3rd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)

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Brief History
3rd Regiment, Virginia Infantry was organized at Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1856 with volunteer companies attached to the 7th Regiment Virginia Militia. It entered Confederate service during July, 1861. Its members were from Portsmouth and Petersburg, and the counties of Nansemond, Dinwiddie, Surry, Isle of Wright, Southampton, and Halifax. It surrendered in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Joseph Mayo, Jr. and Roger A. Pryor; and Lieutenant Colonels Alexander D. Callcote, William H. Pryor, and Joseph V. Scott

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 (Dismal Swamp Rangers) - many men from Norfolk County

Company B ( Virginia Riflemen) - many men from Portsmouth County

Company C ( Dinwiddie Greys) - many men from Dinwiddie County

Company D (Southampton Greys) - many men from Southampton County

Company E (Cockade Rifles) - many men from Petersburg (Independent City)

Company F (Nansemond Rangers) - many men from Nansemond County

Company G ( Rough and Ready Guards) - many men from Southampton County

Company H ( National Light Infantry Greys) - many men from Portsmouth (Independent City)

Company I  (Surry Light Artillery) - many men from Surry County

Company K (James River Artillery) - many men from Isle of Wight County

The information above is from 3rd Virginia Infantry by Lee A. Wallace, 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. &lt;br&gt;


 * 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. &lt;br&gt;


 * 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. &lt;br&gt;


 * 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. &lt;br&gt;


 * 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. &lt;br&gt;


 * 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. &lt;br&gt;