36th Virginia Infantry, formerly known as the 2nd Kanawha Regiment, was organized in July, 1861. Assigned to Floyd’s Brigade, the unit fought at Kessler’s Cross Lanes and Carnifex Ferry in western Virginia, then moved to Tennessee. Here it was captured in the fight at Fort Donelson in February, 1862. After being exchanged it returned to Virginia and served in McCausland’s and T. Smith’s Brigade. The 36th went on to fight at Cloyd’s Mountain and Piedmont, and later was involved in Early’s Shenandoah Valley operations. It fought its last battle at Waynesborough.

This unit reported 14 killed and 46 wounded at Fort Donelson, and there were 18 killed, 58 wounded, and 35 missing at Cloyd’s Mountain. Many were lost at Third Winchester, and in mid-April, 1865, it disbanded.

The field officers were Colonels John A. McCausland and Thomas Smith, and Lieutenant Colonels William E. Fife, Benjamin R. Linkons, and L. Wilber Reid.

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

West Virginia counties contributing soldiers: Boone, Clay, Jackson, Logan, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Wayne, Wood

36th Virginia Infantry – National Park Service

36th Virginia Infantry – The Civil War in the East

36th Virginia Infantry, Virginia Regimental History Series, by J.L. Scott, H.E. Howard Publishing, 1987.

36th Virginia Infantry, Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia, by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 223-224, entry #367.

36th Virginia Infantry, A Guide to Virginia’s Military Organizations, 1861-1865, by Lee A. Wallace, Jr., pp. 118-119.