16th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate)

United States  U.S. Military   Virginia    Virginia Military   Virginia in the Civil War 

Brief History

 * 16th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry was formed at Camp Zirkle, near Salem, Virginia, in January 1863, by consolidating six companies of Ferguson's Battalion with four companies of Caldwell's Battalion. The unit was assigned to Jenkins' and McCausland's Brigade and fought in western Virginia, including the conflict at Droop Mountain. Later it saw action at Gettysburg, returned to western Virginia, then participated in various engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. This regiment had 265 men in action at Gettysburg, and during February 1864, there were 163 present for duty. It disbanded in April 1865.  Field officers: Colonel Milton J. Ferguson, Lieutenant Colonel William L. Graham, and Major James H. Hounnan.

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 (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Stevenson's Company) - many men from Russell County

Company B (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Gent's Company) - many men from Russell County

Company C (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Hankin'sCompany) - many men from Tazewell County

Company D (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Morris' Company) - many men from at least six different counties of Virginia and present-day West Virginia including Cabell and Putnam

Company E (Ferguson's Battalion, Formerly Spurlock's Company) - many men from Wayne County, West Virginia

Company F (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Taylor's Company) - many men from Tazewell County

Company G (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Parks' Company) - many men from Wayne County

Company H (Milton J. Ferguson's original company in Ferguson's Battalion) - many men from Wayne County

Company I (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Graham's Company) - many men from Tazewell County

Company K (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Nounnan's Company) - many men from at least eight or ten different counties

The above information is from16th Virginia Calvary, by Jack L. Dickinson.


 * Field and Staff
 * Company A


 * Company B


 * Company C


 * Company D


 * Company E


 * Company F


 * Company G


 * Company H


 * Company I


 * Company K

Other Sources
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.


 * Dickinson, Jack L. Confederate Soldiers of Western Virginia. Barboursville, W. Va.: J.L. Dickinson, 1986..


 * Dickinson, Jack L. 16th Virginia Cavalry. Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1989..


 * Harris, N.E. The Civil War, Its Results and Lessons: An Address Delivered at Louisville, Kentucky to the Confederate Veterans in Reunion June 15, 1905. Macon, Ga.: J.W. Burke Co., 1906..