7th Virginia Infantry was organized in May, 1861, at Manassas Junction, Virginia, with men from Giles, Madison, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Greene, and Albemarle counties. It fought at First Manassas under General Early, then served with Ewell, A.P. Hill, Kemper, and W.R. Terry. In April, 1862, the regiment had 700 effectives and later was active in the various campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Gettysburg. It participated in Longstreet’s Suffolk expedition, was prominent in the capture of Plymouth, then fought at Drewry’s Bluff and Cold Harbor. The 7th continued the fight in the Petersburg trenches south of the James River and around Appomattox.

It sustained 47 casualties at First Manassas, 77 at Williamsburg, 111 at Frayser’s Farm, 59 at Second Manassas, and 4 at Fredericksburg. Of the 335 engaged at Gettysburg about forty percent were disabled. It lost 39 men at Drewry’s Bluff, and many were captured at Five Forks and Sayler’s Creek. Only 20 officers and men were present at the surrender.

Its commanders were Colonels Charles C. Flowerree, James L. Kemper, and Waller T. Patton; Lieutenant Colonel L.B. Williams, Jr.; and Major Aylett A. Swindler.

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

West Virginia counties contributing soldiers: Mercer, Monroe

7th Virginia Infantry – National Park Service

7th Virginia Infantry – The Civil War in the East

7th Virginia Infantry, Virginia Regimental History Series, by David F. Riggs, H.E. Howard Publishing, 1982.

7th Virginia Infantry, Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia, by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 176-177, entry #324.

7th Virginia Infantry, A Guide to Virginia’s Military Organizations, 1861-1865, by Lee A. Wallace, Jr., pp. 91.