A Brief History
The 58th Virginia Infantry was organized at Staunton, Virginia on October 13, 1861. The ten
companies of volunteers came from Amherst, Bedford, Franklin, Patrick, and Rockbridge counties.
The regiment saw service in western Virginia during the winter and spring of 1861-62.
After joining Stonewall Jackson, the 58th was reorganized on May 1, 1862 and the company letters
were changed to correspond with the dates of commission of their respective captains. In less than a
week of the reorganization, the 58th saw its first action at McDowell on May 8, 1862. In the Valley
campaign of 1862 the regiment saw heavy fighting at Winchester, Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, and
Port Republic. Ordered eastward, the regiment served gallantly in the battles of Gaines Mill and
Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Campaign. Following Jackson, the 58th saw hard fighting at
Cedar Run, 2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harpers Ferry and Sharpsburg.
In 1863 the regiment helped to defend the heights at Fredericksburg during the Chancellorsville
campaign and helped to drive General Robert H. Milroy's Union army from Winchester. The 58th
was chosen to guard the thousands of prisoners taken at Winchester to Richmond and Confederate
prison camps. Though not a participant in the battle of Gettysburg, the 58th did return, however, to
Lee's Army in time to defend its wagon train at Williamsport on July 6. In the fall of 1863, the 58th
also participated in the Bristoe Station and Mine Run Campaigns.
During 1864 the 58th fought with distinction as the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and at
Bethesda Church. Following Cold Harbor the regiment marched with General Jubal Early to the
defense of Lynchburg. After the successful defense of the city, the regiment was soon in action again
at Liberty, Monocacy, Fort Stevens, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.
Leaving the Valley in 1865, the 58th returned to Lee's army near Petersburg and fought at Hatcher's
Run, Fort Stedman and in the trenches in the defense of the city. The survivors of the trying nine
months of seige warfare fought on the retreat at Sayler's Creek and High Bridge, before surrendering
at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. On that fateful day, two officers and sixty-eight men
lay down their arms with the remnants of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
Regimental commanding officers included: Colonel Edmond Goode, 1861-62 (d. March 8); Coloenl
Samuel Houston Letcher, 1862 (resigned October 30); Colonel Francis Howard Board, 1862 -
1864 (killed July 20); and Colonel John G. Kasey, 1864 - 1865.