Historical Notes:
The 59th Virginia Infantry Regiment was raised in Virginia's western counties. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia, and in the Carolinas.
The 59th Virginia (also called 2nd Regiment, Wise Legion) was organized in August 1861. The original composition of the 59th consisted of men from five counties in West Virginia, eight counties in Virginia, and one company each from Louisiana, North Carolina and Mississippi. Part of this unit was captured at Roanoke Island in February 1862. Four of the companies were not captured and were reorganized as the 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion, along with additional recruits. These companies never returned to the 59th.
After his exchange Gen. Wise spent several months trying to reorganize the regiment, which was completed on November 1, 1862. For most of 1863 the 59th was occupied in fortifying defensive positions around Richmond and Petersburg. Later the regiment was transferred to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and participated in various conflicts around Charleston. Returning to Virginia in the spring of 1864 it was placed in the Petersburg trenches, then fought in the Appomattox Campaign. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek, and none of its members were present at the surrender.
Officers:
Colonels Charles F. Henningsen and William B. Tabb,
Lieutenant Colonels Frank P. Anderson and Joseph Jones
Majors John Lawson and Robert G. Mosby.
Assignments:
December 1861 - Assigned to the District of the Albemarle, Department of Norfolk
May 1862 - assigned to Wise’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia
December 1862 -April 1863 - Assigned to Wise’s Brigade, Elzey’s Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia
April-September 1863 - Assigned to Wise’s Brigade, Department of Richmond
September-October 1863 - Assigned to Wise’s Brigade, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
October-December 1863 - Assigned to 6th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
December-February 1864 - Assigned to Wise’s Brigade, 6th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
February-April 1864 - Assigned to District of Florida, Department of South Carolina. Georgia and Florida
May-October Assigned 1864 - to Wise’s Brigade, Johnson’s Division, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia
October 1864 - Assigned to Wise’s Brigade, Johnson’s Division, 4th Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles:
Battle of Roanoke Island
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Siege of Suffolk
Battle of Gettysburg
Siege of Charleston
Battle of Legareville
Overland Campaign
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of Sayler's Creek
Appomattox Campaign
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2800 men.
The four companies of the 59th Virginia that became part of the 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion were:.[4]
Company A: Charleston Sharpshooters, Captain John S. Swann
Company E: Scouts and Guides, Captain William D. Hefner
Company F: Red Sulphur Yankee Hunters, Captain Richard Woodrum
Company G: White Sulphur Rifles, Captain Z.F. Morris
Company A1 ( Richmond Light Infantry Blues - many men from Richmond County
Company A2 (Ben McCulloch Rangers)(formerly William F. McLean's Louisiana Volunteer Infantry
Company B1 (Beirne's Sharpshooters) - many men from Monroe County
Company B2 (White Sulphur Rifles) - many men from Greenbrier County
Company B3 (Brunswick Blues) - many men from Brunswick County
Company C1 - see Company B2
Company C2 (Red Sulphur Yankee Hunters) many men from Greenbrier County
Company C3 (The South of Dan Rebels) formerly Company K
Company D1 (Border Guards or Rifles)
Company D2 (Captain Fleshman's Company, later Captain Edgar's Company, Wise Legion)
Company D3 (The Jackson Guard)
Company E1 - see Company K2
Company E2 - See Company D3
Company E3 (Bruce Guard) - many men from Richmond County
Company F1 (Jackson Avengers, Dixie Rifles) - many men from Gauley Bridge, Fayette County
Company F2 (Kemper Guards,- Mississippi Rangers) many men from Mississippi
Company F3 (Richmond Light Guard) - many men from Richmond
Company G1 (Alleghany Rifles) - many men from Alleghany County. There are at least 24 men from Powhatan County, lead by Captain F. S. Mosby, that served in this Company or Companies G2 or G3 as recorded on page 506, FHL book 975.5612 H2c titled Powhatan: A Bicentennial History, pages 240-268 and 504-507
Company G2 (University Volunteers) - many men from Albemarle County
Company G3 (Captain Henry Wood, Jr's Company)
Company H1 - See Company C2
Company H2 (Lunenburg Heavy Artillery) many men from Lunenburg County
Company I1 - See Company D3
Company I2 (Princeton Guard) many men from Mercer County
Company I3 (Captain Robert G. Mosby's Company, formerly Company K
