Country Confederacy | Nickname(s) 64th Virginia Cavalry | |
Active December 1862 – April 1865 Allegiance Confederate States of America Type Militia, Mounted infantry Role Infantry
Cavalry
Dragoons | ||
The 64th Virginia Mounted Infantry Regiment, consisting of troops raised in Lee, Scott, Wise and Buchanan counties in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It served as an infantry regiment, a cavalry regiment, and a mounted infantry (dragoon) unit, fighting mostly in western Virginia and Tennessee.
The 64th Regiment Virginia Mounted Infantry was organized in December 1862 in Abingdon, by consolidating the 21st and 29th Virginia Infantry Battalions. Prior to September 1, 1863, it was known as the 64th Virginia Infantry, and after that date it was also called the 64th Virginia Cavalry.
On September 9, a large part of this unit was captured at Cumberland Gap by Union General Ambrose Burnside, which led to many of the captured men being sent to Louisville, Kentucky then later to Camp Douglas (Chicago). Later it served in Williams', Giltner's, and W.E. Jones' Brigade and confronted the Federals in various conflicts in East Tennessee, Western Virginia, and North Carolina.
During April 1864, it totaled 268 effectives, but in April 1865, less than 50 disbanded.
The field officers were Colonels Auburn L. Pridemore and Campbell Slemp, and Lieutenant Colonel James B. Richmond, all future congressmen; and Major Harvey Gray.