1st Virginia Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 1st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia
for service in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia
.
The 1st Virginia completed its organization at Richmond, Virginia
, in May, 1861. At the outbreak of the war it had ten companies, but in April three were detached. Thus the unit contained seven companies from Richmond and in mid-July a company from Washington, D.C. was added. Its first colonel, P.T. Moore, was severely wounded on July 18, 1861 in the skirmish at Blackburn's Ford, and Lt. Col. W.H. Fry commanded at the First Battle of Bull Run.
The companies (with original commanders) were:
It fought at First Manassas in a brigade under James Longstreet
and in August totaled 570 men. During April, 1862, when the regiment was reorganized, it contained only six companies. The 1st was assigned to A.P. Hill's, Kemper's, and W.R. Terry's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was active from Williamsburg to Gettysburg except when it was with Longstreet at Suffolk. Later the unit was involved in the capture of Plymouth, the conflicts at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, the Petersburg siege south and north of the James River, and the Appomattox Campaign. This regiment lost twenty-two percent of the 140 engaged at Second Manassas, had 9 wounded at Fredericksburg, and had more than half of the 209 at Gettysburg disabled. Its casualties were 12 killed and 25 wounded at Drewry's Bluff, 1 killed and 77 wounded at Five Forks, and 40 captured at Sayler's Creek. Only 17 surrendered on April 9, 1865.
The field officers were Colonels Patrick T. Moore, F.G. Skinner, and Lewis B. Williams; Lieutenant Colonels William H. Fry and Frank H. Langley; and Majors John Dooley, William P. Mumford, George F. Norton, and William H. Palmer.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for service in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
.
The 1st Virginia completed its organization at Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, in May, 1861. At the outbreak of the war it had ten companies, but in April three were detached. Thus the unit contained seven companies from Richmond and in mid-July a company from Washington, D.C. was added. Its first colonel, P.T. Moore, was severely wounded on July 18, 1861 in the skirmish at Blackburn's Ford, and Lt. Col. W.H. Fry commanded at the First Battle of Bull Run.
The companies (with original commanders) were:
- Co. A (Richmond Greys): Capt. W.M. Elliott – Detached to Norfolk during April, 1861 and assigned to the 12th Virginia Infantry12th Virginia InfantryThe 12th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry 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....
as Co. G, August 31, 1861. - Co. B (Richmond City Guard): Capt. R. Harrison – Captain J.K. Lee was killed at Blackburn's Ford on July 18, 1861.
- Co. C (Montgomery Guard): Capt. J. Dooley
- Co. D (Old Dominion Guard): Capt. J. Griswold
- Co. E (1st) (Richmond Light Infantry Blues): Capt. O.J. Wise – Sent to Fredericksburg and later assigned to the 46th Virginia Infantry46th Virginia InfantryThe 46th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
, prior to the First Battle of Bull Run. - Co. E (2nd) (Washington Volunteers): Capt. C.K. Sherman – Temporarily attached to the regiment during the middle of July and transferred to the 7th Virginia Infantry7th Virginia InfantryThe 7th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
as Company F in April 1862. - Co. F (1st) (Cary's Company): Capt. R.M. Cary – Sent to Fredericksburg and assigned to the 21st Virginia Infantry21st Virginia InfantryThe 21st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry 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....
, under the command of Capt. R.H. Cunningham, Jr., prior to First Bull Run. - Co. F (2nd) (Beauregard Rifles): Capt. F.B. Schaeffer – Served in a provisional battalion (Schaeffer's Battalion) during First Bull Run and was subsequently assigned to the regiment on July 23, 1861. The company was relieved from duty on September 7 and redesignated as Company C, 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery. On November 13, 1861, the company was mustered out of service.
- Co. G (Gordan's Company): Capt. W.H. Gordan
- Co. H (1st) (Howitzer Battery): Capt G.W. Randolph – In early May, the company left the regiment and was expanded into a battalion of three companies under then-Maj. G. W. Randolph.
- Co. H (2nd) (Richmond Greys, Company B): Capt. F.J. Boggs
- Co. I (Taylor's' Company): Capt. W.O. Taylor
- Co. K (Virginia Rifles, at one time German Rifles): Capt. F. Miller – Disbanded when the regiment was reorganised in April 1862.
- Fayette Artillery: Capt. H.C. Cabell – Detached and assigned to John Magruder'sJohn MagruderJohn Magruder may refer to:*John Magruder * John B. Magruder, American Civil War General...
command on the Virginia Peninsula. - Floyd Guard: Capt. G.W. Chambers – Assigned as Co. K, 2nd Virginia Infantry2nd Virginia InfantryThe 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in today’s West Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought as part of the Stonewall Brigade, mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
, prior to June 30, 1861. - Band: Capt. J.B. Smith – Mustered in as Co. I and detached to form the a 13 piece regimental band.
- Drum Corps: Drum Major C.R.M. Pohle – 14 drummers including the drummer on duty with the Richmond Greys in Norfolk. The Drum Corps was mustered in as a body.
It fought at First Manassas in a brigade under James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
and in August totaled 570 men. During April, 1862, when the regiment was reorganized, it contained only six companies. The 1st was assigned to A.P. Hill's, Kemper's, and W.R. Terry's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was active from Williamsburg to Gettysburg except when it was with Longstreet at Suffolk. Later the unit was involved in the capture of Plymouth, the conflicts at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, the Petersburg siege south and north of the James River, and the Appomattox Campaign. This regiment lost twenty-two percent of the 140 engaged at Second Manassas, had 9 wounded at Fredericksburg, and had more than half of the 209 at Gettysburg disabled. Its casualties were 12 killed and 25 wounded at Drewry's Bluff, 1 killed and 77 wounded at Five Forks, and 40 captured at Sayler's Creek. Only 17 surrendered on April 9, 1865.
The field officers were Colonels Patrick T. Moore, F.G. Skinner, and Lewis B. Williams; Lieutenant Colonels William H. Fry and Frank H. Langley; and Majors John Dooley, William P. Mumford, George F. Norton, and William H. Palmer.