52nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry - Confederate

Brief History
The 52nd Infantry Regiment was organized at Staunton, Virginia, in August, 1861. Many of its members were from Augusta County. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered with 7 officers and 53 men of which 14 were armed. The field officers were Colonels John B. Baldwin, John D. Lilley, John D.H. Ross, and Thomas H. Watkins

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 (Augusta Fencibles) - many men from Augusta County

Company B - 1st (Fairfield McDowell Guards) - many men from Fairfield and Rockbridge County

Company B - 2nd (Waynesboro Guards) - many men from Waynesboro and Augusta County

Company C ( Letcher Guard) - many men from Augusta County

Company D ( Harper guard) - many men from Augusta County

Company E (Captain Thomas H. Watkin's Company) - many men from Rockbridge County

Company F ( Captain Joseph E. Cline's Company) - many men from Augusta County

Company G ( Veteran Guards) - many men from Augusta County

Company H ( Staunton Pioneers) - many men from Staunton and Augusta County

Company I  (Men of West Augusta) - many men from Augusta County

Company K (Bath Rifles) - many men from Bath County

Company K ( Captain Morrison's Company) - Rockbridge County

The information above is from 52nd Virginia Infantry by Robert J. Driver, Jr.

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.


 * Robson, John S. How a One-legged Rebel Lives, or, A History of the 52nd Virginia Regiment: Incidents in the Life of the Writer, During and Since the Close of the War, Concluding with a Biographical Sketch of John [i.e. William] Randolph Barbee, the Distinguished Virginia Sculptor. Richmond, Va.: W.H. Wade &amp; Co., Printers, 1876. Digital version at Internet Archive; and.


 * Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1992- 1995. (FS 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. (FS Library book .) This gives brief historical sketches of each regiment and lists officers, company names, and commanders.