39th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry - Confederate

Brief History
The 39th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry was organized with two companies, later increased to four. It was attached to General Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, and served as General R. E. Lee's personal cavalry command. The unit participated in every engagement at which General Lee was present from Fredericksburg to Appomattox. On April 9, 1865, it contained 1 officer and 80 men. Major John H. Richardson was in command. Also called Richardson's Battalion of Scouts, Guides, and Couriers.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A   - many men from Frederick and surrounding counties

Company B

Company C

Company D

The information above is from 1st Battalion Virginia Infantry 39 Battalion Virginia Cavalry 24 Battalion 'Virginia Partisan Rangers''', by Robert Driver, Jr. and Kevin C. Ruffner. '''


 * Field &amp; Staff
 * Company A
 * Company B
 * Company C
 * Company D

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in Virginia in the Civil War and United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Virginia in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Virginia, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.