Brig. General John Randolph Chambliss, Jr., (CSA)

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Brig. General John Randolph Chambliss, Jr., (CSA)

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Greensville County, Virginia, United States
Death: August 16, 1864 (31)
Henrico County, Virginia, United States (Killed in the Second Battle of Deep Bottom)
Place of Burial: Chambliss Road, Greensville County, Virginia, 23847, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of John R. Chambliss, Sr. and Sarah Chambliss
Husband of Emaline Ann Chambliss
Father of William Hood Chambliss, Sr.; Elizabeth 'Bettie' L Nash (Chambliss); Turner Randolph Chambliss; Mary Bailey; Anna Lee Chambliss and 1 other
Brother of Walter Blow Chambliss; Ida Dove Chambliss; Robert A. Chambliss; James William Chambliss; Sarah Louisa Chambliss and 2 others

Managed by: Private User
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About Brig. General John Randolph Chambliss, Jr., (CSA)

General John Randolph Chambliss, Jr. (CSA)

General Chambliss was a career military officer, serving in the United States Army and then, during the American Civil War, in the Confederate States Army. A brigadier general of cavalry, Chambliss was killed in action during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom.

Early Life

Chambliss was born at Hicksford in Greensville County, Virginia. His father, John Randolph Chambliss, Sr., was a lawyer and politician who later served in the Confederate States Congress. 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, including fellow Confederates John S. Bowen, John Bell Hood, and Henry B. Davidson.

Antebellum Military Career

Chambliss 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.

Civil War

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Chambliss was commissioned colonel of the 13th Virginia Cavalry in July 1861, and until the fall of 1862 was under the orders of Major General 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 received a commendation for his performance from General 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 attempted to cross the Rappahannock and cut 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 for bravery by both Generals R.E. Lee and J.E.B. Stuart.

Gettysburg Campaign

In the Battle of Brandy Station, after Rooney Lee was wounded and Colonel Solomon Williams killed, Chambliss took command of the brigade, and served in that capacity during the fighting about Aldie and Middleburg.

Riding with Stuart into Pennsylvania, Chambliss attacked the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry of Judson Kilpatrick's division at Hanover, driving the Union force through the town, capturing its ambulances and a number of prisoners. His brigade and Fitzhugh 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, his brigade covered the movement of the Confederate trains.

During the subsequent Bristoe Campaign, still in command of the brigade, Chambliss 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.

Death

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.

General 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."

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Brig. General John Randolph Chambliss, Jr., (CSA)'s Timeline

1833
January 24, 1833
Greensville County, Virginia, United States
1854
September 2, 1854
1855
November 20, 1855
Greensville County, Virginia, United States
1857
1857
Virginia, USA
1861
August 14, 1861
1864
August 16, 1864
Age 31
Henrico County, Virginia, United States
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Chambliss Family Cemetery, Chambliss Road, Greensville County, Virginia, 23847, United States