Virginia 47th Infantry Regiment

Historical Notes:
The 47th Virginia Infantry Regiment was organized 11 June 1861 and was accepted into the service of the Confederate States of America (CSA) on 1 July 1861 with ten companies identified as A through K. Later, six more companies were added. In August 1861, five companies were transferred to create the nucleus of the 55th Virginia Infantry. The Regiment was reorganized, again, in April 1862.

Their initial assignment was to defend the Virginia shoreline along the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. Other major actions saw them in action during the Peninsula Campaign, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the defense of Richmond.

This regiment totalled 444 effectives in April, 1862, and sustained 34 casualties of the 156 engaged at Frayser's Farm. It reported 29 casualties at Second Manassas, 45 at Fredericksburg, and 45 at Chancellorsville. Twenty-three percent of the 209 in action at Gettysburg were disabled.

During February 1865, the 47th and 55th Regiments were consolidated, but only 2 sergeants of the 47th surrendered on April 9. Officers:
Colonels George W. Richardson and Robert M. Mayo; Lieutenant Colonels William J. Greene, John W. Lyell and James D. Bruce; and Majors Edward P. Tayloe and Charles J. Green. Assignments:
command of Generals Pettigrew, Field, Heth, H.H. Walker, and Barton.
Battles:
Peninsula Campaign
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Manassas
Battle of Sharpsburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Appomattox Campaign
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1439 men.

Company A - Stafford County
Company B - Stafford County and King George County
Company C "Montross Guards" - Westmoreland County
Company D - Richmond County
Company E "Port Royal Guards" - Caroline County
Company F "Lacy Rifles" - Lancaster County
Company G (1st) "Middlesex Rifles" - Middlesex County
Company H (1st) "Essex Sharpshooters" - Essex County
Company I (1st) "Essex Grays" - Essex County
Company K (1st) "Middlesex Artillery" - Middlesex County
Companies of the 47th as of August 1861:
Companies G (1st), H (1st), I (1st), and K (1st) were transferred to Major Ward.
Company G (2nd) - Caroline County company assigned to the 47th
Company H (2nd) "Maryland Souaves" - transferred to the 47th Virginia Infantry.
Company K (2nd) "Tyranny Unmasked Artillery" - transferred to the 47th Virginia Infantry.
Companies of the 47th as of September 1861:
Company I (2nd) - transferred to the 30th Virginia Infantry.
Company I (3rd) - transferred to the 47th Virginia Infantry.
Changes as of May 1862:
Company H (3rd) - assigned to the 47th Virginia Infantry.

Bibliography for Research:
Crute, Joseph Units of the Confederate States Army Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987. Concise summary of the units service.

Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies...Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, The Confederate Units and the Indian Units. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, 1995. (2 photocopied pages). E547S53.

Southern Historical Society The Southern Historical Society Papers. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998.

U. S. Government Printing Office. Official Records of the American Civil War Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

Brock, R. A. The Appomattox Roster. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998.
Originally published as Volume 15 of the Southern Historical Society Papers in 1887 by The Society, Richmond, VA. This book contains 56,000 names of men who surrendered at Appomattox. It shows the mans unit of service and some additional notes.
Rigdon, John C. - Editor Civil War Soldiers Service Records - Virginia. 2012. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.

Rigdon, John C. - Editor Virginia Civil War Soldiers Index. 1996. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.

Confederate Military History, Extended Edition. Vol. 4: Virginia. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998. 1295 p. E484C65.1987v4. Contains numerous, scattered references to Virginia units.