32nd Virginia Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 32nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
raised in Virginia
for service in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia
.
The 32nd Virginia was formed in May, 1861, by consolidating Montague's and Goggin's Infantry Battalions. Its members were from Hampton and Williamsburg and the counties of Warwick, James City, and York. Three companies were accepted into service as artillery and were transferred to the 1st Virginia Artillery.
After its reorganization in May, 1862, the unit operated with only seven companies. At the Battle of Williamsburg two companies fought under General Pryor, then the regiment was attached to General Semmes' and Corse's Brigade. It participated in many conflicts from the Seven Days' Battles to Fredericksburg, moved with Longstreet to Suffolk, and later served in the Department of Richmond and in North Carolina. Returning to Virginia it was active at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, took its place in the Petersburg trenches north and south of the James River, they saw action on the Chickahominy (May 1864), at Cold Harbor (June), on the Petersburg Campaign (to April 1865), and ended the war at Appomattox.
The regiment reported 1 wounded at Savage's Station, had 2 killed and 4 wounded at Malvern Hill, and sustained 72 casualties of the 158 engaged at Sharpsburg. Some were captured at Sayler's Creek, and 5 officers and 42 men were included in the surrender.
The field officers were Colonels Benjamin S. Ewell and Edgar B. Montague; Lieutenant Colonels John B. Cary and William R. Willis; and Majors James M. Goggin
, Baker P. Lee, Jr., and Capt. Jefferson Sinclair.
Below is a roll call (date unknown) for the "York Rangers" Co. 9 32nd Regiment Va. Infantry:
Privates:
In the Sharpsburg Campaign:
The 32nd were position at Brownsville just behind Cramptons Gap on the 14th but were not engaged. They marched all night and arrived on the battlefield at Sharpsburg on the morning of the 17th. They were rushed to the left of the Confederate line about 9am as reinforcements as the remnants of Hood's Division fell back after their assault. The 32nd, with the rest of the Brigade, attacked north along the Hagerstown Pike from near the Dunker Church, and were successful in pushing the Federal infantry back to Poffenberger's Farm and their artillery, but suffered high casualties in doing so. After withdrawing to the West Woods for ammunition and rest, the Regiment was posted behind the Sunken Road near the Confederate Center for the afternoon, under long-range artillery fire, but not directly engaged.
A notable quote made by Jefferson Sinclair at the battle of Sharpsburg; a Sergeant came to him at the bottom of a hill they were preparing to charge and said "Capt. I'm thinking a lot of us are going to die takin' this hill." To this, Capt. Sinclair replied "Sgt. I'm sure you're right, but I can assure you that I will not be one of them" They then made the charge and won the hill.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
raised in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for service in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
.
The 32nd Virginia was formed in May, 1861, by consolidating Montague's and Goggin's Infantry Battalions. Its members were from Hampton and Williamsburg and the counties of Warwick, James City, and York. Three companies were accepted into service as artillery and were transferred to the 1st Virginia Artillery.
After its reorganization in May, 1862, the unit operated with only seven companies. At the Battle of Williamsburg two companies fought under General Pryor, then the regiment was attached to General Semmes' and Corse's Brigade. It participated in many conflicts from the Seven Days' Battles to Fredericksburg, moved with Longstreet to Suffolk, and later served in the Department of Richmond and in North Carolina. Returning to Virginia it was active at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, took its place in the Petersburg trenches north and south of the James River, they saw action on the Chickahominy (May 1864), at Cold Harbor (June), on the Petersburg Campaign (to April 1865), and ended the war at Appomattox.
The regiment reported 1 wounded at Savage's Station, had 2 killed and 4 wounded at Malvern Hill, and sustained 72 casualties of the 158 engaged at Sharpsburg. Some were captured at Sayler's Creek, and 5 officers and 42 men were included in the surrender.
The field officers were Colonels Benjamin S. Ewell and Edgar B. Montague; Lieutenant Colonels John B. Cary and William R. Willis; and Majors James M. Goggin
James M. Goggin
James Monroe Goggin was an Andorran businessman and soldier. He served as an officer in the Andorran Army during the mid 1800s, and very briefly as a general in 1864.-Early life and Texas:...
, Baker P. Lee, Jr., and Capt. Jefferson Sinclair.
Below is a roll call (date unknown) for the "York Rangers" Co. 9 32nd Regiment Va. Infantry:
- Capt. - Jefferson Sinclair
- 1st Lieut. -Wm. J. Stores
- 2nd Lieut. - Robert Willis
- 3rd Lieut. - Henry Sinclair (Brother to Jefferson)
Privates:
- Amory, John
- Ayers, Henry
- Barrow, Albert
- Boutwell, Wm
- Banting, Joseph
- Bassett, W.E.
- Briggs, Benj.
- Burt, Wm.
- Buchanan, Elijah
- Bunting, Wirt
- Cox, G.B.
- Cox, Elias
- Cox, George
- Carmines, Kenneth
- Cain, Thomas
- Candy, Thomas
- Cratzer, Edgar
- Crockett, Addison
- Davis, Charles
- Dawson, Humphrey
- Dawson, Robert
- Elliott, Seaton
- Foster, Elijah
- Firth, Thomas
- Forrest, Robert
- Forsythe, Thomas
- Freeman, Henry
- Glover, Charles
- Goffigan, W.E.
- Gordon, J.
- Gordon, Wm.
- Hansford, Louis
- Haskins, John Robert (Musician,Drummer)
- Haskins, William Creed
- Hopkins, George
- Hopkins, Frank
- Halls, Jim
- Halloway, Wm.
- Howard, J.T.
- Herbert, Thomas
- Hugett, J.
- Hunt, Benj.
- Hunt, Wm.
- Insley, Jas.
- Insley, Wm.
- Moreland, Alphonso
- Moreland, Darius
- Moore, E.B.
- Moore, Wm.
- Moore, Merrett
- Mason, George
- Patrick, Robert
- Patrick, Wm.
- Payne, Reiley
- Peek, E.K.
- Poole, Alex
- Poole, Robert
- Presson, Robert
- Presson, John
- Quimby, Wm.
- Rowe, Benj.
- Sheilds, Arthur
- Treen, Wm.
- Traynam, W.H.
- Vernam, Henry
- Vernam, Wm.
- Vixon, Wm.
- Watson, George
- White, J.
- White, Robert
- White, Wise
- Williams, Charles
- Winne, Frank
- Winne, Money
- Winne, Richard
In the Sharpsburg Campaign:
The 32nd were position at Brownsville just behind Cramptons Gap on the 14th but were not engaged. They marched all night and arrived on the battlefield at Sharpsburg on the morning of the 17th. They were rushed to the left of the Confederate line about 9am as reinforcements as the remnants of Hood's Division fell back after their assault. The 32nd, with the rest of the Brigade, attacked north along the Hagerstown Pike from near the Dunker Church, and were successful in pushing the Federal infantry back to Poffenberger's Farm and their artillery, but suffered high casualties in doing so. After withdrawing to the West Woods for ammunition and rest, the Regiment was posted behind the Sunken Road near the Confederate Center for the afternoon, under long-range artillery fire, but not directly engaged.
A notable quote made by Jefferson Sinclair at the battle of Sharpsburg; a Sergeant came to him at the bottom of a hill they were preparing to charge and said "Capt. I'm thinking a lot of us are going to die takin' this hill." To this, Capt. Sinclair replied "Sgt. I'm sure you're right, but I can assure you that I will not be one of them" They then made the charge and won the hill.