The state of West Virginia was formed in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War, America's most traumatic conflict. Persons seeking to learn about their ancestor's involvement in this struggle can find a wealth of information at the West Virginia State Archives Library. This guide may serve as a starting point for researching your Civil War ancestor.
The first step is to determine whether your ancestor fought for the Union or the Confederacy. This is particularly difficult in West Virginia because of the deep divisions in the region. The phrase "brother against brother" is particularly fitting in describing the conflict in West Virginia. Although early estimates noted that Union soldiers from the region outnumbered Confederates by more than three to one, more recent and detailed studies have concluded that there were nearly equal numbers of Union and Confederate soldiers.
When researching a Union soldier in the regular regiments you can utilize either the West Virginia Adjutant General's records or the National Archives records, both of which are available on microfilm. Be advised that it is a good idea to check both these because one may have some information that the other does not. When going through the alphabetical index the most important thing to look for is the soldier's regimental number. Then check and see whether the soldier was with an infantry, cavalry or artillery unit. You will normally find the soldier's regiment, company, age, enlistment date, muster out date and perhaps an enlistment or discharge paper listing the soldier's physical characteristics and home county. There may be many different facts wedged between the ordinary pay muster records. The soldier may have been wounded or sent to the hospital. There may be expenses charged against him for losing a cartridge belt or saddle. Occasionally, you may find the soldier's death notice, which lists his parents. These everyday facts will help you to see the soldier's daily life much more vividly. The officers will have many more cards because of papers they had to sign or requisitions for supplies they had to report. It should be noted that these "Cards" were written out by government clerks using the original muster sheets and medical records during the early 1900s. When you see a discharge or a supply sheet, however, it will be an original document photocopied right into the individual's file and may even include an actual signature . In the case of two soldiers with the same name it will be these details that will help differentiate them and allow you to find your ancestor.
For Confederate records, the best source is the National Archives microfilm of Virginia regiments. After looking at the alphabetical index, you can go to the correct regimental muster cards . These are much like the Union cards but usually not as complete or informative. However, one common record found for Confederate and not Union soldiers is an oath of allegiance, which Confederate soldiers who had surrendered were required to sign before they could return to their homes. These signed oaths can be very descriptive.
There are pension records for both sides but the Union records in the National Archives in Washington D.C. are far superior to the Confederate records in Richmond at the Library of Virginia. For Union records you can apply to the National Archives using NATF form 85. For Confederates you can check the Library of Virginia's Web site. The pension records may list family and perhaps discuss wounds received in the service. Many West Virginia Confederates never received pensions at all.
Fortunately for researchers, there are possible shortcuts for finding your Civil War ancestor. For Union soldiers, Broadfoot Publishing has recently published The Roster of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865. The volume which includes West Virginia alphabetically lists each Union soldier who enlisted in a West Virginia regiment. Tim McKinney's West Virginia Civil War Almanac also contains a listing of Union soldiers, but by county rather than alphabetical. Jack L. Dickinson's Tattered Uniforms and Bright Bayonets lists most Confederate soldiers who were either born in, enlisted in, or resided in what became West Virginia.
Once you know whether your ancestor was a "Yankee" or "Rebel", you can check regimental histories for further details. If he was a Confederate soldier, your task will be much easier. H. E. Howard Publishing has produced a set of books on nearly all the Virginia Confederate regiments. Written by different authors, these books include a regimental history and an alphabetical listing of the soldiers in the regiment. More helpful are the detailed entries for each soldier, which often include place of birth, date and place of enlistment, as well as wartime activities, and possibly death and burial notations. The bibliographies often provide a detailing of primary sources which may provide further information. There are not as many Union regimental histories, and they are usually not as thorough in providing information on individuals. You may also wish to check manuscripts collections, wartime newspapers, and other primary sources. You might be surprised to find your ancestor mentioned in a diary or a letter to the local newspaper. County histories may also prove beneficial, providing rosters or lists which do not appear elsewhere.
The 45th US Colored Infantry is the one black regiment assigned to West Virginia. Most of these men were from Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. These soldiers were either escaped slaves eager to serve to further establish their "free" status, or "freedmen" from different states placed together near the conclusion of the war after African-American troops had proven their effectiveness. There is very little information on these men in our archives and it would be necessary to apply to the National Archives for their full records.
