42nd Virginia Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Virginia

1861
July The 42nd Virginia Infantry Regiment was organized at Staunton for one years service under the command of Colonel Jesse S. Burks, Lieutenant Colonel D. A. Langhorne and Major Berbeck P. Adams.Company A (Henry Volunteers) – Henry County
Company B (Floyd Guards) – Floyd County
Company C (Buford Grays) – Bedford County
Company D (Campbell-Lee Guards) Campbell County
Company E (Dixie Grays) – Roanoke County
Company F (Leatherwood Fencibles) – Henry County
Company G (Second Company of Volunteers) –  Henry County
Company H (Patrick Henry Volunteers) – Patrick County
Company I (Campbell Guards) – Campbell County
Company K (Franklin Invincibles) – Franklin County
August-November Assigned to Burks’s Brigade, Army of the Northwest
August-November Assigned to Gilham’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, Army of the Northwest
December-May Assigned to the 2nd Brigade, Jackson’s Division, Army of the Valley District. Colonel Burks took command of the brigade, while Lieutenant Colonel Langhorne commanded the regiment.
1862
March 23
Battle of Kernstown

The regiment lost 70 casualties. Colonel Burks was wounded and disabled.
April 23 Lieutenant Colonel Langhorne and Major Adams were dropped in the reorganization. William T. Martin was elected lieutenant colonel.
May-June Assigned to the 2nd Brigade, Jackson’s Division, Army of the Valley District.
May 8
Battle of McDowell

The regiment lost3 men wounded.
May 25
First Battle of Winchester

Major Henry Lane was wounded.
June-May ’64 Assigned to the J.R. Jones’s-J.M. Jones’s Brigade, Jackson’s-Trimble’s-Johnson’s Division, Jackson’s Command-2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 8
Battle of Cross Keyes
June 9
Battle of Port Republic
July 1
Battle of Malvern Hill
July 21 Colonel Burks resigned due to disability from his Kernstown wound.
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment lost 62 men.
September 1
Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly)
September 10-12
Siege of Harpers Ferry
 September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment was commanded by Captain Robert W. Withers. He took over command of the brigade when Captain Page of the 21st Virginia was severely wounded. Captain David W. Garrett took over the regiment.

From the War Department marker for Jones’ Brigade on the Antietam battlefield:

On the evening of September 16, Jones’ Brigade formed line on the left of Winder’s, its right about 130 yards west of this, its left extending nearly to the West Woods. Skirmishers were advanced about 250 to 275 yards and became slightly engaged and the Brigade came under an annoying artillery fire. In this position it was attacked by Doubleday’s Division early in the morning of the 17th, and, after more than a half hour’s hard fighting, was forced back to the line held by the Brigades of Starke and Taliaferro. It was re-formed and, with Winder’s Brigade, supported the advance of Starke’s and Taliaferro’s Brigades a half hour later, but was again compelled to retire. Supported by Early’s brigade of Ewell’s Division, the entire Division again advanced and again fell back and reformed beyond the West Woods, where it supported the attack of McLaws’ Division on Sedgwick’s Federal Division.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The 42nd Virginia lost 26 men.
1863
April Captain Robert W. Withers was promoted to lieutenant colonel, to rank from November of 1862.
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 135 men.
May 28 Assigned to Jones’ Brigade of Johnston’s Division of the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Woodson Withers, and brought 265 men to the field. It lost 16 killed, 47 wounded and 26 missing or captured. Lieutenant Colonel Withers was wounded on July 2 attacking Culp’s Hill, and Captain Jesse M. Richardson took command.

From the War Department marker for Jones’ Division on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 1. Arrived near nightfall and took position east of Rock Creek and north of Hanover road with pickets advanced to the front.

July 2. About 4 P. M. moved forward to support artillery on Benner’s Hill. Crossed Rock Creek at 6 P. M. and assailed the Union position on the summit of Culp’s Hill charging up to the Union breastworks and continuing the struggle until dark.

July 3. In line near here all day sometimes skirmishing heavily. About midnight moved with the Division and Corps to Seminary Ridge northwest of the town.

July 4. Occupied Seminary Ridge. About 10 P. M. began the march to Hagerstown.
October
Bristoe Campaign.

Lieutenant Colonel Withers recovered from his Gettysburg wound and returned to command.
November
Mine Run Campaign
1864
February Lieutenant Colonel Withers was promoted to colonel.
May 5-6
The Wilderness
May 8-21
Spotsylvania Court House
May 12 Most of the regiment was captured at the Muleshoe Salient along with the rest of Johnson’s Division
May 21 The survivors of the regiment were consolidated with the rest of Jones’ brigade under Colonel Robert H. Dungan of the 48th Virginia. These and the survivors of Steuart’s Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade were consolidated into a brigade under Brigadier General William Terry in Gordon’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
May 22-26
Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Cold Harbor
June
Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Sent to the Shenandoah Valley as part of Early’s Army of the Valley attached to Terry’s Consolidated Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Second Corps (Maj. Gen. John Breckinridge), Army of the Valley
June 17-18 Battle of Lynchburg
June 19-21 Pursuit of Hunter
June 22 Day of rest at Salem
June 23-26 Advance into the Shenandoah Valley to Staunton
June 28-July 2 Advance from Staunton to near Harpers Ferry
July 5-6 Crossed the Potomac at Boteler’s Ford and advances to west of Frederick
July 9
Battle of Monocacy
July 10 The advance on Washington continued through an extremely hot day.
July 11-12
Battle of Fort Stevens
July 13-15 Left Washington, crossed the Potomac at White’s Ford, and marched across Loudon County.
July 16 Crossed the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap to Berryville
July 19 Moved to Strasburg
July 24
Second Battle of Kernstown
August 8 At Bunker Hill
August 10 To Winchester
August 12 To Fisher’s Hill
August 17 Returned to Winchester and Bunker Hill.
August 22 To Charles Town
August 25-26 Feint toward Williamsport and return to Bunker Hill. Colonel Withers was wounded through the left lung and captured.
September 5 To Winchester
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester
September 22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
November Colonel Withers was exchanged but remained on sick leave in hospital at Lynchburg until the end of the war.
December
Petersburg Siege

The regiment returned from the Army of the Valley to Lee’s main army around Petersburg, attached to Terry’s Consolidated Brigade, Gordon’s Division (Brig. Gen. Clement Evans), Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
1865
February 5
Battle of Hatcher’s Run
March 25
Assault on Fort Stedman
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 42nd Virginia surrendered 1 officer and 44 enlisted men.