18th Virginia Infantry
| 18th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
|
Flag of Virginia, 1861 | |
| Active | May 1861 – Spring 1865 |
| Country | Confederacy |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Confederate States of America |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements |
First Battle of Bull Run Seven Days' Battles Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Siege of Suffolk Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg Battle of Five Forks Battle of Sailor's Creek |
| Disbanded | April 1865 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Colonel Robert E. Withers |
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The 18th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.
The 18th Virginia completed its organization in May, 1861. Its members were recruited at Danville and Farmville, and in the counties of Nottoway, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Appomattox, Pittsylvania, and Charlotte.
The unit fought at First Manassas under General Cocke, then was assigned to General Pickett's, Garnett's, and Hunton's Brigade. It participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Gettysburg except when it was detached to Suffolk with Longstreet. Later it served in North Carolina, returned to Virginia, and took an active part in the battles of Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor. The 18th endured the hardships of the Petersburg trenches north of the James River and saw action around Appomattox.
It lost 6 killed and 13 wounded at First Manassas and in April, 1862, had 700 men fit for duty. The unit reported 206 casualties during the Seven Days' Battles, and of the 120 engaged in the Maryland Campaign, thirty-six percent of the 312 in action were killed, wounded, or missing. Many were captured at Sayler's Creek and only 2 officers and 32 men surrendered.
The field officers were Colonels Henry A. Carrington and Robert E. Withers, Lieutenant Colonel George C. Cabell, and Major Edwin G. Wall.
Robert Lewis Dabney briefly served as chaplain for the regiment, before becoming chief of staff for Stonewall Jackson.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service".