Many soldiers started out in the original Virginia State Militia units, which had been functioning since the colonial period. While most secessionists joined regular Confederate regiments, many Union men stayed with the county militia regiments, which were then dubbed "Home Guards" or "Scouts". These men were looked down upon by soldiers in regular army regiments but were useful in guarding rail lines and as local forces fighting Confederate guerillas. The records of these units were compiled by the West Virginia Adjutant General and are listed by county on microfilm accessible at the West Virginia State Archives Library. Unfortunately, the records only list officers and enlisted men, with little additional information on individual soldiers or the military operations of most of these militia units. In the southern counties there were a few active Confederate militia units. Some county histories discuss the role of local Home Guards during the war.
For those who are mainly doing genealogical as opposed to Civil War research, the 1890 Federal Veterans Census should prove helpful. Although the regular 1890 census records were burned, the Veterans Census was not damaged and can serve as one of the only connections to veterans and their widows in this time period. After finding your ancestor in the index, you can consult the microfilm to find information such as county of residence and regiment. Union veterans residing in West Virginia at the time of the 1890 census were included even if they had fought for regiments from other states. These records were supposed to be just for Union veterans, but many Confederates were also listed.
The State of West Virginia voted a handsome bronze medal for its Union veterans who served in the regular regiments. There are several thousand medals remaining in the West Virginia State Archives. Interested patrons can look over the list on our Web site to determine if we have a medal for your ancestor. To apply for these medals, the patron will need copies of official documents, not just family genealogy charts. Remember, Confederate soldiers did not receive these medals.
The West Virginia State Archives invites researchers to visit the library in The Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex in Charleston. The following bibliography is only a sample of the many books and resources available in our library. Patrons should remember that the call numbers are unique to this institution and may not be helpful in locating the same titles in other libraries. Staff members are available in the search room to assist patrons.
Adjutant General, State of West Virginia. Annual Report for
the Year Ended December 31, 1864. Wheeling: John F. M'Dermot,
Public Printer, 1865. Adj 1. 1: 1864.
Adjutant General, State of West Virginia. Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 1865. Wheeling: John Frew, Public Printer, 1866. Adj 1. 1: 1865. Both volumes contain complete rosters of West Virginia regiments and units.
Brownlee, Kimberly Ball Hieronimus. "The Thirteenth Regiment West Virginia Volunteer Infantry." Senior Thesis, The University of Toledo, 1996. Features maps and brief regimental history. 973.7454 C582 no.13.
Calhoun, H. M. Twixt North and South. Franklin: McCoy Publishing Company, 1974. History of the wartime years in Pendleton County, focusing on guerilla warfare. Also features list of citizen and soldiers from Pendleton confined in Camp Chase 1861-1865 and muster rolls of several companies. 973.7097 C152.
Cook, Roy Bird. Lewis County in the Civil War. Charleston: Jarrett Printing Co., 1924. History of Civil War in the county, formations of militia companies from July 1863, roster of Lewis County Independent Scouts, rosters for several companies from county, and miscellaneous veterans, as well as correspondence. 973.7097 C771.
Dawson, John Harper. Wildcat Cavalry: A Synoptic History of the Seventeenth Virginia Cavalry Regiment of The Jenkins-McCausland Brigade In The War Between the States. Dayton: Morningside House, Inc., 1982. History of regimental service, company rosters, and officer sketches. 973.7454 C582 no.17c.
Dickinson, Jack L. Confederate Soldiers of Western Virginia. Published by the author, 1986. Rosters of several early Confederate units from western Virginia, records of formation for 8th and 16th Virginia Cavalry regiments. 973.7454 D553.
Dickinson, Jack L. Records of the 16th Regiment Virginia Cavalry, 1984. Includes roster and brief history. For more thorough work, see 16th Virginia Cavalry in HE Howard Regimental History Series (see listing below). 973.7454 C582 no.16
Dickinson, Jack L. Tattered Uniforms and Bright Bayonets: West Virginia's Confederate Soldiers. Huntington: Marshall University Library Association, 1995. Dickinson's detailed work sought to refute claims by early historians that Confederate soldiers numbered some 8,000. The book features early militia organizations in western Virginia, origins of early Confederate units in the region, and an alphabetized list of more than 17,000 Confederate troops. 973.742 D 553t.
