|
The 22ND Virginia Cavalry was made up of mountaineers from the highlands of Southwest Virginia.
The following are the counties which provided men to
the regiment.
Company A - Captain
Abram Fuller's Company (Formerly Captain Henry F. Kendrick's Company, and Company B, Baldwin's Squadron). This company was
formed by a division of Baldwin's Squadron before February 1, 1863. Some men had enlisted as early as August 4, 1862. Men
from this company were from Scott, Washington and Russell Counties.
Company B - Captain
Gordon W. Rife's Company (Previously Company F(2), 21st Battalion, Infantry and for a short time Company F(1),64th Virginia
Mounted Infantry. This company was formed, at an undetermined
date, primarily from residents of Buchanan County. Gordon Rife previously served in the 34th Battalion
Virginia Cavalry, and was ostensibly detailed to gather deserters from that unit when he organized this company. Several men
who served under Rife were deserters from the 34th, and its enigmatic leader, Vincent A. Witcher.
Company C - Captain John C. Stanfield's Company was organized on August 13, 1863 in Washington County.
Captain Stanfield previously served in Baldwin's Squadron. This company was formed largely from men from Washington
County.
Company D - Captain Martin Ball's Company, was organized May 1, 1863,from members of the mounted company
of the 2nd Virginia State Line. The company also included some men who formerly served in the 37th Virginia Infantry.
Ball had served in the Virginia State Line as a Major and many members of this company may have served there as well.
Russell County was the primary source of manpower for Company D.
Company E - Captain Reese M. Baldwin's Company (originally Captain William M. Baldwin's Company) formerly
served in Baldwin's Squadron Virginia Cavalry or Partisan Rangers. The original company was mustered into Confederate service
on August 4, 1862 from Washington and Russell Counties.
Company F - Captain William Washington Brown's Company. This company was organized by August 8, 1863
from Tazewell County men.
Company G - Captain William O. Moore's
Company was organized August 1, 1863, primarily from residents of Wythe County, with significant
numbers from Carroll, Grayson, and other surrounding counties.
Company H - Captain Balaam W. Higginbotham's
Company, formed by former members of the 188th (Tazewell County) Militia, in which Higginbotham was a captain. The date of
organization of this company was August 15, 1863. Most members of this company were residents of Tazewell
County, Virginia. Some were from Smyth County.
Company I - Captain William P. Samples
Company was organized August 15, 1863. Russell and Tazewell Counties
furnished nearly equal numbers to this organization. The total strength known for this company indicate that the records for
this company are far from complete.
Company K - Captain Miles Apperson
Francis' Company was organized August 1, 1863 from residents of Russell and
Montgomery Counties.
The men of the 22nd also came from the southernmost counties of West Virginia. Stragglers from
all over the Confederacy were enlisted as well.
Virginia map showing the regiment's companies, and the
counties, shaded in cavalry yellow, which provided men to the 22ND Virginia Cavalry. Also shown are the counties
of southern West Virginia which provided men to the regiment.
|
