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15th Virginia Infantry

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Muster In: Organized May 17, 18611
Muster Out: April 9, 18652

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison
Commander Image

Major Charles H. Clarke
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army3

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (June 16, 1864)4
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The regiment had only eight companies, two less than a normal regiment.

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army5

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (June 30, 1864)6
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army7

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (July 26, 1864)8,9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army10

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (at least August 3, 13 & 31, 1864)11,12,13,14,15
  • Unit Strength:
    • 202 officers and men PFD (August 13, 1864)16
  • Weapons: Springfield and/or Enfield Rifles17

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army18,19

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (September 30, 1864)20,21
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army22

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (at least October 31, 1864)23,24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army25,26

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (took a leave of absence starting on December 27, 1864) (November & December 1864)(at least November 2, 30 + December 6, 1864)27,28,29,30,31,32,33
    • ? (while Col. Morrison was on leave in late December 1864) (December 1864)34
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army35,36,37,38,39

  • Commander:
    • ? (January 1-10, 1865)40
    • Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (January 27, 1865)(hospitalized at least from January 1-10)(January 27, 1865)(January & February 1865)41,42,43,44,45
  • Unit Strength: 310 (officers and?) men PFD46
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Corse’s Brigade was detached and operating with Kershaw’s Division in late January 1865.47

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Corse’s Brigade | Pickett’s Division | First Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army48,49

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (in the hospital at least March 27)(March 1865)50
    • None listed. (April 1-2, 1865)51
    • Lieutenant Colonel Emmett M. Morrison (April 6, 1865)(captured on April 6, 1865)52,53,54
    • Major Charles H. Clarke (April 9, 1865)55
  • Unit Strength: 69 officers and men surrendered at Appomattox56
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles57:

  • Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
  • Five Forks (April 1, 1865)
  • Sayler’s Creek (April 6, 1865)
  • Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

Sources:

  1. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 188-190
  2. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 188-190
  3. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 111
  4. Manarin, Louis H. 15th Virginia Infantry (H.E. Howard: 1990), p. 62
  5. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 111
  6. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 13): Field and Staff Muster Roll for May + June, 1864
  7. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 120
  8. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 80): Pay Voucher for March 31 to April 30 on July 26, 1864
  9. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 120
  10. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 128
  11. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 14): Field and Staff Muster Roll for July + August, 1864
  12. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 40): Appears on an Inspection Report of Corse’s Brigade August 13, 1864
  13. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 82): Pay Voucher for April 30 to May 31 on August 3, 1864
  14. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 128
  15. Confederate Inspection Report 20-P-17: Corse’s Brigade, August 13, 1864Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M935, Roll 10: Inspection Reports P-12 – 39-P-24); War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
  16. Confederate Inspection Report 20-P-17: Corse’s Brigade, August 13, 1864Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M935, Roll 10: Inspection Reports P-12 – 39-P-24); War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
  17. Confederate Inspection Report 20-P-17: Corse’s Brigade, August 13, 1864Inspection Reports and Related Records Received By the Inspection Branch in the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M935, Roll 10: Inspection Reports P-12 – 39-P-24); War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
  18. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 137
  19. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1311.
  20. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 76): Special Requisition for Quartermaster’s Stores September 30, 1864
  21. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 137
  22. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 146
  23. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 15): Field and Staff Muster Roll for September + October, 1864
  24. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 146
  25. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 154
  26. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 162
  27. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 74): Pay Voucher for Sept 30 to Oct 31 on November 2, 1864
  28. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 36): Appears on an Inspection Report of Corse’s Brigade November 30, 1864
  29. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 78): Pay Voucher for Nov 1 to Nov 30 on December 6, 1864
  30. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 35): Appears on an Inspection Report of Corse’s Brigade December 29, 1864
  31. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 16): Field and Staff Muster Roll for November + December, 1864
  32. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 154
  33. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 162
  34. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 162
  35. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 171
  36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1170: “Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General R. E. Lee, January 31, 1865”; This list contains many commanders who were not there.  They were the “official” commanders but may have been gone on leave.  I have used none of the leaders from this list as a result.
  37. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1180: “Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, January 31, 1865”; This order of battle was based off of inspection reports from January 26-31, 1865, and the leaders should be accurate for this time frame.
  38. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 181
  39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1268: “Organization of the Infantry and Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia, General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, February 28, 1865”; This order of battle was based off of inspection reports from February 28, 1865.  However, leaders listed are from January.  I’ve chosen to ignore the leaders and just use this source for the organization of the order of battle.
  40. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 171
  41. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 171
  42. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1180: “Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, January 31, 1865”; This order of battle was based off of inspection reports from January 26-31, 1865, and the leaders should be accurate for this time frame.
  43. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 181
  44. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 33): Appears on a Register of CSA Hospital Petersburg VA January 1, 1865: The document shows him as admitted January 1 and returned to duty January 10, 1865.
  45. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 31): Appears on an Inspection Report of Corse’s Brigade January 27, 1865
  46. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 54): Letter from Gen Corse Jan 10 1865 w PFD Strength: On January 10, 1865 the 15th Virginia had 310 men (and officers?) present for duty with an aggregate present of 333.
  47. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1180: “Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, January 31, 1865”; This order of battle was based off of inspection reports from January 26-31, 1865, and the leaders should be accurate for this time frame.
  48. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 190
  49. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 200
  50. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 190
  51. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 200
  52. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 6): Appears on Roster of 15th VA March, 1865: Although Colonel Morrison was on the roster in March 1865, this document does not indicate whether he was present, on leave, out sick, or any other status.  However, the next document indicates he was admitted to the hospital on March 27, 1865, implying he was present.  I placed a question mark after his name because it is not at all clear if he was definitely in command, especially during the last few days of the Siege of Petersburg.
  53. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia, National Archives, Roll 556 (Emmett M. Morrison, 15th Virginia, Fold3.com Page 29): Appears on Register of CSA Hospital Petersburg VA March 27, 1865
  54. Manarin, Louis H. 15th Virginia Infantry (H.E. Howard: 1990), p. 110: Morrison was captured at Sayler’s Creek.
  55. Manarin, Louis H. 15th Virginia Infantry (H.E. Howard: 1990), p. 74: Clarke was the ranking officer present at the surrender.
  56. Manarin, Louis H. 15th Virginia Infantry (H.E. Howard: 1990), p. 74: 10 officers and 59 men
  57. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 188-190
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