Dilts, Bryan L. 1890 West Virginia Census Index of Civil War Veterans or Their Widows. Salt Lake City: Index Publishing, 1986. Contains Union veterans or widows living in West Virginia. Provides regiment and sometimes medical status. Also includes some Confederate veterans. R 929.3 W521LV.
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Dayton: Morningside Bookshop, 1978. Provides basic unit histories, including assignments and dates. R 973.7 D996
"First West Virginia Infantry." West Virginia History, Volume 55 (1996). Extracted from the 1864 Adjutant General's Report.
Geiger, Joe Jr. Civil War in Cabell County, West Virginia 1861-1865. Charleston: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1991. Features listing of Union and Confederate soldiers from Cabell County. 973.7097 G312.
Griffith, Joe. History of Company G, 11th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry From Coalsmouth to Richmond, 1862-1865. Roswell, GA: Published by the author 1995. Features detailed history, diary entries from various sources, and December 1864 roster. 973.7454 C582 no. 11b.
Hackley, Woodford B. A Sketch of Company "D" Fourth Virginia Cavalry. Richmond: Dietz Printing Company, 1927. Includes company history and complete roster with details of wartime activities. 973.7454 C582 no.4
Hardesty's West Virginia Counties. Volumes 1-8. Richwood: Jim Comstock, 1973. These volumes sometimes contain lists of soldiers not noted elsewhere. 975.4003 H259.
Hewitt, William. History of the Twelfth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry: The Part It Took in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Published by the Twelfth West Virginia Infantry Association, 1892. Detailed history of the regiment. 973.7454 C582 no.12.
Hite, Delmer R. Roster of Jackson County, West Virginia, Civil War Soldiers. Published by the author, 1972. Detailed rosters for Union, Confederate and Home Guard units in Jackson County. 973.7454 H675.
Hornbeck, Betty. Upshur Brothers of the Blue and the Gray. Parsons: McClain Printing Company, 1967. Features history of conflict in the Upshur County vicinity, rosters of Upshur Grays (Company B of 25th Virginia Infantry), Upshur Blues (133rd Militia West Virginia State Troops, Battery E, 1st West Virginia Light Artillery, Company E, 6th West Virginia Cavalry, local cemetery records, the 10th West Virginia Infantry, and other miscellaneous companies from the area. 973.7454 H814.
Jackson County 141st Militia. Ripley: Knightstep Imprints, 1995. Roster for Jackson County militia unit. 973.7454 K71.
Johnston, A. S. Captain Beirne Chapman and Chapman's Battery: An Historical Sketch. Union, WV: Reprinted by the Monroe Watchman, 1991. Includes history, roster, and notes. 973.73 J64 Pam.
Jones, Eugene Wise. "Lieutenant Colonel John J. Polsley, 7th West Virginia Regiment, 1861- 1865." M.A. Thesis, University of Akron, 1949. Detailed history of regiment. 973.7454 J76.
Knotts, Robert J. Jr. Calhoun County in the Civil War. Parsons: McClain Printing Company, 1982. Features county history, wartime activity in region, reminiscences, and list of some Civil War soldiers from Calhoun County. 973.7097 K72.
Lang, Theodore F. Loyal West Virginia From 1861 to 1865. Baltimore: Deutsch Publishing Company, 1895. Features history of the war in western Virginia, regimental summaries, and lists of officers for each regiment. RR 973.7454 L271L.
Lewis, Jack Walter. A History of John Paul Lewis and the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry. Published by author, 1997. Brief history of the regiment. 973.7454 C582 no.1d.
Linger, James Carter.Confederate Military Units of West Virginia. Published by the author, 1989. Detailed study of Confederate units formed in western Virginia. 973.7454 L755.
Lowther, H. M. Record and Roll of Company "G." Published by author. Includes diary, transaction records and company roster. 973.7454 C582 no.10b.
Matheny, H.E. Wood County, West Virginia, in Civil War Times. Parkersburg: Trans- Allegheny Books, Inc., 1987. Thorough history, photos, rosters of militia regiments, numerous Union companies and several Confederate companies. 973.7097 M426.
McKinney, Tim. West Virginia Civil War Almanac. Charleston: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1998. This book features the Veteran Census Roster of 1890 (arranged by county), West Virginia physicians in the war, service medals, listing of soldiers and citizens who died in Federal prisons or hospitals, and records of the Southern Claims Commission. 973.742 M158m.
