45th Virginia Infantry Battalion

45th Virginia Infantry Battalion

Flag of Virginia, 1861
Active December 21, 1863 – March 2, 1865
Country Confederacy
Allegiance Confederate States of America Confederate States of America
Branch Infantry
Role Light Infantry
Nickname(s) Beckley's Battalion
Engagements American Civil War: Battle of Cloyd's Mountain - Valley Campaigns of 1864 - Battle of Cedar Creek - Battle of Waynesboro
Disbanded March 2, 1865
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Henry Beckley

The 45th Virginia Battalion was formed in detachments throughout southern West Virginia, Logan, Wayne, Wyoming, and Boone counties,[1] from April to December 1863 until it reached six companies with 287 men.[2] Most men who joined the newly formed infantry unit had previously served with Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Beckley in the 1st Regiment of the Virginia State Line, a unit that had disbanded that January. It was from their commander's name that the battalion received its nickname; since it served alongside the 45th Virginia Infantry Regiment it was more frequently referred to as Beckley's Battalion to reduce confusion.

The battalion and its detachments engaged in many skirmishes while serving with the Department of Western Virginia before becoming engaged at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain where the battalion's strength was reported as 183 officers and men,[3] suffering four killed and eleven wounded. With the rest of Colonel John McCausland's forces the Forty-Fifth was engaged along the New River before turning east to fight at the Battle of Piedmont with 175 men[4] and the rest of the Valley Campaigns of 1864. Like most other units of Early's army, the 45th Battalion surrendered after the defeat at Waynesboro.

References

  1. ↑ Weaver, Jeffery C. 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry, Smith and Count's Battalions of Partisan Rangers. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1994
  2. ↑ "Logan County People and Places." . N.p.. Web. 6 Jul 2013. <http://www.geocities.com/heartland/ridge/4478/logan.htm>
  3. ↑ Humphreys, Milton W. Military Operations 1861-1864. Gauley Bridge: Cotton Hill Publications
  4. ↑ Humphreys, Milton W. Military Operations 1861-1864. Gauley Bridge: Cotton Hill Publications
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