Unit History – 1st Virginia Infantry

Completed its organization at Richmond, Virgnia, in May, 1861. At the outbreak of the war it had ten companies, but in April three were detached. This the unit contained seven companies from Richmond and mid-July a company from Washington, D. C. was added. It fought at First Manassas under General Longstreet and in August totalled 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 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 mor 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.

From Joseph H. Crute, Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army, pp. 350