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West Virginia 3rd Infantry Regiment


HISTORICAL NOTES:
Governor Pierpont entrusted the formation of this regiment to Colonel David T. Hewes, of Clarksburg, a gentlemen well known in the State, with a reputation for skill in military tactics, having for many years held an important office in the militia of the State. The camp or rendezvous, named “Camp Hewes,” was located near the city, and was well supplied with tents and other necessaries for the comfort of the men. As this was the second regiment raised (the first – Colonel Kelly’s – being a three months’ regiment), recruited under the three years’ call, there was little difficulty in procuring the full complement of ten companies.

The National Archives Index contain 34 names for the men of this regiment. The majority of the men are on the roster of the West Virginia 6th Cavalry Regiment.
OFFICERS:
  • David T. Hewes, colonel
  • Frank W. Thompson, lieutenant-colonel
  • Charles E Swearingen, major
  • Theodore F Lang, adjutant
  • John H Shuttleworth, regimental quartermaster
  • D.B. Dorsey, surgeon
  • Rev. James W Curry, chaplain.
  • ASSIGNMENTS:
    Served unattached, Army of West Virginia, to September, 1861. Cheat Mountain, District West Virginia, to March, 1862. Cheat Mountain District, Dept. of the Mountains, to April, 1862. Milroy's Independent Brigade, Dept. of the Mountains, to June, 1862. Milroy's Independent Brigade, 1st Army Corps, Pope's Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Defenses of Washington, D.C., to October, 1862. Unattached, District of West Virginia, Dept. of the Ohio, to March, 1863. Averill's 4th Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to June, 1863. Averill's 4th Separate Brigade, Dept. of West Virginia, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, Army of West Virginia, to January, 1864. SERVICE:
    Protecting border counties against guerrillas from Phillippi to Suttonville, W. Va., until September, 1861. Rowell's Run September 6. Moved to Beverly September 10, thence to Elkwater, and duty there until April, 1862. Romney, Hanging Rock, September 23, 1861. Romney September 23-25. Mill Creek Mills October 26. Skirmishes in Clay, Braxton and Webster Counties December 29-31. Elk Mountain March 19, 1862. Advance on Staunton April 5-May 8. Cow Pasture May 7. Battle of McDowell May 8. Bull Pasture Mountain May 8. Reconnaissance to Franklin May 9-11. Franklin May 11-13. Strasburg and Staunton Road June 1-2. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. At Strasburg June 20-July 5. Advance to Luray July 5-11. Moved to Sperryville July 11, thence to Woodville July 22, and duty there until August 9. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Crooked Creek August 12. Pope's Campaign In Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Freeman's Ford and Hazel Run August 22. Waterloo Bridge August 23-25. Gainesville August 28. Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until September 30. Moved to Clarksburg, W. Va., September 30-October 1. Duty at Clarksburg, Mt. Pleasant, and outpost duty at Buckhannon, Centreville, Bulltown, Sutton and Glenville until April, 1863. Regiment mounted, Janelew, May 5. Huttonsville July 4. Near Hedgeville and Martinsburg July 18-19. Averill's Raid through Hardy, Pendleton, Highland, Bath, Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties August 5-31. Huntersville August 22 (Detachment). Jackson River August 25. Rocky Gap near White Sulphur Springs August 26-27. Averill's Raid against Lewisburg and the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad November 1-11. Cockletown November 4. Mill Point November 5. Droop Mountain November 6. Averill's Paid to Salem on Virginia & Tennessee Railroad December 8-25. Gatewood's December 12. Salem December 16. Scott's or Barber's Creek December 19. Moorefield December 28. Designation changed to 6th West Virginia Cavalry January 26, 1864. ROSTERS:
    The roster of this unit contains the names of 34 men.

  • Co. A, Monongalia County
  • Co. B, Harrison County
  • Co. C, Preston County
  • Co. D, Preston County
  • Co. E, Upshur County
  • Co. F, Taylor and Harrison Counties
  • Co. G, Harrison County
  • Co. H, Monongalia County, and border of Pennsylvania
  • Co. I, Marshall County
  • Co. K, Ritchie County.

  • BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    REFERENCES:
  • Dyer, Frederick H. - Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
  • Lang Theodore F. - Loyal West Virginia



  • For Additional Research