7th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry |
HISTORY - 7th REGIMENT VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
COMPANY B - THE WASHINGTON GREYS
In 1859 Thomas Massie, a farmer living in Rappahnnock County Virginia, organized a milita company with men living near the town of Washington , Virginia. They called themselfs the "Washington Greys", Washington for the town and for George Washington, Greys to denote that they were milita, Grey being the color worn by many milita units,both North and South. In April 1861 Virginia seceded from the union . Acting under authority granted May 3rd from Governor John Letcher, Brigader General Philip St. George Cocke, of the Potomac Department, began to muster the milita. The Washington Greys met at the mustering site of Culpeper Court House. From Culpeper Court House they were sent by railroad to Camp Wigfall ,located southest of Manassas Junction. In camp the men were taught the fundamentals of army life,spending endless hours at drill and learning how to adjust to the nomadic life of a infantryman. On June 1st the 7th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry was formed from milita units from Rappahannock, Madison, Green and Albemarle counties.The Washington Greys were assigned as Company B. James Lawson Kemper was selected to lead the regiment.
COMPANY COMMANDERS
Thomas B. Massie -1859 to April 1862
Aylette A. Swindler - April 1862 to June 1863
Thomas G. Popham - June 1863 to April 1865
REGIMENTAL COMMANDERS
James L. Kemper - 1861 to 1862
(promoted to Brig. General)
Waller T. Patton - 1862 to 1863
(mortaly wounded July 3rd,1863)
Charles C. Floweree - 1863 to 1865
BATTLES
1861 Blackburn's Ford, First Manassas
1862 Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Frayser's Farm, Second Manassas, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredricksburg
1863 North Carolina Campaign, Gettysburg
1864 2nd North Carolina Campaign, Drewry's Bluff, Milford Station, Cold Harbor, Petersburg-Howlett Line
1865 Dinwiddle Court House, Five Forks, Sayler's Creek(last battle fought as a unit)
~G E T T Y S B U R G - B A T T L E~
Chambersburg, PA.- June 27th,
1863 Pickett's Division arrives and encamps a couple of miles west on the York road. Pickett's Division consisted of Armistead's, Garnett's and Kemper's Brigades.ARMISTEAD'S BRIGADE
9th, 14th, 38th, 53th AND 57th VIRGINIA
GARNETT'S BRIGADE
8th, 18th, 19th, 28th and 56th VIRGINIA
KEMPER'S BRIGADE
1st, 3rd, 7th, 11th and 24th VIRGINIA
The 7th Virginia is lead
by Colonel Waller Tazewell Patton and consisted of 9 companies ,A thru K (no H or J)
and 360 men.
Company B is lead by Captain Thomas Popham and consists of 2 Officers, 3 Sergeants,
4 Corporals and 31 Privates = Total of 40 men.
ACCOMPANING PICKETT'S DIVISION
38th Battalion Virginia Artillery
(Dearing's Battalion)
Companys A thru D.
June 27th - July 1st;Pickett's Division remain at Chambersburg destroying the railroad.
July 2nd-2:00 A.M. the long roll is sounded and Pickett's Division prepares to march Gettysburg.
The division reached the Gettysburg area in late afternoon. General Lee, knowing that the days business was almost over, and knowing that he will need a fresh division the next day, orders the division to camp for the night. Picketts men set up bivouac 3 miles west of Gettysburg near Marsh Creek.
July 3rd - Picketts men are awoken at 3 AM by the sounds of the artillery as the assult of Culps Hill begins. The are to prepare for march after breakfast and rollcall. When the march begins they travel a short distance on the pike before moving to the left on farm roads to the battlefield.
Upon reaching the battlefield the division is deployed on the East slope of Seminary Ridge,behind the artillery. Once the division was deployed,the men were ordered to lay down,to prepare for the upcoming artillery duel. Kempers Brigade was deployed to the rightside of Garnetts Brigade.
KEMPERS BRIGADE - LINE OF BATTLE
(EAST)
3rd Va.-7th Va.-1st Va.-11th Va.-24th Va.
The artillery bombardment began at 1 PM and would last for the next 2 hours. Then the men were called to their feet,lines form and thus began the most famous infantry assult in American history. This page is not big enough to do justice in describing the battle. I would recommend reading the book "Nothing But Glory" by Harrison and Busey. published by Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA. or the best description of Picketts Charge.
Killed =2 , Wounded=2, Wounded & Captured=5 Captured=2 Total = 11 or 27% of the company.