59th Virginia Infantry

The 59th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia's western counties for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia, and in the Carolinas.

The 59th Virginia (also called 2nd Regiment, Wise Legion) was organized in August 1861. Part of this unit was captured at Roanoke Island in February 1862. Four of the companies were not captured and reorganized into the 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion.

As the 26th Battalion, Virginia Volunteer Infantry, it was attached to the Department of Richmond, assigned to Wise's Brigade, and saw action during the Seven Days' Battles. Later the regiment was transferred to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and participated in various conflicts around Charleston. Returning to Virginia in the spring of 1864 it was placed in the Petersburg trenches, then fought in the Appomattox Campaign. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek, and none of its members were present at the surrender.

The field officers were Colonels Charles F. Henningsen and William B. Tabb, Lieutenant Colonels Frank P. Anderson andJoseph Jones, and Majors John Lawson and Robert G. Mosby. As the 26th Battalion it's field officers were Lieutenant Colonel George M. Edgar, William W. Finney, Andrew R. Barbee, with Majors Edmund S. Reed and Richard Woodram.

Companies
The four companies of the 59th Virginia that also formed part of the 26th Virginia Infantry Battalion were:.


 * Company A: Charleston Sharpshooters, Captain John S. Swann
 * Company E: Scouts and Guides, Captain William D. Hefner
 * Company F: Red Sulphur Yankee Hunters, Captain Richard Woodrum
 * Company G: White Sulphur Rifles, Captain Z.F. Morris