4th Virginia Cavalry

The 4th Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Virginia 4th Cavalry completed its organization at Sangster's Cross Roads, Prince William County, Virginia, in September, 1861. Its members were recruited in the counties of Prince William, Chesterfield, Madison, Culpeper, Powhatan, Goochland, Hanover, Fauquier, Buckingham, and the city of Richmond.

The unit was assigned to General J.E.B. Stuart's, F.Lee's, Wickham's, and Munford's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It participated in the Battle of Williamsburg, the Seven Days' Battles, and the Second Bull Run and Maryland campaigns. Later the unit was involved in the conflicts at Fredericksburg, Kelly's Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Spotsylvania, Wilson's Wharf, Haw's Shop, and Bethesda Church. The 4th went on to fight in the Shenandoah Valley with Early and around Appomattox.

It totaled 450 effectives in April, 1862, and lost about three percent of the 544 engaged at Gettysburg. After cutting through the Federal lines at Appomattox, it was broken up. Only 2 members were present at the surrender. The field officers were Colonels Stephen D. Lee, William H. F. Payne, Beverly Robertson, William C. Wickham, and W.B. Wooldridge; Lieutenant Colonels Charles Old and Robert Randolph; and Majors Alexander M. Hobson and Robert E. Utterback.

Future Virginia governor Philip W. McKinney was an officer in Company K of the 4th Virginia.

VMI Superintendent Scott Shipp is said to have served as a private in the 4th Virginia, though no official record exists.

Beverley Randolph Mason, the future founder of Gunston Hall School for Young Women in Washington, D.C., became a captain in command of a company of the 4th Virginia.

Company D was known as the Little Fork Rangers after the Little Fork Church in Culpeper County, and Company F was known as the Goochland Light Dragoons.