38th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery (Read's) - Confederate

Brief History
The 38th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery was organized in June 1863. The unit did not serve as one command but did participate in many campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia. Field officers were Majors Joseph G. Blount, James Dearing, John P. W. Read, and Robert M. Stribling.

38th Artillery Battalion contained four companies and was organized in June, 1863. The unit did not serve as one command but did participate in many campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia. Its companies were the Fauquier Light Artillery, the Richmond Fayette Light Artillery, the Hampden Light Artillery, and Latham's-Blount's Battery. See history of each unit for details. The field officers were Majors Joseph G. Blount, James Dearing, John P.W. Read, and Robert M. Stribling. Associated units: Hampden Light Artillery: Hampden Light Artillery was organized at Richmond, Virginia, in May, 1861, with men from Richmond. After serving in Jackson's Valley Campaign,it was assigned to R.S. Andrews', J.Dearing's, H.P. Jones', J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia. Participated in the defense of Petersburg, Ended the war at Appomattox. The battery was commanded by Captains William H. Caskie, Lawrence S. Marye, and John E. Sullivan. Latham's-Blount's Battery: Latham's-Blount's Battery completed its organization at Lynchburg, Virginia, in April, 1861. After taking an active part in the Battle of First Manassas, the unit was assigned to J. Dearing's, H.P. Jones', J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery. It surrendered at Appomattox with only 3 men. Captains Joseph G. Blount, James Dearing, James W. Dickerson, and J.Grey Latham were in command. Fauquier Light Artillery: Fauquier Light Artillery was organized as infantry in June, 1861, and assigned to the 49th Regiment Virginia Infantry as Company G (1st). In September or October it transferred to the artillery. Attached to the Army of Northern Virginia the unit served in J. Dearing's, J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery. Sustained 9 casualties at Kelly’s Ford, and surrendered with only 3 men. Its commanders were Captains William C. Marshall and Robert M. Stribling.

Companies
contained four companies:

Field and Staff


 * Roster

Company A


 * Roster

Company B


 * Roster

Company C


 * Roster

Company D


 * Roster

Fauquier Light Artillery Richmond Fayette Light Artillery

Hampden Light Artillery

Latham's-Blount's Battery

Other Source Material

 * 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.


 * Chamberlayne, E.H. War History and Roll of the Richmond Fayette Artillery, 38th Virginia Battalion Artillery, Confederate States Army, 1861-1865. Richmond, Va.: Everett Waddey, Printer, 1883..


 * Moore, Robert H. The Richmond Fayette, Hampden, Thomas, and Blount's Lynchburg Artillery. Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1991..