26th Virginia Infantry

The 26th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Flag of Virginia, 1861
Active	May 1861 – April 1865
Country	The Confederate States of America
Allegiance	The Confederate States of America, State of Virginia
Branch	Confederate States Army
Type	Infantry Regiment
Role	Infantry
Nickname(s)	Heck’s Regiment, The Bloody 26th
Equipment	1853 British Enfield Rifled Musket, Bayonet with sheath, Musket cleaning supplies, Musket caps, Cap Box, Cartridge Box, Ammunition, Knapsack, Blanket, Blanket Roll, Cartridge Box Belt, Waist Belt, Haversack, Canteen, Knife, Eating Utensils, Grooming Supplies, Shoes and Socks, (If they could get a pair in good condition) Underwear, Shirt, Suspenders, (Braces) Vest, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia Issue Uniform.
Engagements	Gloucester Point Seven Days' Battles Yorktown Deep Bottom-Defenses of Charleston South Carolina-Siege of Petersburg-Jordan’s Farm (June 15, 1864) Taylor's Farm Battle of Sayler's Creek- Battle of the Crater Appomattox Campaign Appomattox Court House
Disbanded	April 9th 1865
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Powahtan R. Page

The 26th 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 and in South Carolina.

The 26th Virginia was organized during May and June, 1861, with men recruited in the counties of Gloucester, King and Queen, and Mathews.

The 26th was assigned to General Wise's Brigade in June, 1862, contained 31 officers and 424 men. After being involved in the Seven Days' Battles it was transferred to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The unit participated in the defense of Charleston, then during the spring of 1864 returned to Virginia. Here it took its place in the Petersburg trenches and was active in various conflicts around Appomattox. Many were captured at Sayler's Creek and on April 9, 1865, there were 15 officers and 81 men present.

The field officers were Colonels Charles A. Crump and Powhatan R. Page; Lieutenant Colonel James C. Coucill; and Majors Patrick H. Fitzhugh, Joshua L. Garrett, William K. Perrin, and William H. Wheelwright.

Colonel Powahtan R. Page, Lieutenant Colonel James C. Coucill and Major Patrick H. Fitzhugh.

Colonel Page was mortally wounded at Taylor's Farm Virginia and died days later.

Companies within the regiment with places of enlistment.

 Company A (The York River Rifles)

 Company B (R. C. Kerr's Company) - many men from Jackson, Mississippi

 Company C (The King and Queen Minute Men)- many men from King and Queen county.

 Company D (Captain Alexander James' Company) - many men from Mathews County.

 Company E (The Lincoln Hunters) From Gloucester County.

 Company F (The Gloucester Invincibles) From Gloucester County.

 Company G (The Clifton Guards) - many men from King and Queen County.

 Company H (The King and Queen Guards) - many men from King and Queen County.

 Company  I  (The Jackson Grays) - many men from King and Queen County.

 Company  K (The Gloucester Grays) From Gloucester County.

Letters from the front:

".....Luther Rice Mills to John Mills

Trenches Near Crater

December 5, 1864.

BROTHER JOHN:Yours of the 28th was received last night. I was really glad to get a letter once more. It has been three weeks since I left home and I have received only two letters. I am very glad to hear that you made so much corn. I expect that you made more than Brother Robert did.

We are doing very well just at the present. The weather has been remarkably fine for the last ten days. We have been expecting an attack or some movement from Grant. Everything however has been quiet since I have been down here. Hancock’s big Dutchmen are not in our front. It is thought that Warren’s Corps relieved Hancock’s. Fewer deserters come in now than usual. We are still to the left of the Crater. I am still within fifty yards of where I was wounded. I said above that all was quiet. I meant that all was as quiet as usual. Picket firing and shelling rarely ceases here. Three shells passed over whilst I was writing the preceding sentence of seven words. The Halifax conscripts have been faring rather badly. Mat Watkins (son of Alex) was killed and Mat Pate wounded a few days ago. Anthony Barksdale deserted a few days ago and was taken near Burksville and brought back under guard. I fear it will go very hard with him. Priv. Henry Clay Chism of our Co. was killed the 30th of Nov. by a fragment of a rifle shell.

Brig. Gen. Gracie of Johnson’s Division was killed several days ago. He was an Alabamian and the most promising Brigadier in our Division. Our Division occupies from the Appomattox to the Weldon Railroad. I think we have all the sharpshooting and mortar shelling along the whole line. The Yankees seem to hate the old Crater as much as they do old Fort Sumter. The spirit of the men is improving slowly. They have been whipped more by the actions of many of our leading men than by the enemy. I think it is the desire of the army at large to fight it out to the bitter end if we can remain united as we have been, if not let us give it up at once. If Beauregard has half a chance Sherman will certainly be captured. It is almost certain that Maj. Gen. Hampton with a good portion of his Division has gone to Georgia. I fear Gen. Lee has sent to much of his Cavalry away. Grant’s late reconnaissance near Stoney Creek revealed the fact to him that Lee was bare of Cavalry and I look for some large raid or movement in our rear  similar to Sherman’s in rear of Hood.1 I fear that rear movement more than any other, as many of our Artillery horses are in N. C. and it would be impossible to move our Artillery. I would be very uneasy about our situation if Gen Lee was not in Command. Gen. Wise is making an effort to get back to his Brigade. I hope he will succeed and get us out of Johnson’s Division. The Yankees shoot more strange projectiles over here. They shoot some rifle shells which sound almost exactly like and old Turkey gobbler flying over. The boys call it “the old Gobbler.” It never goes straight but wabbles about in all directions. One lit near my tent the other day and two or three of the boys went out to get it but it had “hopped up and gone again before they got there.” A great many of the men employ themselves in excavating Grant’s shells. They get four cents a pound for them. The whole field in rear is covered with men with spades &c. after a shelling. It is said that men can be heard saying when they see a shell coming “that is my shell if she don’t bust.” I have not seen Baldy yet. I will send in application for leave of absence for twenty four hours tomorrow, and go to see him. I am doing well & needing nothing.

Write soon, Yours truly.........."

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service".
• 26th Virginia Infantry Regimental History by Alexander L. Wyatt

Luther Rice Mills apparently belonged to the sharpshooter battalion of Wise’s Brigade until he was wounded at the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864.  When he returned in November 1864, he took over as the acting captain of his company, Company K, in the 26th Virginia, Wise’s Brigade.  The previous captain, Captain Poindexter, had been killed at the Crater. These letters of Mills to his brother John written during the Siege of Petersburg were originally published in The North Carolina Historical Review, Volume 4, Number 3 (July 1927), pages 301-310.