The following Confederate army units were involved in the Battle of Lynchburg on June 17–18, 1864, near Lynchburg, Virginia, in the American Civil War. The Union units are shown separately. The Confederate force, commanded by Lieutenant General Jubal Early in cooperation with Major General John C. Breckenridge, consisted of brigades, divisions, and part of a corps. Both infantry and cavalry were involved—plus artillery. Confederate cavalry units delayed the Union approach to Lynchburg, enabling Confederate infantry forces to arrive in Lynchburg in time to defend the city.
Abbreviations used
editUnits listed under "Regiments and Others" are regiments unless noted otherwise in "Additional information".
Military rank
edit- LG = Lieutenant General
- MG = Major General
- BG = Brigadier General
- Col = Colonel
- Ltc = Lieutenant Colonel
- Maj = Major
- Capt = Captain
- Lt = 1st Lieutenant
Other
edit- w = wounded
- k = killed
- det = Detachment
- MOH = Medal of Honor
Confederate Army
editCity (Lynchburg) Command
editBG Francis T. Nicholls - Until the arrival of Breckinridge, Nicholls and his small force were the only defenders of Lynchburg other than cavalry positioned between the city and advancing Union forces. Nicholls was missing he left arm and left leg—lost in separate battles.[1]
| Group | Unit |
|---|---|
| BG Francis T. Nicholls |
|
Breckinridge's Division, Trans–Alleghany Department
editMG John C. Breckinridge, commanding[7] Breckinridge was appointed commander of the Trans-Alleghany Department, also known as the Western Department of Virginia, on February 25, 1864.[8] Breckinridge's Division (except King's Artillery Battalion and the Maryland Line) was ordered back to the Shenandoah Valley on June 7, 1864.<need cite> Because of injuries from an earlier battle, Breckinridge was bedridden. He had D.H. Hill, who was visiting Lynchburg, organize the city's positioning of troops for the city's defense.[9]
- MG D.H. Hill, unofficial command - Traveled to Lynchburg per orders from General P. G. T. Beauregard to offer assistance to Brigadier General F.T. Nicholls, arriving before Lieutenant General Jubal Early. Breckinridge was bedridden because of injuries suffered in an earlier battle, and gave Hill unofficial command of Lynchburg. Hill set up the city's defense by positioning brigades and artillery around the city. He also ordered the construction of redoubts and trenches.[10]
- MG Arnold Elzey - Took official command of Lynchburg on the afternoon of June 18, but only participated in the pursuit after the battle.[11]
BG Gabriel C. Wharton, division commander[7]
| Brigade | Regiments and Others |
|---|---|
| Wharton/Forsberg Brigade |
|
| Echols/Patton Brigade |
|
| McCausland/Smith Brigade |
|
| Major Floyd King's Artillery Battalion |
|
Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
editOnly a portion of this corps, listed below, arrived in time for the battle.
LTG Jubal Early
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monocacy_order_of_battle:_Confederate
| Division | Brigade | Regiments and Others |
|---|---|---|
|
Early/Ramseur Division
|
Pegram's Brigade
|
|
| Johnston's Brigade
|
| |
| Lewis' Brigade[13][Note 1] |
| |
|
Gordon's Division (partial)
|
York's Brigade
|
|
| Evan's Brigade |
|
Cavalry, Department of Western Virginia
editMG Robert Ransom, commanding - On June 13, Ransom was ordered to take command of all cavalry in the Department of Western Virginia, reporting to Breckinridge.[28] Ransom did not arrive in Lynchburg until 4:00 pm on June 18.[29]
| Brigade | Regiments (unless noted otherwise) |
|---|---|
| McCausland's Cavalry |
|
| Jackson's Cavalry |
|
| Imboden's Cavalry |
|
| Vaughn's Mounted Infantry |
|
| Jones' Cavalry
under Vaughn[23] |
|
| Horse Artillery |
|
Breckinridge's Division (except King's Artillery Battalion and the Maryland Line) was ordered back to the Shenandoah Valley on June 7, 1864.<need cite> Because of injuries from an earlier battle, Breckinridge was bedridden. He had D.H. Hill, who was visiting Lynchburg, organize the city's positioning of troops for the city's defense.[9]
Notes
editFootnotes
edit- ^ While Hotchkiss identifies this brigade as part of Ramseur's Division, Walker is unclear (possibly Gordon's).[24] A historian for the 6th Virginia Infantry says "Early's Division, to which the Sixth Regiment belonged" when discussing the Battle of Lynchburg.[25] The Order of Battle for the early June Battle of Cold Harbor lists Lewis's Brigade (a.k.a. Hoke's Brigade) as part of Pickett's Division in I Corps instead of II Corps.[26] In the July 9, 1864, Battle of Monocacy, Lewis' Brigade is listed as part of Ramseur's Division.[27]
Citations
edit- ^
- Walker 1989, p. 189, 285, 417;
- Blackford 1901, p. 12
- ^ Walker 1989, pp. 189, 285
- ^ Walker 1989, pp. 190, 285
- ^ Walker 1989, p. 282
- ^ Walker 1989, pp. 282, 285
