39th Virginia Infantry

The 39th 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 in Norfolk and on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

39th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Flag of Virginia, 1861
Active	Summer 1861 – February 1862
Disbanded	February 1862
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	Virginia
Branch	Confederate States Army
Type	Regiment
Role	Infantry
Engagements	American Civil War

The 39th Virginia was organized during the summer of 1861 with eleven companies: eight infantry, two cavalry, and one artillery. The unit was attached to the Department of Norfolk and served on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. In November it was ordered to evacuate the peninsula but was unable to cross the Chesapeake Bay. Efforts failed to reorganize the regiment, and it disbanded on February 3, 1862. Many of the members were reformed into the 19th Virginia Heavy Artillery (Atkinson's). They served much of the war's remaining years in the batteries north and east of Richmond. In April, 1865, the unit was part of Lee's retreat to Appomattox. One of their final engagements was at Saylor's Creek where several members were captured.[1]

Its commanders were Colonel Charles Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Louis C.H. Finney, and Major N.R. Cary.