Giles Perdue, my great-great-great grandfather served in the 37th Virginia Cavalry. This group was originally recruited as a Partisan Ranger group. These groups were largely independent commands whose role was to disrupt enemy actions while being as invisible as possible. Hence when not fighting they blended into civilian life. The best known Partisan Ranger example was Mosby's Rangers who maintained their presence in Northern Virginia. As the war progressed, Partisan Ranger organizations lost their favor with the CSA government official and military commanders alike - mainly since they were difficult to control. As a result, except for a few exceptions Partisan Ranger units were gradually integrated into regular military commands.
In 1864 the 37th Virginia Cavalry fought as part of Jubal Early's force in the Valley and Maryland Campaigns. Before this, I presume they served mostly in the southern Shenandoah Valley but I have not located any information yet on their history before 1864. Please e-mail me with any information you have.
The 1864 Valley campaign began with Jubal Early being appointed by Lee to (1) clear the Valley of Union forces, (2) threaten the US Capitol, and (3) if possible free prisoners at Point Lookout Maryland to further strengthen his army.
At the Battle of Lynchburg, Early joined his forces with those already in the Valley to defeat Union forces under David Hunter - who as a result fled all the way to the Kanawha Valley effectively taking them out of action. This retreat was accomplished by a march over the mountains through Craig County where they left lots of dead horses that resulted from the difficult march for the locals to deal with, along with burning their courthouse.
This action at Lynchburg freed Early to make his approach on Washington. His only resistance was encountered near Frederick Maryland where the Battle of Monocacy (pronounced mo-knock-ace-e) was fought. This sufficiently stalled the Confederate advance to permit Union reinforcement of Washington. For one day Washington (including the president himself who went out to witness the action) was fired upon. Then Early retired back into the Valley. During this time a Cavalry force including the 37th Virginia was sent north to Chambersburg, Pa to ransom the town as had been done at both Hagerstown and Frederick Maryland. This time the citizens did not pay the ransom and the town was burned. This action was somewhat in retaliation for similar actions taken by Hunter's forces throughout the Valley. This action was too much for Washington who ordered a substantial force be sent to the Valley to neutralize Early.
The presence of a strong Union presence under Sheridan began the downfall of Early's army. In one of these actions Giles Perdue was captured near Luray Virgina and sent to Point Lookout Maryland where he was imprisoned for the duration of the war. After the war he returned to Franklin County Virginia where he remarried (his first wife died shortly before the war) and lived out the rest of his life. The picture above is Giles and Elizabeth Perdue in front of their home. He appears to be wearing a coat from civil war.
Source of My Civil War Clipart
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