American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

I was doing some research on the history of my company ( C Company, 24th Infantry Battalion, Highland Brigade, Virginia Defense Force )and discovered that my command has a very distinguished history.
which is as follows:

1841- A company of Infantry was formed in Danville, Va. and is named The DANVILLE BLUES and is assigned to the 42nd Infantry Regiment, Virginia Militia.

1856- A second company of Infantry is formed in Danville, Va and is named The DANVILLE GRAYS, and is also assigned to the 42nd.

Both units take their names from the color of their respective uniforms.

1861- Both units are called up for State Active Duty and mustered into Confederate Service and are designated as Company A and B, 18th Virginia Infantry, Cocke's Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac (CSA) and is stationed at Manassas, Va. where it took part in 1st Manassas.

The 18th would then begin it's association with Gen. George Pickett in 1862 when Pickett replaced Col. Cocke after his suicide. The 18th would remain a part of Pickett's command through out the War.

The 18th would see action in the following battles and earn the following battle honors/streamers:

1861- 1st Manassas
1862- Peninsula
1862- 2nd Manassas
1862- Sharpsburg
1862- Fredricksburg
1863- Gettysburg
1864-65 Petersburg
1865 Appomattox

Campaign Streamers:

North Carolina 1963
Virginia 1863
Virginia 1864

The 18th was one of the units that were part of the "High Tide of the Confederacy " where they breached the Union lines at Cementary Ridge. They would have their battle flag captured by the 56th New York and suffer near destruction because of their participation in Pickett's Charge.The regiment started with 1500 troops and would have less than 500 effectives left when the ANV retreated back into Virginia.

Company B ( Danville Grays ) would be assigned to the Richmond Defenses and Company A ( Danville BLUES ) would be assigned back to Danville where it would be assigned to POW guard duty at the POW camps in Danville. As they rebuilt and reorganized they would rejoin the Army at Petersburg defenses and would take part in the seige. The 18th would again suffer heavy losses at the critical defeat at Five Forks.

The 18th would dontinue to fight as they retreated back toward Appomattox and fight their last battle at Sailor's Creek. The remainder of both companies would be surrendered at Appomattox and disbanded at this time.

In 1871, both Danville companies would be reorganized as part of the new Virginia Malitia and serve as reserves. In 1898, both the Blues and Grays would be activated and mustered into Federal service for the Spainish American War. Neither units will not be deployed but would stay in the Commonwelath. They would return to State Control six months later.

In 1900, both the Grays and Blues would be disbanded and reorganized as Co M, 3rd Virginia Volunteers. This would become the nucleaus for the Virginia Army National Guard. It is here where our lineage ends.

There was not a State Guard unit formed for Danville during WWI. In 1940, The VANG would be called up for Fedral Service, and the State Guard, the predecessor to the present VaDF. The State Guard would be formed to replace the deployed NG units and would be in existance until 1947

It would not be until 1985 that the Va DF would be formed and Co A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, VADF become the designated unit for Danville, Va.

In 2003, we would activate the 246th Field Artillery Bn, for duty as part of Operation Noble Eagle. In 2006, we would once again activate the 246th for relef duty in the Gulf following Hurricane Katrina.

We would be redesignated as C Company and assigned to the 24th Bn as part of reorganiation.

We would earn 3 Virginia Service


MG Lloyd Cole, CSA
AOG

Nice history, seems like the end is missing???


General Jeff Laub
Union Chief of the Army
ACWGC Cabinet Member
http://www.geocities.com/laubster22/UnionHQ/