Joyce,

Below is a bit of info on the 57th. To get a more in depth view of them you might obtain a copy of 57th Virginia Infantry, by Charles Sublett, part of the Virginia Regimental History Series available from:

H. E. Howard, Inc.
Rt. 2 Box 496H
Appomattox, Virginia 24522

Len

57th Virginia Infantry, C.S.A.
The 57th Virginia Infantry was organized on September 25, 1861 when five companies were added to the five extant companies of Major Elisha Keen's battalion. Keen's command was never officially recognized by the Confederate Adjutant and Insepctor General's Office.

Colonel Lewis Addison Armistead was chosen as the first regimental commander and he served until he was promoted to brigadier general on April 1, 1862. Elisha Ford Keen briefly succeeded Armistead, but he resigned on July 31, 1862. Keen was followed by Colonel David Dyer who also resigned on January 12, 1863. Colonel John Bowie Magruder was next in command of the regiment and he served until he was mortally wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1863. George W. Carr also served as commander of the 57th for a short period of time in 1863. Colonel Clement R. Fontaine was promoted to command the regiment in 1864 and served until the end of the war.

The regiment was composed of 10 companies, lettered from A to K (no J). The unit reorganized under the provisions of the Confederate conscription law on May 7, 1862. The companies comprising this regiment were:

Company A - Jeff Davis Guard - from Powhatan County, formerly Company F, 20th Virginia Infantry. This company enlisted on May 29, 1861.

Company B - The Franklin Sharpshooters - from Franklin County, enlisted on June 15, 1861.

Company C - The Franklin Fire Eaters - from Franklin County. This company was enlisted on June 21, 1861 as part of Keen's Battalion.

Company D - The Galveston Tigers - from Danville, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. This company enlisted on June 22, 1861.

Company E - The Pig River Grays - This company was formerly Company B, Keen's Battalion, and was enlisted on June 29, 1861.

Company F - The Henry and Pittsylvania Rifles - This unit was originally commanded by Captain Vincent O. Witcher, and enlisted on July 10, 1861.

Company G - Ladies' Guard, formerly Company E of Keen's Battalion, enlisted on July 13, 1861 from members of the 195th Virginia Militia (Franklin County).

Company H - The Rivanna Guards, enlisted on July 22, 1861 as Captain John B. Magruder's Company. This unit was from Fluvanna County.

Company I - The Pittsylvania Life Guards, formerly Company D, Keen's Battalion Virginia Infantry, enlisted on July 17, 1861 from members of the 42nd Virginia Militia (Pittsylvania County).

Company K - The Botetourt Guards, was organized on July 20, 1861 in Botetourt County, Virginia.

The 57th's first assignment was with the Army of the Kanawha in November 1861. In April 1862, the regiment was assigned to Armistead's Brigade, Anderson's Division, Army of Northern Virginia. Anderson's Division was assigned to the 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia in July 1862, after the Seven Days Battles east of Richmond prompted the reorganization of the army. In September 1862, Major General George Pickett assumed command of the division. The regiment served with Pickett until October 1863. At that time the 57th Virginia was transferred to Barton's Brigade in the Department of North Carolina. In February 1864 Barton's Brigade was reassigned to the Department of Richmond. In May, Barton's Brigade was attached to Robert Ransom's Division. In May 1864, Barton's Brigade was returned to Pickett's Division, 1st Corps Army of Northern Virginia and served there until the end of the war.

The 57th Virginia participated in the following battles or engagements:

Seven Days Battles, east of Richmond, Virginia June 25-July 1, 1862
Malvern Hill, Virginia July 1, 1862
2nd Manassas, Virginia August 28-30, 1862
Sharpsburg, Maryland September 17, 1862
Shepherdstown Ford, West Virginia, September 20, 1862
Fredericksburg December 13, 1862
Suffolk Siege April - May 1863
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 1-3, 1863
New Bern, North Carolina, February 1, 1864.
Chester Station, Virginia May 10, 1864
Drewry's Bluff, Virginia May 16, 1864
North Anna, Virginia May 22-26, 1864
Cold Harbor, Virginia June 1-3, 1864
Siege of Petersburg June 1864-March 1865
Dinwiddie Court House March 31, 1865
Five Forks, Virginia April 1, 1865
Sayler's Creek, Virginia April 6, 1865
Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865.