Unit History

Biographies of Officers



The Fifteenth Virginia Infantry was organized for state service in mid-May, 1861. It was accepted into state service on May 17, 1861 under the designation of the Third Virginia Infantry. Not long afterwards it was realized that there was already a regiment with that designation. On May 27, 1861, the units designation was changed to the Fifteenth Virginia Infantry. The unit was mustered into service in late July, 1861. The original companies that comprised the Fifteenth were as follows: Company A, Henrico Grays-Men from Henrico County Company B, Virginia Life Guard- Men from Richmond. Company C, Patrick Henry Rifles- Men from Hanover County Company D, Henrico Guards- Men from Henrico County Company E, Ashland Grays-Men from Hanover County Company F, Emmett Guard-Men from Richmond. Company G, Southern Guard-Men from Richmond Company H, Young Guard-Men from Richmond Company I, Hanover Grays-Men from Hanover Company K, Marion Rifles- Men from Richmond The men of Companies F and K did not reorganize for the war in 1862. The men in those companies had enlisted for a period of one year and claimed exemption under the Conscription Act. The companies were disbanded and no new companies were assigned in their place. The 15th served the duration of the war with only eight Companies. Upon being mustered into service, the regiment was assigned to duty in the Army of the Peninsula. It then saw service in the Department of the Peninsula before being assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment served in that Army until the late summer of 1863. It briefly served in the Army of Western Virginia and East Tennessee, and then joined the Department of North Carolina. The regiment next saw service in the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. It rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia in the summer of 1864, and remained there until the end of the war.
	1861-1862
The 15^th first saw action at Big Bethel in 1861. In 1862, the regiment was engaged at Williamsburg, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg. At Fredericksburg, the regiment was in line of battle but not engaged.
	1863
In 1863, the men of the 15^th took part in the Suffolk Campaign and remained in central Virginia when the Army of Northern Virginia marched to Gettysburg. When the year was closed out, the 15^th was in eastern Tennessee.
	1864
The Fifteenth returned to southeastern Virginia early in 1864 and then was sent to eastern North Carolina. In May of that year it returned to Virginia and rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment saw action in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign at Swift Creek, Proctors Creek, and Drewry's Bluff. In addition to operations on the Bermuda Hundred front, the Fifteenth also saw action at Cold Harbor and the first days of the assault on Petersburg. As the siege of Petersburg wore on, the regiment fought engagements at Deep Bottom, Fussell's Mills, Baileys Creek, Deep Run, Charles City Crossroads, New Market Road Whites Tavern, Four Mile Run and Darbytown Road.
	1865
In 1865 the regiment fought at Dinwiddie Court House, and The Battle of Five Forks. Following the fall of Petersburg, the Fifteenth was a part of the long retreat that ended with Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Fewer than 70 officers and enlisted men were still with the Fifteenth when it surrendered at Appomattox Court House.






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