving again directly under General Jones. In April 1865, the battalion was the rearguard as the Army of Northern Virginia retreated up the Appomattox River. Just prior to Gen. Lee's surrender, the 35th served as couriers delivering General Grant's surrender terms. The 35th did not surrender with the rest of the army, but instead returned to Loudoun County and disbanded.

Companies

*A - White's Rebels
*B - Chiswell's Maryland Exiles (Maryland)
*C - Grubb's Company
*D - Trayhern's Company
*E - Grabill's Company (Page/Shenandoah Counties)
*F - Ferneyhough's Co.

References

* Divine, John, "35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry". Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard Inc., 1985.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/heartland/hills/1850/35thbnvacav.html 35th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry]