58th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)

Brief History
The 58th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in October, 1861. Most of its members were raised in Bedford, Franklin, and Amherst counties. After participating in Jackson's Valley Campaign the unit was assigned to Early's, W.Smith's, Pegram's, and J.A. Walker's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered with 2 officers and 63 men of which 22 were armed. The field officers were Colonels Francis H. Board, Edmund Goode, and Samuel H. Letcher; Lieutenant Colonels Stapleton Crutchfield and John G. Kasey; and Majors George E. Booker and Edward T. Walker.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A (Walker Guards) - many men from Bedford County

Company B (Stewrtsville Tigers) - many men from Bedford County

Company C ( Big Island Greys) - many men from Bedford County

Company D (Captain Dewitt C. Booth's) - many men from Franklin County

Company E (Hale's Ford Franklin Guard) - many men from Franklin County

Company F (Amherst Johnson Guards) - many men from Amherst County

Company G (Kerr's Creek Confederates) - many men from Rockbridge County

Company H (Patrick Grays) - many men from Patrick County

Company I  (Staunton Yeomanry) - many men from Bedford County

Company K (Kasey's Greys) - many men from Bedford County

The information above is from 58th Virginia Infantry, by Robert J. Driver, Jr.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in Virginia in the Civil War and United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865.


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Virginia in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Virginia, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1992- 1995. (Family History Library book, Ten Volumes.) This gives organization information for each unit and its field officers, assignments, and battles. It also lists sources further reading. Volume 5 is for Virginia.


 * Wallace, Lee A. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865. Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, 1986. (Family History Library book .) This gives brief historical sketches of each regiment and lists officers, company names, and commanders.