7th Virginia Cavalry

A Brief History of the Regiment

The 7th Virginia Cavalry was organized by Colonel Angus W. McDonald, Sr., in the early part of 1861. The regiment spent that year operating in the neighborhood of Harpers Ferry and Romney, West Virginia.

Captain Turner Ashby, commanding one of the companies of the 7th Virginia Cavalry, soon rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His name, perhaps above all others, is most associated with the 7th Virginia Cavalry.

The mere presence of Turner Ashby in the forefront of battle, spurred his troopers to accomplish great deeds. The love they felt for Ashby was as strong as the fear felt by the Union soldiers when facing Ashby's Cavalry.

By the spring of 1862, the 7th Virginia Cavalry, called more frequently "Ashby's Cavalry," had grown to immense size. After the death of Brigadier General Turner Ashby in June 1862, Ashby's Cavalry underwent reorganization. The 12th Regiment and the 17th Battalion Virginia Cavalry were formed from the excess companies.

In 1863 and 1864, the men of the 7th Virginia Cavalry took part in the famous Jones-Imboden Raid into Western Virginia, fought at Brandy Station, the Gettysburg Campaign, the Wilderness, Ream's Station, and Cedar Creek. These were but a few of the many engagements in which the regiment participated.

The 7th Virginia Cavalry was at Appomatox Court House in April 1865, but many, before the lines were enveloped, succeeded in breaking through and were not forced to surrender. Disbanding and going home, the men tried to return to their post-war lives. List of Companies that Remained Part of the 7th Va. Cav For the Entire War:

A - Fauquier Mountain Rangers (Fauquier Co.)

B (1st) - Howard Dragoons (Howard Co., Md.)

B (2nd) - Letcher Brock's Gap Rifles (Rockingham Co.)

C - Shenandoah Rangers ( Captains Samuel B. Myers & John E. Myers)(Shenandoah Co.)

D - Jordan's Co. (Captains Jordan/Coyner/Summers) (Page Co.)

E - Bowen's Mounted Rangers (Front Royal, Warren Co.)

F - Hampshire Rifleman (Hampshire Co.)

G - Mason Rangers (Maryland & Loudoun Co.)

H (1st) - Brock's Gap Sharpshooters (Rockingham Co.)

H (2nd) - Shoup's Co. (Rockingham Co.)

I - Shand's Company(Rockingham Co.)

K - Miller's Company (Shenandoah Co.)

For more detailed information on this regiment, and the men who fought in it, I recommend the