| Unit Name: | 32nd Virginia Infantry Regiment |
| Dates: | May 1861 - April 1865 |
| Country: | Confederacy |
| Allegiance: | Confederate States of America |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Battles: | Peninsula Campaign Battle of Seven Pines Seven Days' Battles Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Sharpsburg Battle of Fredericksburg Siege of Suffolk Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg Battle of Five Forks Battle of Sailor's Creek Appomattox Campaign |
| Disbanded: | April 1865 |
| Notable Commanders: | Colonel Benjamin S. Ewell |
The 32nd Virginia 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.
The field officers were Colonels Benjamin S. Ewell and Edgar Burwell Montague; Lieutenant Colonels John B. Cary and William Royall Willis; and Majors James M. Goggin, Baker P. Lee, Jr., and Jefferson Sinclair.
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 Fredricksburg, 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.
| Battle of Williamsburg | May 5, 1862 | MG James Longstreet, Second Division | BG Roger A. Pryor, Fifth Brigade | (detachment of two companies) Col Benjamin S. Ewell? (Ewell left 32nd regiment to join general staff of Joseph E. Johnston after this battle.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Seven Pines | May 31 and June 1, 1862 | BG Richard H. Anderson, Longstreet's Division | BG Roger A. Pryor, Pryor's Brigade | Ltc William R. Willis (while Colonel Montague was stricken with typhoid) |
| Seven Days' Battles, Battle of Malvern Hill, Battle of Savage's Station | June 25 to July 1, 1862 | MG Lafayette McLaws, McLaws' Division | BG Paul J. Semmes, First Brigade | Ltc William R. Willis (while Colonel Montague was stricken with typhoid) |
| Battle of Antietam | September 17, 1862 | MG Lafayette McLaws, McLaws' Division | BG Paul J. Semmes, First Brigade | Col Edgar B. Montague |
| Battle of Fredericksburg | December 11–15, 1862 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse, Corse's Brigade | Col Edgar B. Montague |
| Siege of Suffolk | April 11 to May 4, 1863 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse, Corse's Brigade | Col Edgar B. Montague |
| Battle of Spotsylvania Court House | May 9–21, 1864 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse, Corse's Brigade | Col Edgar B. Montague |
| Battle of Cold Harbor | May 31–June 12, 1864 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse, Corse's Brigade | Col Edgar B. Montague |
| Battle of Five Forks | April 1, 1865 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse, Corse's Brigade | Ltc William R. Willis (Col Montague left regiment in Dec 1864 on sick leave.) |
| Siege of Petersburg | June 9, 1864 - March 25, 1865 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse, Corse's Brigade | ? |
| Appomattox Campaign, Battle of Sailor's Creek | March 29 to April 9, 1865 | MG George E. Pickett, Pickett's Division | BG Montgomery Dent Corse (captured April 6th), Col Arthur Herbert, Corse's Brigade | Cpt Samuel W. Armistead |
32nd originally consisted of just two companies in 1859, the Wythe Rifles of Hampton and the Williamsburg Junior Guard. Colonel Benjamin S. Ewell grew the regiment into five infantry and four artillery companies. The artillery companies were eventually reassigned. On May 22nd 1862, Edgar Burwell Montague was elected Colonel, Captain William Royall Willis of the Wythe Rifles (Co. A) was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and the regiment was reorganized as follows: [1] [2] [3]
Company A.
Company C.
Company E.
Company F.
Company H (2nd). Volunteer unit under Capt. (Dr.) Humphrey Harwood Curtis, Jr., three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, 67 privates and a drummer boy. Organized at Endview Plantation in Warwick County, Virginia.[4]
Company I (2nd).
Below is a roll call (date unknown):
Privates:
Company K (2nd).