57th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)

Brief History
57th Infantry Regiment was organized in September, 1861, by adding five independent companies to the five companies of E.F. Keen's Battalion. Some of the men were from Powhatan, Pittsylvania, and Botetourt counties. The unit was assigned to General Armistead's, Barton's, and Steuart's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was involved in the following battles or localities: Malvern Hill, Va.; 2nd Manassas, Va.; Sharpsburg, Md.; Fredericksburg, Va.; Suffolk, Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Drewry's Bluff, Va.; Petersburg, Va.; Five Forks, Va.; Sayler's Creek, Va.; Appomattox, Va. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek and on April 9, 1865, the unit surrendered 7 officers and 74 men. Its commanders were Colonels Lewis A. Armistead, George W. Carr, David Dyer, Clement R. Fontaine, Elisha F. Keen, and John B. Magruder; Lieutenant Colonels Waddy T. James, William H. Ramsey, and Benjamin H. Wade; and Majors Garland B. Hanes, David P. Heckman, and Andrew J. Smith.

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 (Buckingham Institute) - many men from Buckingham County

Company B (Franklin Sharpshooters) - many men from Franklin County

Company C (The Franklin Fireaters) - many men from Franklin County

Company D (The Galveston Tigers) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company E (Pigg River Greys) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company F (Henry and Pittsylvania Rifles) - presumably many men from Henry and Pittsylvania counties

Company G (Ladies Guard) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company H (Rivanna Guards) - many men from Albemarle County

Company I  (Pittsylvania Life Guards) many men from Pittsylvania County

Company K (Botetourt Guards) - many men from Botetourt County

The information above is from57th Virginia Infantry, by Charles W. Sublett.

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.


 * Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Regiment, 57th. Resolutions adopted by the officers and men of the 57th Virginia Regiment. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990),


 * Fontaine, Clement R. A Complete Roster of the Field and Staff Officers of the 57th Virginia Regiment of Infantry During the Civil War, Including Commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers. n.p.: n.p., 1800s..


 * Resolutions Adopted by the Officers and Men of the 57th Virginia Regiment. Richmond, Va.: n.p., 1865?..


 * 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.