CONFEDERATE VIRGINIA TROOPS
1st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Williams Rifles)
- Overview:
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1st Infantry Regiment 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. 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 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.
- Soldiers:
- View Battle Unit's Soldiers ยป
