48th
Virginia
Infantry Regiment
organized at Big Spring, near Abingdon, Virginia, in September 1861.
The Commonwealth of Virginia had seceded from the Union.
Now it was time for the men of the southwestern counties to
defend their families, rights, and Virginia. Men from Lee, Russell,
Scott, Smyth, and Washington Counties enlisted in the 48th and
assembled at Camp Fulkerson,
Abingdon, Virginia. Virginia's
Governor Fletcher recommended John Arthur Campbell of Washington County
for the position of colonel of the 48th, and Thomas Stuart Garnett of
Westmoreland County, for the position of lieutenant colonel.
Booth, graduates of VMI Class of 1844, were approved by the
legislature.
Once
the units were integrated into the regiment they each had letter
designations, which changed at various times. We are using the April
1862 (last) designations here.
The Smyth Rifle Greys
was the first to organize, with 97 men in Seven Miles Ford on 18 May
1861. Leading this company was Captain James Scott Greever a
Smyth County teacher and a graduate of Emory and
Henry.
Mrs. Arthur Cummings of Abingdon presented the company a flag she had
made from her silk wedding dress. On 24 June the Smyth Rifle Greys
marched the 22 miles from Seven Miles Ford to Abingdon. As
of April 1862 the Smyth Rifle Greys were
designated Company D.
 The Osborne
Ford Independents
from Scott County, were the second company to organize, enrolling 89
men at Osborne Ford in that county on 25 May. Captain Henry W. Osborne
and the unit traveled 40 miles, arriving in Abingdon on 17
June. As of April 1862 the
Osborne Ford Independents were designated Company C.
The Holston Foresters
registered 75 men on 15 June in Washington County. Captain
David
A. P. Campbell, a farmer in the county, led them to Abingdon on 9
July. As of April 1862 the
Holsten Foresters were designated Company
F.
The Mountain Marksmen
enrolled 92 men in Washington County on 18 June. Captain
Cummings
Campbell a farmer, led the company 4 miles into Abingdon on
the
same day. As of April 1862 the
Mountain marksmen became Company
I.
The Campbell Greys
of Washington County registered 95 men in Abingdon on 20 June.
Captain Milton White a Washington County farmer was in
command.
As of April 1862 the
Campbell Greys were designated Company
B.
The Russell Guards
of Russell County, enlisted 84 men on 25 June. in command was Captain
John H. Candler a county clerk. They arrived in Abingdon on 17
July. As of April 1862
the Russell Guards became Company
K.
The Clinch Mountain Boomers
enrolled 67 men in Scott County on 26 June. A Scott County Farmer,
Captain William James Smith was in command. The unit traveled 30
miles, reaching Abingdon 13 July. As of April
1862 the Clinch Mountain Boomers were designated Company H.
The Stock Creek Greys
enlisted 75 men on 1 July in Scott County. This unit was commanded by
Captain John Matlock Vermillion a Scott County merchant.
Matlock
had prewar militia experience as he had served in the 124th Regiment.
This company arrived in Abingdon on 6 July. As
of April 1862 the Stock Creek Greeks
became Company
A.
The Nicklesville Spartan Band
enrolled 74 men at Nicklesville, Scott County on 2 July. Captain Henry
M. McConnell a Scott County farmer was their commander.
The
company traveled 35 miles, to arrive in Abingdon on 13 July. As
of April 1862 the Nicklesville Spartan
Band was designated Company E.
The Lee County Guards
enlisted 69 men at Jonesville in Lee County on 15 July. The
commander was Captain Elbert S Martin, a former merchant and U.S.
Congressman. He was a graduate of Emory and Henry. The company was only
partially uniformed and unarmed. The unit traveled 80 miles, by way of
the Cumberland Gap and Prices Turnpike, Pattonsville and Eastville
Turnpike and the Reedy Creek road on foot to arrive in Abingdon 22
July. As of April 1862 the Lee County Guards were known as Company G.
The 48th reported 17 casualties at Cross Keys and Port Republic, 62, at
Cedar Mountain, 24 at Second Manassas, 7 at Fredericksburg, ans 103 at
Chancellorsville. Of the 265 engaged at Gettysburg, more than
25 percent were disabled.. Only 4 officers and 38 men surrendered.
Field officers were: Colonels John A. Campbell, Robert H.
Dungan, and Thomas S. Garnett; Lieutenant Colonel Oscar White; Majors
James C. Campbell, Wilson Faris and Boston Stewart.
At
this time we are not documenting the action of the 48th Regiment
throughout the war, as there are several fine websites
already
accomplishing this task. We encourage the researchers
interested
in the general documentation of the participants to go to these
web
sites. Our interest here is the men in our families and their
roles in this war.
|
Roster of men
with familial connections
|
Name |
Rank |
Date |
Place
Recruited From |
Company |
|
 |
Clifton, Anthony |
Private |
25 June 1861 |
Russell County |
K |
|
|
Clifton,
George Riley |
Private |
25 June 1861 |
Russell County |
K |
|
|
Cole,
Jame McDonald |
Private |
18 May 1861 |
Smyth County |
D |
|
|
Cole,
Thomas |
Private |
2 July 1863 |
Russell County |
K |
|
|
Dungan,
James V. |
1st Sergeant |
1 July 1961 |
Smyth County |
D |
|
|
Dungan,
James W. |
Private |
3 March 1862 |
Smyth County |
D |
|
|
Dungan,
John R. |
5th Sergeant |
8 March 1861 |
Smyth County |
D |
|
|
Dungan,
Robert H. |
Colonel [F&S*] |
18 May 1861 |
Smyth County |
D |
|
|
Dungan,
Thomas W. |
1st Sergeant |
1 March 1862 |
Smyth County |
D |
|
|
Dungan, William Thomas |
Private [F&S*] |
16 June 1864 |
Smyth County |
D |
Musician |
|
Dye,
Hugh |
Private |
15 June 1861 |
Russell County |
F |
|
|
