This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
In 1861, a Battle Cry of Freedom rang out across the hills and valleys of western Virginia. For the mountaineers of Virginia, there were definitely shades of gray, with some being strongly Confederate and others having family ties to the Union. While the men fought and died all across the battlefields of Virginia and at Gettysburg, the Confederate Women remained unvanquished. This book includes almost 50 letters from and to sweethearts left at home to face the war alone. The Virginia 45th Infantry Regiment (which was sometimes incorrectly identified as the 4th Virginia Infantry) was formed in May, 1861, with men from Tazewell, Wythe, Grayson, Carroll, and Bland counties. It was first assigned to Echols', G.C. Wharton's, and Forsberg's Brigade, and served in Western Virginia. It was then assigned to duty in the Army of the Kanawha. It fought mostly in the mountainous area that today encompasses the border regions of Virginia and West Virginia, and was part of Jubal Early's Army of the Valley during the Valley Campaigns of 1864. The 45th missed most of the major battles in Virginia, but their duty was not light. It served in the Department of Western Virginia, the Army of Western Virginia, the Army of Western Virginia and East Tennessee, and back in the Department of Western Virginia before ending its service in the Army of the Valley District. The regiment's original commanding officer, Henry Heth, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General on January 6, 1862. Nominated to the rank of Major-General, effective October 10, 1862, this nomination was not approved by the Confederate Congress. He was re-nominated to this rank on May 24, 1863, and this time his promotion was approved. He held this rank for the duration of the war. Troops of Heth's division opened the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1863. The regiment fought at Carnifex Ferry, reporting 26 killed, 96 wounded, 46 captured, and 6 missing in the fight at Cloyd's Mountain; then saw action in the Shenandoah Valley. It sustained many casualties at Third Winchester. When the news of the surrender of Confederate forces under General Lee reached the area in which the Forty-Fifth Infantry was stationed, it was decided to disband the unit rather than continue resistance. Company A - "The Floyd Guard"; Capt. Joseph Harrison. Comprised of men from Tazewell County. Company B - "The Mount Airy Rough and Ready"; Capt. John Buchanan. Wythe County men. Company C - "The Grayson Rifles"; Capt. Alexander M. Davis. Grayson County men. Company D - "The Minute Men"; Capt. Robert H. Gleaves. Wythe County men. Company E - Enlisted May 29, 1861, but unofficial reports indicate that the company had been organized two weeks earlier. Nicknamed "The Rough and Readys"; Capt. William Lundy. Carroll County men. Company F - "The Sharpshooters"; Capt. Andrew J. Grayson. Bland County men. Company G - "The West Augusta Rifles"; Capt. William H. Browne. Tazewell County men. Company H - "The Tazewell Rangers"; Capt. Edwin H. Harman. Tazewell County men. Company I - "The Reed Island Rifles"; Capt. Thomas D. Bolt. Carroll County men. Company K - "The Tazewell Boys"; Capt. Titus V. Williams. Tazewell County men. Company L - Enlisted September 3, 1861. Comprised of men from Tazewell County.
This is an accounting of the experiences of the soldiers of Hardcastle's 3rd Battalion Mississippi Infantry from enlistment to the end of the war. It includes their mid-war incarnation as the 45th Mississippi Regiment and the role they played in Cleburne's fabled division during almost every major engagement of the Army of Tennessee. Told as much as possible from the point of view of the soldier, the book shows what motivated the original volunteers to join and continue fighting to the end.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
