45th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)

Brief History
45th Infantry Regiment was formed in May, 1861, with men from Tazewell, Wythe, Grayson, Carroll, and Bland counties.It sustained many casualties at Third Winchester and during April, 1865, disbanded. The field officers were Colonels William H. Browne, Henry Heth, and W.E. Peters; Lieutenant Colonels Benjamin F. Ficklin, Edwin H. Harman, and William H. Werth; and Majors Alexander M. Davis, William C. Sanders, and Gabriel C. Wharton.

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 (Floyd Guard) - many men from Tazewell County

Company B(Mount Airy Rough and Readys) - many men from Wythe County

Company C (Grayson Rifles) - many men from Grayson County

Company D ( Minute Men) - many men from Wythe County

Company E ( Rough and Readys) - many men from Carroll County

Company F ( Sharpshooters) - many men from Bland County

Company G ( West Augusta Rifles) - many men from Tazewell County

Company H ( Tazewell Rangers) - many men from Tazewell County

Company I  ( Reed Island Rifles) - many men from Carroll County

Company K (Tazewell Boys) - many men from Tazewell County

The above information is from 45th Virginia Infantry, by J. L. Scott.

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.


 * Scott, J. L. (Johnny Lee). 45th Virginia Infantry. (Lynchburg, Virginia : H.E. Howard, c1989),.


 * 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.