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49th Virginia Infantry Regiment

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49th Virginia Infantry Regiment
Flag of Virginia, 1861
ActiveJuly 1861 – April 1865
DisbandedApril 1865
CountryConfederacy
AllegianceConfederate States of America Confederate States of America
Branch Confederate States Army
TypeInfantry
Nickname(s)"Extra Billy" Smith's Boys
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Colonel William "Extra Billy" Smith

The 49th Virginia 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 49th Virginia completed its organization in July 1861. Its members were from the counties of Prince William, Warren, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Amherst, and Shenandoah. Three companies fought at First Manassas and these companies formed the nucleus of the regiment. It was assigned to General Featherston's, Early's, W.Smith's, Pegram's, and J.A. Walker's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The unit participated in many battles from Williamsburg to Cold Harbor, was active in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations, and took part in the final campaign at Appomattox.

It reported 40 casualties at First Manassas and in April, 1862, contained 539 effectives. The regiment lost fifty-three percent of the 424 at Seven Pines, had 2 killed and 36 wounded during the Seven Days' Battles, and suffered 5 killed and 73 wounded in the Maryland Campaign. At Fredericksburg 6 were killed and 46 wounded, at Gettysburg thirty-five percent of the 281 were disabled, and at The Wilderness and Spotsylvania 87 were lost. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered with 9 officers and 46 men.

The field officers were Colonels William "Extra Billy" Smith and Jonathan (John) Catlett Gibson, Lieutenant Colonels Edward Murray and Charles B. Christian, and Major Caleb Smith.

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References

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  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. National Park Service.