56th Virginia Infantry

The 56th 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.

56th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Flag of Virginia, 1861
ActiveSeptember 1861 April 1865
DisbandedApril 1865
CountryConfederacy
Allegiance Confederate States of America
RoleInfantry
EngagementsBattle of Fort Donelson
Peninsula Campaign
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Siege of Suffolk
Battle of Gettysburg
Overland Campaign
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of Five Forks
Battle of Sailor's Creek
Appomattox Campaign

The 56th Virginia completed its organization in September 1861, with men from Louisa, Mecklenburg, Buckingham, Nelson and Charlotte counties. It moved to Tennessee and was attached to Floyd's Brigade, and was captured in the fight at Fort Donelson. After being exchanged, the unit returned to Virginia and was assigned to Pickett's, Garnett's, and Hunton's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia.

It fought with the army from the Seven Days' Battles in 1862 to Cold Harbor in 1864, except when it served under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet at Suffolk. The 56th then endured the hardships of the Petersburg trenches north and south of the James River and saw action around Appomattox.

In June 1862, it contained 466 effectives and reported 100 casualties during the Seven Days' Battles. This regiment carried only 40 men into action at Sharpsburg and eight were wounded. Of the 289 engaged at Gettysburg, more than 65 percent were disabled. Many were captured at Sayler's Creek, and only three officers and 26 men surrendered on April 9, 1865.

The field officers were Colonels William E. Green, Philip P. Slaughter and William D. Stuart; Lieutenant Colonel Timoleon Smith; and Major John B. McPhail.

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