BTC Notes: 59th Virginia Infantry

Note: The BTC Notes series serves as a way to gather important information about a given source on the Siege of Petersburg like a book, article, essay, map, etc.

Subject: 59th Virginia Infantry by by G. L. Sherwood and Jeffrey C. Weaver

Important Points:

• A table outlines the commanders of the 26^th, 34^th, 46^th, and 59^th Virginia regiments at various times during the Siege, as follows:
  • 26^th VA:
    • Lt. Colonel  J. Calvin Councill (6/10/64)
    • Capt. Napoleon B. Street (8/29/64)
    • Same (9/30/64)
    • Capt. William K. Perrin (10/31/64)
    • Same (11/30/64)
    • Same (12/31/64)
    • William K. Perrin (1/31/65)
    • Major William K. Perrin (2/28/65)
  • 34^th VA:
    • Col. John T. Goode (6/10/64)
    • Lt. Col. Randolph Harrison (8/29/64)
    • Same (9/30/64)
    • Randolph Harrison (10/31/64)
    • Same (11/30/64)
    • Same (12/31/64)
    • John T. Goode (1/31/65)
    • Randolph Harrison (2/28/65)
  • 46^th VA:
    • detached (6/10/64)
    • Capt. John H. White (8/29/64)
    • Lt. Col. Peyton Wise (9/30/64)
    • Randolph Harrison (of 34^th VA) (10/31/64)
    • John H. White (11/30/64)
    • Same (12/31/64)
    • John H. White (1/31/65)
    • John H. White (2/28/65)
  • 59^th VA:
    • William B. Tabb (6/10/64)
    • Robert G. Mosby (8/29/64)
    • Capt. James L. Jennett (9/30/64)
    • William B. Tabb (10/31/64)
    • Robert G. Mosby (11/30/64)
    • Same (12/31/64)
    • Robert G. Mosby (1/31/65)
    • Robert G. Mosby (2/28/65)¹

• Colonel Tabb was wounded in the thigh on June 15, 1864.²
• Wise’s Brigade was commanded by Colonel John T. Goode on July 30, 1864.³
• Captain Henry Wood, Jr. commanded the 59^th Virginia on July 30, 1864.⁴
• The 59^th Virginia and the other regiments in Wise’s Brigade may have had Enfield Rifles on July 30, 1864.  It is unclear if the author was using the term generically.  More research is needed.⁵
• The text claims Captain “Steele” commanded the 26^th Virginia on July 30, 1864.  This seems to be in error.  Captain Napoleon Street was in charge on that day based on other sources, and the only Steele in the 26th Virginia was a private. ⁶
• Wise’s Brigade had 701 men present for duty, and 832 present and effective for the field on September 10, 1864.  This seems backwards unless the latter number includes officers and the PFD number doesn’t.  More research is needed.⁷
• Wise’s Brigade had 106 officers and 891 men present for duty on September 30, 1864.  The division had 4286 men and 452 officers PFD.⁸
• The 59^th VA received 43 conscripts in October 1864.⁹
• Colonel William B. Tabb was present to take leave for his wedding on December 14, 1864.  I’m not sure of when exactly he was in command. ¹⁰
• The following strengths and weapons for the Brigade were recorded in the January 29, 1865 inspection report:
  • 26^th VA: 18 officers and 213 men present (for duty?)
  • 34^th VA: 30 officers and 367 men present (for duty?)
  • 46^th VA: 25 officers and 313 men present (for duty?)
  • 59^th VA: 25 officers and 229 men present (for duty?)
  • All regiments carried Enfield rifles.¹¹

• Colonel Tabb was in command of Wise’s Brigade on February 6, 1865.¹²
• The number of officers and men paroled at Appomattox was 161.¹³
• A list of casualties at Petersburg by month/engagement is on pages 98-99.¹⁴
• Colonel Tabb was absent sick on August 31, 1864 roll.¹⁵
• Captain Henry Wood, Jr. was slightly wounded in head on July 30, 1864.¹⁶

Sources: