4th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 4th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, Point Pleasant
, and Macon City, Virginia
. It was recruited primarily in Ohio from the counties of Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence and Athens, which contributed seven full companies. Among its early recruits was future United States Congressman John L. Vance
, who would rise to the rank of lieutenant colonel
.
Toward the end of the war, the regiment's re-enlisting veterans were consolidated with the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Year)
on December 21, 1864 to form the 2nd West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment
.
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...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
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...
.
Service
The 4th West Virginia was mustered into Federal service on June 17, 1861, at GraftonGrafton, West Virginia
Grafton is a city in, and county seat of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,489 at the 2000 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's...
, Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
, and Macon City, Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. It was recruited primarily in Ohio from the counties of Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence and Athens, which contributed seven full companies. Among its early recruits was future United States Congressman John L. Vance
John L. Vance
John Luther Vance was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Vance was born in Gallipolis, Ohio and attended the public schools and Gallia Academy, Ohio....
, who would rise to the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
.
Toward the end of the war, the regiment's re-enlisting veterans were consolidated with the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Year)
1st West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Year)
The 1st West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service record:...
on December 21, 1864 to form the 2nd West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment
2nd West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 2nd West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
.