12th Virginia Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Virginia

1861
May-June The 12th Virginia Infantry Regiment was organized at Norfolk by expanding the 4th Virginia Volunteer Battalion. It was commanded by Colonel David A. Weisiger. Assigned to the Department of Norfolk.
November Assigned to Mahone’s Brigade, Department of Norfolk.
1862
May 9 Evacuated Norfolk and marched to Petersburg. The Norfolk garrison was attached to the Army of Northern Virginia as Huger’s Division.
June The regiment is recorded as fielding 691 effectives.
July 1
Battle of Malvern Hill
July 14 Major General Richard Anderson took over Huger’s Division.
August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment suffered heavy casualties. Colonel David Weisiger was badly wounded, and would not return to command until 1863. Major John May was killed by a shot to the head.
September 17
Battle of Crampton’s Gap (South Mountain)

Commanded by Captain John Richard Llewellyn until he was badly wounded. Captain Richard Watson Jones then took command of the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Fielding Taylor was ill but accompanied the regiment due to the loss of the other field officers at Manassas, and was mortally wounded.
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Commanded by Captain Everard M. Field until he was wounded. Captain Richard Watson Jones then took command of the regiment.
September 14-19 Lafayette Guild, Medical Director of the Army of Northern Virginia, reported 3 men killed and 36 men wounded from the regiment in the five days from the Battle of Boonsboro (South Mountain), through Sharpsburg (Antietam), and up to Shepherdstown Ford.
October 3 Captain John Richard Llewellyn was promoted to major. He was still recovering from his wound at Crampton’s Gap and was assigned light duty in the coscription service until January 1864.
December 13 Battle of Fredericksburg
December 15 Encamped at Salem Church
1863
January Ordered to the fords of the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers.
April 28 Ordered to fall back as Hooker crossed the Rappahannock. Placed in line of battle at Zoan Church on the Plank Road.
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Everard M. Field.
May 30 The regiment, along with the rest of Anderson’s Division, was transferred to the newly-formed Third Army Corps under Lieutenant General A. P. Hill
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel David Weisiger.

Mahone’s Brigade had the lowest casualty rate of any Confederate brigade at Gettysburg. It had been positioned to join Longstreet’s attack on the afternoon of July 2 but Mahone refused requests for support by Wright and Posey, claiming he had other orders. It was intended to support Early’s evening attack on Cemetery Hill but the attack failed before Mahone could join. And although fresh and unblooded the brigade was overlooked for Pickett’s charge on July 3 while far more seriously damaged brigades were included.

From the monument to Mahone’s Brigade on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 2. Arrived and took position here in the forenoon under orders to support the artillery. A strong skirmish line was sent out which was constantly engaged and did effective service.

July 3. Remained here in support of the artillery. Took no active part in the battle except by skirmishers.

July 4. In line here all day. At dark began the march to Hagerstown.
1864
January Major Llewellyn rejoined the regiment after recovering from his South Mountain wound.
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 12-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
June 3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 18 The regiment reached Petersburg and spent two days near Battery 33 on the Dimmock Line.
June 22-23 Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
June 24 In trenches near the Wilcox farm south of Petersburg
July 30
Battle of The Crater

There is a monument to Mahone’s Brigade at the Crater on the Petersburg National Battlefield.
August 1 Assigned to Weisinger’s Brigade, Mahone’s Division, Third Corps, Army of the Potomac
August 18-21
Battle of Globe Tavern
August 25
Battle of Ream’s Station
October 27
Battle of Boyden Plank Road
December Warren’s Raid
1865
February 6
Battle of Hatcher’s Run

The regiment attacked near Dabney’s Stream Saw Mill.
February Major Llewellyn was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He would spend the last two months of the war in the hospital, sick.
April Retreat from Petersburg
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 12th Virginia Infantry Regiment surrendered 10 officers and 114 enlisted men.