38th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Pittsylvania Regiment) - Confederate

Brief History
38th Infantry Regiment was organized in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in June, 1861. It fought in the following battles or localities: Seven Pines, Va.; Malvern Hill, Va.; 2nd Manassas, Va.; Sharpsburg, Md.; and Gettysburg, Pa. It served under the command of Generals Early, Garland, Armistead, Barton, and Steuart. The unit surrendered 12 officers and 82 men. Its commanders were Colonels Joseph R. Cabell, Edward C. Edmonds, George K. Griggs, and Powhatan B. Whittle; Lieutenant Colonel George A. Martin; and Majors Isaac H. Carrington and Henderson L. Lee.

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 Pittsylvania County

Company B ( Pittsylvania Vindicators) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company C ( Laurel Grove Riflemen) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company D ( Whitmell Guards) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company E ( Cabell Guards) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company F ( Davis Rifle Guards) - many men from Halifax County

Company G ( Mecklenburg Rifles) - many men from Mecklenburg County

Company H ( Secession Guards) - many men from Pittsylvania County

lst Company I  ( Confederate Guards) - many men from Mecklenburg County

2nd Company I  (St. Brides Artillery) - many men from Norfolk County

Company K ( The Cascade Rifles) - many men from Pittsylvania County

The information above is from 38th Virginia Infantry, by G. Howard Gregory.

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.


 * 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.


 * Gregory, G. Howard. 38th Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1988..


 * Poindexter, James E. Address on the Life and Services of Gen. Lewis A. Armistead. Richmond, Va.: n.p., 1909..


 * Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1992- 1995. (Family History Library book, Ten Volumes.) This gives organization information for each unit and its field officers, assignments, and battles. It also lists sources further reading. Volume 5 is for Virginia.


 * Wallace, Lee A. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865. Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, 1986. (Family History Library book .) This gives brief historical sketches of each regiment and lists officers, company names, and commanders.