Carpenter's Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Alleghany Rough Artillery) - Confederate

Brief History
The Carpenter's Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Alleghany Rough Artillery) (Confederate) was organized at Covington, Virginia, in April, 1861, with 83 officers and men. It was also called Alleghany Roughs, and later Carpenter's Battery. Joined the Army of Northern Virginia. Here it served in R.S. Andrews', J.W. Latimer's, and C.M. Braxton's Battalion of Artillery. Many were captured at Five Forks, and only 1 man surrendered on April 9, 1865. It was commanded by Captains John C. Carpenter, Joseph Carpenter, and Thompson McAllister.

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.


 * Many men from Covington, Alleghany County

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.


 * Bohannon, Keith S. The Giles, Alleghany and Jackson Artillery. (Lynchburg, Virginia : H.E. Howard, c1990),


 * Fonerden, C.A. A Brief History of the Military Career of Carpenter's Battery: From Its Organization as a Rifle Company Under the Name of Alleghany Roughs to the Ending of the War Between the States. New Market, Va.: Henkel &amp; Co., Printers, 1911..


 * 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.