Mosocco, Ronald. The Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War Per the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. Williamsburg: James River Publications, 1994. Chronologically lists engagements and actions of the war. 973.73 M912.
O'Brien, Katherine. "The Seventh West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1865." M.A. Thesis, West Virginia University, 1965. Features detailed history of regiment's wartime record. 973.7454 C582 no.7c.
Reader, Frank S. History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Formerly the Second Virginia Infantry, and of Battery G. First West Va. Light Artillery. New Brighton, PA: Daily News, 1890. Included detailed history of regimental service, company rosters and histories, and biographies and photos of individuals. 973.7454 C582 no.5.
The Roster of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865. Volume 4. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing, 1999. Alphabetical listing of Union soldiers in West Virginia. Provides name, regiment and company.
Rosters of Companies A Through K, Thirty-First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers. Detailed rosters, muster rolls, record of events. 973.7454 C582 no. 31b.
Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York: Facts On File, 1992. Details date of unit formation, lists commanders and field officers, and notes battles each unit participated in. 973.742 S573 v.1.
Sutton, J. J. History of the Second Regiment West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers During the War of the Rebellion. Portsmouth, 1982. Regimental history, rosters, sketches, 1892 list by company of survivors. 973.7454 C582 no.2.
Thirty-First Virginia Infantry, C.S.A.: Muster Rolls and Record of Events, Etc. Features company rosters, muster rolls and company events. 973.7454 C582 no. 31c.
Turner, Ronald R. 7th West Virginia Cavalry. Manassas, VA: 1989. Lists officers and men of the regiment (formerly the 8th Virginia Infantry), brief summary of troop movements, and detailed roster, with a paragraph of info on each soldier including birth, death and marriage records. 973.7454 C582 no.7.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 128 volumes. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880. The official records of the war can provide primary source information about a unit's participation in a battle or action. R 973.7
Williams, George T. Company A, 37th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, C.S.A. Published by the author, n.d. Wartime recollections by member of the 37th Battalion. 973.7454 C582 no. 37.
The following books are from the Virginia Regimental History Series, published by H. E. Howard, Inc. of Lynchburg, Virginia:
1st Virginia Cavalry, by Robert J. Driver, Jr., 1991. The 1st Virginia Cavalry included the Berkeley Troop (B) from Berkeley County and the Shepherdstown Troop (F) from Jefferson County. 973.7454 C582 1b.
2nd Virginia Infantry, by Dennis E. Frye, 1984. The 2nd Virginia Infantry included the Jefferson Guards (A), Hamtramck Guards (B), Botts Greys (G), Letcher Riflemen (H), and Floyd Guards (K) from Jefferson County, and the Berkeley Border Guards (D) and Hedgesville Blues from Berkeley County. 973.7454 C582 2b.
7th Virginia Cavalry, by Richard L. Armstrong, 1982. The 7th Virginia Cavalry included the Hampshire Riflemen (F) from Hampshire County. 973.7454 C582 no. 7b.
8th Virginia Cavalry, by Jack L. Dickinson, 1986. The 8th Virginia Cavalry included French's Company (D1) from Mercer County, Gunn's Rangers (D2) from Wayne, the Border Rangers (E) from Cabell, the Kanawha Rangers (I) from Kanawha, the Fairview Rifle Guards, from Wayne, and Company L from Greenbrier. 973.7454 C582 no. 8.
10th Virginia Cavalry, by Robert J. Driver, Jr., 1992. The 10th Virginia Cavalry included the Jackson Rangers (G) from Jackson County. 973.7454 C582 no. 10.
11th Virginia Cavalry, by Richard L. Armstrong, 1989. The 11th Virginia Cavalry included the Wildcat Company from Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson counties, the Hardy Rangers (B) from Hardy, and Company D from Hampshire and Hardy counties. 973.7454 C582 no. 11.
12th Virginia Cavalry, by Dennis E. Frye, 1988. The 12th Virginia Cavalry included Companies A, B and D from Jefferson County. 973.7454 C582 no. 12b.
