32nd Virginia Infantry

32nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Flag of Virginia, 1861
Active May 1861 – April 1865
Country Confederacy
Allegiance Confederate States of America Confederate States of America
Role Infantry
Engagements Peninsula Campaign
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Sharpsburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
Siege of Suffolk
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of Five Forks
Battle of Sailor's Creek
Appomattox Campaign
Disbanded April 1865
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Colonel Benjamin S. Ewell

The 32nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.

The 32nd Virginia was formed in May, 1861, by consolidating Montague's and Goggin's Infantry Battalions. Its members were from Hampton and Williamsburg and the counties of Warwick, James City, and York. Three companies were accepted into service as artillery and were transferred to the 1st Virginia Artillery.

After its reorganization in May, 1862, the unit operated with only seven companies. At the Battle of Williamsburg two companies fought under General Pryor, then the regiment was attached to General Semmes' and Corse's Brigade. It participated in many conflicts from the Seven Days' Battles to Fredericksburg, moved with Longstreet to Suffolk, and later served in the Department of Richmond and in North Carolina. Returning to Virginia it was active at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, took its place in the Petersburg trenches north and south of the James River, they saw action on the Chickahominy (May 1864), at Cold Harbor (June), on the Petersburg Campaign (to April 1865), and ended the war at Appomattox.

The regiment reported 1 wounded at Savage's Station, had 2 killed and 4 wounded at Malvern Hill, and sustained 72 casualties of the 158 engaged at Sharpsburg. Some were captured at Sayler's Creek, and 5 officers and 42 men were included in the surrender.

The field officers were Colonels Benjamin S. Ewell and Edgar B. Montague; Lieutenant Colonels John B. Cary and William R. Willis; and Majors James M. Goggin, Baker P. Lee, Jr., and Jefferson Sinclair.

Below is a roll call (date unknown) for the "York Rangers" Co. I, 32nd Regiment Va. Infantry:

Privates:

In the Sharpsburg Campaign: The 32nd were position at Brownsville just behind Cramptons Gap on the 14th but were not engaged. They marched all night and arrived on the battlefield at Sharpsburg on the morning of the 17th. They were rushed to the left of the Confederate line about 9am as reinforcements as the remnants of Hood's Division fell back after their assault. The 32nd, with the rest of the Brigade, attacked north along the Hagerstown Pike from near the Dunker Church, and were successful in pushing the Federal infantry back to Poffenberger's Farm and their artillery, but suffered high casualties in doing so. After withdrawing to the West Woods for ammunition and rest, the Regiment was posted behind the Sunken Road near the Confederate Center for the afternoon, under long-range artillery fire, but not directly engaged.

A notable quote made by Jefferson Sinclair at the battle of Sharpsburg; a Sergeant came to him at the bottom of a hill they were preparing to charge and said "Capt. I'm thinking a lot of us are going to die takin' this hill." To this, Capt. Sinclair replied "Sgt. I'm sure you're right, but I can assure you that I will not be one of them" They then made the charge and won the hill.

References

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