1st Regiment, Virginia State Line

Historical Notes:
The 1st Regiment, Virginia State Line was organized with ten companies in the latter part of 1862. Several members of this regiment were former members of the 36th Virginia Infantry. Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Beckley and two captains of the 1st Virginia State Line had previously served in the 36th Virginia Infantry, as had Major James A. Nighbert. It was commanded for a short period by David Stuart Hounshell, according to the recollections of Noah B. Sutherland of the 2nd Virginia State Line.

According to the Ainsworth papers, this regiment consisted of infantry and cavalry companies. The 1st regiment was stationed at Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia, in January 1863. At that time the cavalry companies had 373 men, and the infantry companies had 365 men. The National Archives Index contains only 9 names for the Infantry companies and 183 names for the Cavalry Companies. The names of 542 men who served in this unit have evidently been lost. Officers:

Richard Carlton Walker Radford, Colonel

Henry M. Beckley, Lieutenant Colonel

James A. Nighbert, Major

Blake Lynch Woodson, Captain and Acting Major

Louis Lechnert, AQM

John H. Etter, Adjutant.

Micajah Woods, Aide-de-Camp for the 1st Brigade

M. B. Langhorne, Adjutant for the 1st Brigade

G. M. Kent, 1st Lieutenant and Drill Instructor.

Assignments:
Battles:
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 183 men.

Company A - A cavalry company - Captain Green W. Taylor's Company. Part of this company enlisted on September 13, 1862, at Logan Court House. Its officers were commissioned on August 16, 1862. Several others enlisted on December 31, 1862, in Smyth County. Men of this command were from Wayne and Logan counties and several had served in Company D, 36th Virginia Infantry. Many of this unit later served in the 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry and a few enlisted in or returned to the 36th Virginia Infantry. Officers for this company were: Captain Green W. Taylor, 1st Lieutenant T. R. Waller, and 2nd Lieutenant Ransom Lovins.

Company B - A cavalry company - Captain Daniel Elkins' Company. This company enlisted on August 17, 1862 in Tazewell County. Its officers were commissioned on the date of enlistment. Most members were residents of Boone County and had served in Company B, 36th Virginia Infantry. Elkins had formerly served in the 22nd Virginia Infantry and later served in the 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry, as did several members of his company. A muster roll for this company is on file at the Virginia State Archives in Richmond. Officers for this company were: Captain Daniel Elkins, 1st Lieutenant M. J. Hopkins, 2nd Lieutenant J. H. Allen, and 2nd Lieutenant M. S. Ballard.

Company C - A cavalry company - Captain William Chafin's Company. Officers were commissioned on August 26, 1862. Many men of this company were arrested in Wayne County after the disbandment of the State Line, which indicates that was home territory for them. Most later served in the 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry. Officers for this company were: Captain William Chafin, 1st Lieutenant James Meade, and 2nd Lieutenant John Chafin.

Company D - A cavalry company - Captain William T. Butcher's Company. This company may have been originally commanded by Capt. Edward McConnell, Jr., shown as part of Swann's Battalion. McConnell resigned on October 14, 1862, and his resignation was accepted on January 5, 1863. This company's officers were commissioned on August 28, 1862. Its home territory is not known. Officers for this company were: Captain William T. Butcher, 1st Lieutenant Isaac Garten, and 2nd Lieutenant J. R. Chapman.

Company E - A cavalry company - Captain William A. Dempsey's Company. Officers were commissioned for this unit on August 29, 1862. This company's home territory was Logan County, West Virginia. Company rolls are on file at the Virginia State Archives in Richmond. Officers for this company were: Captain William A. Dempsey, 1st Lieutenant William Baisden, and 2nd Lieutenant John S. Baisden.

Company F - A cavalry company - Captain George W. Hackworth's Company. Officers were commissioned on August 30, 1862. Members of this company were from Cabell County. Officers for this company were: Captain George W. Hackworth, 1st Lieutenant Van E. Sanford and 2nd Lieutenant D. C. Lovett.

Company G - A cavalry company - Captain John Rundell's Company. Officers were commissioned on September 2, 1862. Members of this company were from Wayne County. Rundell had formerly served in the 22nd Virginia Infantry. Officers for this company were: Captain John Rundell, 1st Lieutenant Thomas Jackson, and 2nd Lieutenant John Chapman.

Company H - Captain Benjamin H. Justice's Company. This company's home territory was probably Logan and Wyoming counties. Justice was formerly with the 36th Virginia Infantry from Logan County. He later commanded a company in the 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry. Officers for this company were: Captain Benjamin H. Justice, 1st Lieutenant Henry Blankenship, and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Justice.

Company I - An infantry company - Captain John Buchanan's Company. Officers from this company were commissioned on August 26, 1862. Most identified members of this company were from Logan County, with a few from Cabell County. Several members later served in the 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry. Officers for this company were: Captain John Buchanan, 1st Lieutenant James Allison, and 2nd Lieutenant William M. Ferrell.

Company K - A cavalry company - Captain Robert Lawson's Company. Members of this company were from Logan County and mustered into service at Logan Court House on September 20, 1862. A muster roll for this company is on file at the Virginia State Archives in Richmond. Officers were commissioned on October 7, 1862. Officers for this company were: Captain Robert Lawson, and 1st Lieutenant Lloyd Ellis.

Bibliography for Research:

Source:
https://www.americancivilwarforum.com/the-virginia-state-line-1525425.html