Jackson Grays, Seventh Virginia Infantry Battalilon
became
Company A, 61st Virginia Infantry
 |
The Jackson Grays, Company A was recruited in the St. Bride's Parish of Norfolk County, in the section known as Pleasant Grove Magisterial District and was organized at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on June 1, 1861. |
 Custom House in Norfolk, Virginia. Finished in 1858 - Date picture was taken unknown |
The company left Pleasant
Grove on the 10th of July and marched
first
to Norfolk, where they paraded up Main Street to the Custom House.
There
they
were met by Major E. Bradford, the mustering officer, and on 11th of
July,
were mustered into the Confederate States. Today, the U. S. Custom House has been renovated and is still in use. It is on Main Street at the foot of Granby Street. |
 Norfolk County Court House in Portsmouth, Virginia As it appeared around 1905 |
On the 11th of
July,
the men were mustered into the Confederate States, and on the 12th of
July they
took the ferry to Portsmouth and were quartered in the Norfolk County
Courthouse. In 1963 Norfolk County and South Norfolk merged together and formed the City of Chesapeake. The courthouse is now a museum. |
 Batteries at Naval Hospital in Portsmouth Virginia - Fort Nelson Our thanks to Ed Rakowski, Portsmouth Public Library |
 Fort Nelson in Portsmouth and Fort Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia Our thanks to Ed Rakowski, Portsmouth Public Library |
 Naval Hospital, Portsmouth Virgiinia After remaining at the Norfolk County Courthouse for a few days, the Grays were ordered to the batteries at Fort Nelson, on the grounds of the present Portsmouth Naval Hospital and remained on duty there, until December, 1861, when at their own request, they were sent to  Sewell's Point . The map shows locations of Fort Nelson and Fort Norfolk. Also located in Portsmouth, is the Gosport Navy Yard, (Now the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard) from which the C.S.S. Virgina sailed and eventually engaged the U. S. S. Monitor in the famous Battle of the Ironclads. |