2nd Virginia Infantry was assembled at Charles Town in April, 1861, then moved to Harper’s Ferry to seize the armory. The unit was accepted into Confederate service in July. Its companies were from the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Floyd, Jefferson, and Berkeley. It became part of the Stonewall Brigade and served under Generals T.J. Jackson, R.B. Garnett, Winder, Paxton, J.A. Walker, and W. Terry.

The 2nd fought at First Manassas, First Kernstown, and in Jackson’s Valley Campaign. It went on to fight with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days’ Battles to Cold Harbor except during the Maryland Campaign when it was detached to Martinsburg as provost guards. Later the unit was involved in Early’s operations in the Shenandoah Valley and the Appomattox operations. It reported 90 casualties at First Kernstown, 25 at Cross Keys and Port Republic, 27 at Gaines’ Mill, and 77 at Second Manassas. The regiment lost 2 killed and 19 wounded at Fredericksburg, had 8 killed and 58 wounded at Chancellorsville, and had about eight percent of the 333 engaged at Gettysburg disabled. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered with 9 officers and 62 men.

Its field officers were Colonels James W. Allen, Lawson Botts, and John Q.A. Nadenbousch; Lieutenant Colonels Raleigh T. Colston, Francis Lackland, and William W. Randolph; and Majors Francis B. Jones, Edwin L. Moore, and Charles H. Stewart.

[Source: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System]

West Virginia counties contributing soldiers: Berkeley, Jefferson

2nd Virginia Infantry – National Park Service

2nd Virginia Infantry – The Civil War in the East

2nd Virginia Infantry, Virginia Regimental History Series, by Dennis Frye, H.E. Howard Publishing, 1984.

Dennis Frye Discusses: The 2nd Virginia Infantry; American Public University, Youtube video series

2nd Virginia Infantry, Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia, by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 159-161, entry #285.

2nd Virginia Infantry, A Guide to Virginia’s Military Organizations, 1861-1865, by Lee A. Wallace, Jr., pp. 83-84.

Culp’s Hill and Private Wesley Culp – Encyclopedia Virginia