Author: John C. Rigdon

Publisher: Virginia Regimental History

Published: 2018-09-18

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 9781723790928

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.