34th Regiment, Virginia Infantry - Confederate

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Brief History

The 34th Infantry Regiment was organized in May, 1862, with men from Norfolk, Richmond, and Yorktown, and the counties of Gloucester, Mecklenburg, Bedford, Greene, and King and Queen. For almost two years the unit served as heavy artillery attached to the Department of Richmond and was known as the 4th Heavy Artillery. In May, 1864, it was assigned to Wise's Brigade as infantry. It contained 466 effectives in June, 1862, and surrendered 1 officers and 210 men.  The field officers were Colonel John T. Goode, Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Harrison, and Major John R. Bagby.
Predecessor unit:
4th Heavy Artillery Regiment was formed in May, 1862, to serve either as artillery or infantry. On May 23, it was assigned to duty as infantry. Later the unit served as heavy artillery and during March, 1864, became the 34th Regiment Virginia Infantry. The field officers were Colonel John T. Goode, Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Harrison, and Majors John R. Bagby and J. Wickham Leigh.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A (Gloucester Artillery) (Formerly of the 4th Battalion) - many men from Gloucester County

Company B (Mecklenburg Heavy Artillery) -  many men from Mecklenburg County

Company C ( Davis Artillery) - many men from Lynchburg

Company D (Greene Rough and Readys) - many men from Greene County

Company E (Piedmont Battery B) (formerly of the 4th Battalion) - many men from Bedford County

Company G (Bedford Heavy Artillery - many men from Bedford County

Company F (Halifax Heavy Artillery) - many men from Halifax County

Company H (Powhatan Artillery)(formerly of the 4th Battalion) - many men from Bedford County

Company   I (Captain Sales Heavy Artillery) - many men from Bedford County

Company  K (King and Queen Artillery) (formerly of the 4th Battalion) - many men from King and Queen County and Greene County

Company L  (Fray's Artillery) (Madison Artillery) - many men from Madison County

 The information above is from 34th Virginia Infantry, by Johnny L. Scott.

Other Sources

• Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in Virginia in the Civil War and United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865.
  

• National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.
  

• Virginia in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Virginia, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.
  

• United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.
  

• Scott, Johnny L. 34th Virginia Infantry. (Appomattox, Virginia : H.E. Howard, c1999), FHL book 975.5 M2vr v. 135.

• Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1992- 1995. (Family History Library book 975 M2ss, Ten Volumes.) This gives organization information for each unit and its field officers, assignments, and battles. It also lists sources further reading. Volume 5 is for Virginia.
  

• Wallace, Lee A. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865. Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, 1986. (Family History Library book 975.5 M2vr, Volume 29.) This gives brief historical sketches of each regiment and lists officers, company names, and commanders.