59th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)

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Brief History
The 59th Infantry Regiment [also called 2nd Regiment, Wise Legion] was organized in August, 1861. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek, and none of its members were present at the surrender. The field officers were Colonels Charles F. Henningsen and William B. Tabb, Lieutenant Colonels Frank P. Anderson and Joseph Jones, and Majors John Lawson and Robert G. Mosby.

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 A1 ( Richmond Light Infantry Blues - many men from Richmond County

Company A2 (Ben McCulloch Rangers)(formerly William F. McLean's Louisiana Volunteer Infantry

Company B1 (Beirne's Sharpshooters) - many men from Monroe County

Company B2 (White Sulphur Rifles) - many men from Greenbrier County

Company B3 (Brunswick Blues) - many men from Brunswick County

Company C1 - see Company B2

Company C2 (Red Sulphur Yankee Hunters) many men from Greenbrier County

Company C3 (The South of Dan Rebels) formerly Company K

Company D1 (Border Guards or Rifles)

Company D2 (Captain Fleshman's Company, later Captain Edgar's Company, Wise Legion)

Company D3 (The Jackson Guard)

Company E1 - see Company K2

Company E2 - See Company D3

Company E3 (Bruce Guard) - many men from Richmond County

Company F1 (Jackson Avengers, Dixie Rifles) - many men from Gauley Bridge, Fayette County

Company F2 (Kemper Guards,- Mississippi Rangers) many men from Mississippi

Company F3 (Richmond Light Guard) - many men from Richmond

Company G1 (Alleghany Rifles) - many men from Alleghany County. There are at least 24 men from Powhatan County, lead by Captain F. S. Mosby, that served in this Company or Companies G2 or G3 as recorded on page 506, FHL book 975.5612 H2c titled Powhatan: A Bicentennial History, pages 240-268 and 504-507

Company G2 (University Volunteers) - many men from Albemarle County

Company G3 (Captain Henry Wood, Jr's Company)

Company H1 - See Company C2

Company H2 (Lunenburg Heavy Artillery) many men from Lunenburg County

Company I1 - See Company D3

Company I2 (Princeton Guard) many men from Mercer County

Company I3 (Captain Robert G. Mosby's Company, formerly Company K

Company K (Captain Samuel D. Irvin's Company)

Company K1 - See Company E3

Company L1 - See Company F3

Company L2 (Captain Samuel D. Irvin's Company)

The information above is from 59th Virginia Infantry, by G. L. Sherwood and Jeffrey C. Weaver.

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.


 * Sherwood, George L. 59th Virginia Infantry. (Lynchburg, Virginia : H.E. Howard, c1994),.


 * 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.