14th Virginia Cavalry, by Robert J. Driver, Jr., 1988. The 14th Virginia Cavalry included White's Mounted Riflemen (A), Jenkins Guards (D), and the Greenbrier Swifts from Greenbrier County, Company E from Calhoun, Company F (1) from Boone, Company L from Braxton and Nicholas counties, the Braxton Dragoons (M) from Braxton, and the Night Hawk Rangers (N) from Roane, Jackson, Wood and Wirt counties. 973.7454 C582 no. 14.
16th Virginia Cavalry, by Jack L. Dickinson, 1989. The 16th Virginia Cavalry included Company D, which included men from Cabell and Putnam counties, and Companies E, G and H from Wayne County. 973.7454 C582 no. 16b.
17th Virginia Cavalry, by Nelson Harris, 1994. The 17th Virginia Cavalry included Companies A and E from Mercer County, the Harrison Cavalry (B) from Harrison, the Lewis Cavalry (C) from Lewis, Company D from Monroe, the Night Hawk Rangers (F) from Roane, Jackson, Wood and Wirt counties, Companies G and H from Jackson County, and Company I from Braxton and Nicholas counties. 973.7454 C582 no. 17.
18th Virginia Cavalry, by Roger U. Delauter, 1985. The 18th Virginia Cavalry included Company A from Randolph and Pendleton counties, Companies B and H from Hampshire and Hardy, Companies C and K from Hampshire, Company E from Hardy and Pendleton, Company I from Hampshire and Lewis, and Company K from Hampshire. Company F, included men from Hampshire, while Company G included men from Pocahontas. 973.7454 C582 no. 18.
19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry, by Richard L. Armstrong, 1994. The 19th Virginia Cavalry included the Moccasin Rangers (A) from Calhoun and Wirt counties, The Braxton County Volunteers (B) from Braxton, Company C from Jackson and Roane counties, Company D from Marion County, Companies E, H, and K from Gilmer, the Pocahontas Cavalry (F) from Pocahontas, the Dixie Boys (G) from Kanawha, and Company I from Pocahontas and Randolph counties. The 20th Virginia Cavalry included Companies A and B from Marion and Monongalia counties, Company C from Randolph, Company D from Barbour, Companies E and F from Harrison, Company G from Wood and Pleasants, and Company H from Wirt. 973.7454 C582 no. 19.
22nd Virginia Infantry, Terry D. Lowry, 1988. The 22nd included the Border Rifles (Company A) and the Elk River Tigers from Kanawha County, the Border Rifles (B) of Jackson County, the Mountain Cove Guards (C) from Fayette County, and the Nicholas Blues (D) from Nicholas County. 973.7454 C582 no.22.
23rd Battalion Virginia Infantry, J.L. Scott, 1991. The 23rd included Company B of Mercer County and Company F from Marion County. 973.7454 C582 no.23.
24th Virginia Infantry, Ralph White Gunn, 1987. The 24th included Company G from Mercer County. 973.7454 C582 no.24.
25th Virginia Infantry and 9th Battalion Virginia Infantry, Richard L. Armstrong, 1990. The 9th Battalion included the Letcher Guard (A) of Taylor County, Captain William Mollohan's Company (B) of Braxton and Webster Counties, the Braxton Blues (C) from Braxton County, the Pocahontas Rescues (D) of Pocahontas County and Captain George W. Hansbrough's Company from Taylor County. The 25th Regiment included the Upshur Grays (B2) of Upshur, the Pendleton Rifles (E), 2nd Company E, the Franklin Guards (G), and the Pendleton Minutemen (K2) from Pendleton, the Hardy Blues (H) from Hardy County, and the South Branch Riflemen (K), which included men from both Hardy and Pendleton Counties. 973.7454 C582 no.25.
27th Virginia Infantry, by Lowell Reidenbaugh, 1993. This regiment included the Monroe Guards (D) from Monroe County, the Greenbrier Rifles (E) and Greenbrier Sharp Shooters (F) from Greenbrier County, and the Shriver Grays (G) from Ohio County. 973.7454 C582 no.27.
30th Battalion Virginia Sharpshooters, by Michael West, 1995. This battalion included Company A from Raleigh County, Company B from Mercer, Company C from Monroe and Company F from Roane County. 973.7454 C582 no.30.
31st Virginia Infantry, by John M. Ashcraft, 1988. The 31st included the Marion Guards (A) from Marion County and the Pendleton County Riflemen (B1) from Pendleton. 973.7454 C582 no.31.