- ^
- Walker 1989, pp. 243, 286;
- "Battle Unit Detail - Confederate Virginia Troops - Douthat's Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Botetourt Artillery)". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Walker 1989, pp. 284
- ^ Evans 1899, p. 92
- ^ a b Walker 1989, pp. 231, 264
- ^
- Otey 1892, pp. 648–649;
- Walker 1989, pp. 229, 231, 264, 280, 284;
- Duncan 1998, p. 270–271
- ^
- Walker 1989, pp. 286, 326;
- Duncan 1998, p. 286, 288
- ^
- Walker 1989, pp. 284;
- "Confederate Virginia Troops - 30th Battalion, Virginia Sharpshooters (Clarke's)". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Report of the camps, marches & engagements, of the Second Corps, A.N.V., and of the Army of the Valley Dist. of the Department of Northern VA., during the campaign of: Virginia. 1864". U.S. Library of Congress. p. 14 (No.9a). Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ Walker 1989, pp. 124–125
- ^ Wallace 1986, p. 106
- ^ Wallace 1986, p. 109
- ^ Walker 1989, p. 137
- ^ Walker 1989, pp. 82, 125
- ^ Walker 1989, pp. 82, 124
- ^ Walker 1989, p. 82
- ^ Sifakis 2006, pp. 223–224, 233–234, 255–256
- ^
- "Confederate Virginia Troops - 36th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry)". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 4, 2025.:
- "Confederate Virginia Troops - 45th Battalion, Virginia Infantry". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 4, 2025.:
- "Confederate Virginia Troops - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion)". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Walker 1989, p. 286
- ^
- "Report of the camps, marches & engagements, of the Second Corps, A.N.V., and of the Army of the Valley Dist. of the Department of Northern VA., during the campaign of: Virginia. 1864". U.S. Library of Congress. p. 14 (No.9a). Retrieved March 22, 2025.;
- Walker 1989, p. 285
- ^ Clark 1901, p. 323
- ^ King, Robertson & Clay 2009, p. 407
- ^ "Monocacy - Confederate Order of Battle". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ Withers 1892, p. 646
- ^ Walker 1989, p. 327
- ^ a b c Walker 1989, p. 172
- ^ Blackford 1901, p. 34
- ^ Blackford 1901, p. 20
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Walker124was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Davis 1974, p. 442
- ^
- Walker 1989, p. 286;
- Blackford 1901, p. 20
- ^ "Battle Unit Detail - Confederate Virginia Troops - McClanahan's Company, Virginia Horse Artillery". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ "Battle Unit Detail - Confederate Virginia Troops - Lurty's Company, Virginia Horse Artillery". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
References
edit- Blackford, Charles Minor (1901). Campaign and Battle of Lynchburg, Va. Lynchburg, Virginia: J.P. Bell. OCLC 2958018.
- Clark, Walter, ed. (1901). Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina, in the Great War 1861-'65 Vol. I. Raleigh, North Carolina: E.M. Uzzell. OCLC 1300611.
- Davis, William C. (1974). Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State Unibersity Press. ISBN 978-0-80711-805-4. OCLC 900543965. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- Duncan, Richard R. (1998). Lee's Endangered Left: The Civil War in Western Virginia, Spring of 1864. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press. OCLC 940541407.
- King, Curtis S.; Robertson, William Glenn; Clay, Steven E. (2009). Staff Ride Handbook for the Overland Campaign, Virginia, 4 May to 15 June 1864: A Study in Operational–Level Command (Second Edition) (PDF). Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press.
- Otey, John M. (1892). "Special Orders, No.23, Headquarters Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia". In Davis, George B.; Perry, Leslie J.; Kirkley, Joseph W. (eds.). The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Series I Volume XL Part II. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. pp. 648–649. OCLC 318422190. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- Sifakis, Stewart (2006). Compendium of the Confederate Armies - Virginia. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books. ISBN 978-1-58549-701-0. OCLC 54369824.
- Walker, Gary C. (1989). Hunter's Fiery Raid Through Virginia Valleys. Roanoke, Virginia: A & W Enterprise. OCLC 21340468.
- Wallace, Lee A. (1986). A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations 1861-1865. Lynchburg, Virginia: H.E. Howard, Inc. ISBN 978-0-93091-930-6. OCLC 1003746760.
- Withers, John (1892). "Special Orders, No.137, Adjt. and Insp. General's Office, Richmond". In Davis, George B.; Perry, Leslie J.; Kirkley, Joseph W. (eds.). The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Series I Volume XL Part II. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. pp. 645–646. OCLC 318422190. Retrieved September 23, 2025.