35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry
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| 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry | |
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 Flag of Virginia |
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| Active | December 1862 to April 1865 |
| Country | Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance | Confederate |
| Branch | Partisan |
| Type | Cavalry |
| Stars and Bars |  |
| Equipment | White's Rebels, The Comanches |
| Engagements | Jackson's Valley Campaign-Battle of Brandy Station-Battle of Gettysburg-Battle of High Bridge-Battle of Cedar Creek |
| Commanders | |
| 1st | Elijah V. White |
The 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, also known as White's Rebels and the Comanches, was Confederate cavalry unit during the American Civil War.
Formed in December of 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 and took part in the famous cavalry engagement, Battle of Brandy Station. 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 local militia from the town. Towards the end of the war the 35th was attached to the famed Laural Brigade and were with the Army of Northern Virginia, serving as a reargaurd as it retreated up the Appomattox River. Just prior to Gen. Lee's surrender, the 35th served as couriers of General Grant's surrender terms. The 35th did not surrender with the rest of the army, but instead returned to Loudoun County and disbanded.
The 35th was also highly involved in the partisan warfare in Loudoun. 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. 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.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Divine, John. 35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. H.E. Howard Inc.; Lynchburg, Va. 1985.
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