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4th Virginia Cavalry

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Muster In: Organized with 6 companies on September 4, 1861.  Companies F, G, and I assigned in September 1861.  Company K assigned on May 23, 1862.1
Muster Out: April 9, 18652

Commander(s):
Colonel Williams C. Wickham
Commander Image

Colonel William H. F. Payne
Commander Image

Colonel William B. Woolridge
Commander Image

Major Charles Old
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army3

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army4

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Williams C. Wickham5
    • Captain Charles Old (at least June 29, 1864)6,7
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army8

  • Commander: Colonel William H. F. Payne9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army10

  • Commander: Colonel William H. F. Payne11
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Fitz Lee’s Cavalry Division was ordered to join Early in the Shenandoah Valley on August 8, 1864 and actually reached his army on August 18, 1864.12

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.13

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.14

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.15

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army16,17,18

  • Commander: Major Charles Old (February 1865)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Returned to the Siege of Petersburg in late January-early February 1865. Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade had arrived in the Richmond area by February 27, 1865.20,21

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army22,23

  • Commander:
    • Colonel William B. Woolridge (March 1865)24
    • None listed. (April 1-2, 1865)25
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade had arrived in the Richmond area by February 27, 1865.26

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles27:

  • Trevilian Station (June 11-12, 1864)
  • Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
  • Reams’ Station (June 29, 1864)
  • Five Forks (April 1, 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. 107-109 ↩
    2. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 107-109 ↩
    3. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    4. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    5. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    6. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    7. “Fitz. Lee’s Cavalry.” Richmond Examiner. July 7, 1864, p. 1 col. 3 ↩
    8. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123 ↩
    9. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123 ↩
    10. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    11. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    12. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    13. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 107-109 ↩
    14. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 107-109 ↩
    15. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 107-109 ↩
    16. 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 1175: “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. ↩
    17. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    18. 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 1274: “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. ↩
    19. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    20. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    21. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 107-109: More research is needed as to the exact date. ↩
    22. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    23. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205 ↩
    24. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    25. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205 ↩
    26. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    27. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 107-109 ↩

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