60th Virginia Infantry [also called 3rd Regiment, Wise Legion] was organized in August, 1861. The unit served in Field’s, McCausland’s, and T. Smith’s Brigade. It fought in the Seven Days’ Battles and reported 31 killed and 173 wounded. Later it was attached to the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee and participated in numerous conflicts including the fight at Piedmont. The 60th took part in Early’s operations in the Shenandoah Valley and fought its last battle at Waynesborough. During mid-April, 1865, it disbanded.

The field officers were Colonels Beuhring H. Jones and William H. Starke; Lieutenant Colonels James L. Corley, William A. Gilliam, George W. Hammond, J.W. Spaulding, John C. Summers, and W.A. Swank; and Majors William S. Rowan, James W. Sweeney, and Jacob N. Taylor.

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

West Virginia counties contributing soldiers: Braxton, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Jackson, Mercer, Monroe, Roane

60th Virginia Infantry – National Park Service

60th Virginia Infantry, Virginia Regimental History Series, by J.L. Scott, H.E. Howard Publishing, 1997.

60th Virginia Infantry, Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia, by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 255-256, entry #394.

60th Virginia Infantry, A Guide to Virginia’s Military Organizations, 1861-1865, by Lee A. Wallace, Jr., pp. 138-139.