The 34th Virginia Cavalry Battalion was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

battalion raised in the Appalachian mountain region of southwestern Virginia as well as adjoining areas of what became West Virginia as well as Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought in western Virginia, East Tennessee, with the Army of Northern Virginia and the

Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge- ...

. The 1st Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles was organized in December, 1861 and was absorbed into Virginia's 34th Cavalry Battalion in December 1862. Lieutenant Colonel Vincent "Clawhammer" Witcher and Majors John A. McFarlane and ohnWilliam Straton were in command. During the war it served in the cavalry brigades of

Albert G. Jenkins Albert Gallatin Jenkins (November 10, 1830 – May 21, 1864) was a Virginia attorney, planter, slaveholder, politician and soldier from what would become West Virginia during the American Civil War. He served in the United States Congress and ...

, William E. Jones and

Bradley T. Johnson Bradley Tyler Johnson (September 29, 1829 – October 5, 1903) was an American lawyer, soldier, and writer. Although his home state of Maryland remained in the Union during the American Civil War, Johnson owned and traded slaves, and accordi ...

. McFarlane's popular company grew and split into two and was called a "squadron", as well as assigned to Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall's command in 1862 and then assigned to Jesse's Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles under Major Allen L. McAfee and later assigned under Brig. Gen. William Preston. Meanwhile, Witcher (who got the epithet "clawhammer" based on his daring as well as wearing a long, spike-tailed coat into battle), was accused of committing wartime atrocities several times, and was court-martialed by Gen. Jones before his wartime death. Shortly before the war, Witcher had been involved in a shooting in the Franklin County courthouse in which his cousin's husband James Clement was shot dead, along with two of his brothers (attorney Ralph Clement representing him in the very messy divorce proceeding). All the 34th Virginia cavalry's commanding officers survived the war; and both Witcher and Straton became involved in politics. Witcher (named after his grandfather who had served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly) failed to win election to the Virginia House of Delegates, but Straton (the former clerk of Logan County) was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. The battalion first engaged the Federals in western Virginia. On November 10, 1861 it raided the town of Guyandotte, where Col. (and future Congressman) Kellian Whaley was recruiting for the Union army. It captured Whaley and several others; Whaley managed to escape. CSA General John B. Floyd was also concerned about allegations of plunder and robbery conducted by Witcher and his men, and ordered Witcher arrested for two murders, but Gen. Humphrey Marshall ordered Witcher released and his rangers placed under his command.Cole pp. 12-13 Although most of its activities involved raiding (and execution via a bent sapling was nicknamed "Witcher's parole"), the battalion fielded 172 men at the Battle of Gettysburg. Then it returned to western Virginia, as well as became involved in operations in East Tennessee. During April, 1864, after new recruits in the new state of West Virginia added Company K, it contained 222 effectives. It saw action at the Battle of Piedmont

Augusta County, Virginia Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its county ...

in which CSA Gen. Jones died, and fought with CSA General

Early Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * Early ...

in the

. The 34th disbanded at Lynchburg in April, 1865.

Companies and officers

References

*{{USGovernment, url=http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm, title=Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, agency=National Park Service Units and formations of the Confederate States Army from Virginia 1862 establishments in Virginia Military units and formations established in 1862 1865 disestablishments in Virginia Military units and formations disestablished in 1865

Companies and officers

See also

References