33rd Virginia Infantry, by Lowell Reidenbaugh, 1987. The 33rd included the Potomac Guards (A) of Hampshire County and the Moorefield Greys (F) from Hardy. 973.7454 C582 no.33.
34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, by Scott Cole, 1993. The 34th Battalion included Company A from Wayne County, Company B from Boone, Logan, Putnam and Kanawha, Companies C and E from McDowell County, Company D from Logan County, and Company K from Mercer, Raleigh and Wyoming Counties. 973.7454 C582 no.34.
36th Virginia Infantry, by J.L. Scott, 1987. The 36th included the Buffalo Guards (A) from Putnam County, Logan County Wildcats (B) and Chapmanville Riflemen (C) from Logan County, the Boone Rangers (D) from Boone County, the Raleigh Rangers (E) from Raleigh, the Mountain Riflemen (F) from Nicholas, the Western Riflemen (G) of Roane, and the Fairview Rifle Guards. 973.7454 C582 no.36.
36th and 37th Battalions Virginia Cavalry, by J.L. Scott, 1986. These two battalions included Company B from Braxton County, Company C from Cabell and Putnam Counties, and Company D from Kanawha and Greenbrier counties. 973.7454 C582 no.37.
45th Battalion Virginia Infantry, Smith and Count's Battalions of Partisan Rangers, Jeffrey C. Weaver, 1994. These battalions included Company A from Boone County, Company B from Logan and Wyoming counties, Company C from Wyoming, Companies D and E from Logan, and Company K from Wayne County. 973.7454 C582 no.45b.
59th Virginia Infantry, George L. Sherwood, 1994. The 59th included Beirne's Sharpshooters (B1) from Monroe County, the White Sulphur Rifles (B2) and Red Sulphur Yankee Hunters (C2) from Greenbrier, and the Princeton Guard (I2) from Mercer. 973.7454 C582 no.59.
62nd Virginia Infantry, Roger U. Delauter, Jr., 1988. Most members of this regiment were from what is now West Virginia. The counties they were from include Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Hampshire, Hardy, Harrison, Lewis, Monroe, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur and Webster. 973.7454 C582 no.62.
Lowry's, Bryan's, and Chapman's Batteries of Virginia Artillery, by J. L. Scott, 1988. These three batteries were composed primarily of men from Monroe County, though some were from Greenbrier and what would become Summers County. 973.7455 S427.
Thurmond's Partisan Rangers and Swann's Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, by Jeffrey C. Weaver, 1993. These units were comprised almost entirely of men from what is now southern West Virginia. 973.7455 W363t.
The Virginia State Rangers and State Line, by Randall Osborne and Jeffrey C. Weaver, 1994. The 1st Regiment Company A included men from Logan and Wayne counties, Company B from Boone, Company C and G from Wayne, Companies E and K from Logan, Company F from Cabell, Company H from Logan and Wyoming, and Company I from Cabell and Logan. The 2nd Regiment included Company I from Wyoming, Company H from Wayne, Cabell and Logan, and Company K from Boone. The 3rd Regiment included the Moccasin Rangers (A) of Calhoun, Company B from Gilmer, Webster, Braxton and Jackson, Company C from Harrison Jackson, Ritchie and Taylor, Company D from Calhoun, Jackson, Pocahontas, Preston and Wirt, Company E from Gilmer, Company G from Roane, and Company I from Lewis and Webster. The 4th Regiment included Company A from Logan and surrounding counties, Company E from Kanawha, and Company G from Wayne and Cabell. The 5th Regiment included Company A from Logan County. Many of these companies were later incorporated into other Virginia regiments. 973.7455 O81v.
The Gauley, Mercer and Western Artillery, Michael West, 1991. 973.7455 W519. These three companies were from Raleigh, Mercer and Monroe counties. 973.7455 W363w.
The Virginia Home Guards, by Jeffrey C. Weaver, 1996. This volume includes information and rosters on Home Guard units in Greenbrier, Hampshire, Mercer, and Pocahontas counties. 973.7455 W363w.
The Archives will not answer e-mail research requests. All research requests must be submitted in writing to the Archives and History Library; The Culture Center; 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.; Charleston, WV 25305-0300. Requests must be accompanied by the appropriate research fee (checks made payable to Division of Culture and History). Please read the Archives' listing of services available.