According to his Compiled Military Service Record "Wilson Keiffe" enlisted Oct. 10, 1864. In March of 1865 he was admitted to a Confederate hospital in Petersburg, VA with "Rubeola" (Red Measles). A final medical card shows him released from Point of Rocks Hospital in Point of Rocks, VA, April 21, 1865.

Elihu Keefe was conscripted (drafted) the 5th of November, 1862 in Marion. One of the cards included in his record states he enlisted in McClellanville, SC. He is last listed as present April 30, 1863. There is no further record.

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Jim Martin

HISTORICAL NOTES:

The 26th was made up from a consolidation of the 6th and 9th Infantry Battalions in late 1862 because the two battalions were essentially wiped out in that first summer of fighting in Virginia.

26th Infantry Regiment was organized at Charleston, South Carolina, in September, 1862. After serving in South Carolina it moved to Mississippi, was placed in N.G. Evans' Brigade, and confronted the Federals at Jackson. Later the regiment returned to Charleston, then in the spring of 1864 was sent to Virginia. Here it was assigned to Elliott's and Wallace's Brigade. It participated in the long Petersburg siege south and north of the James River and ended the war at Appomattox. In October, 1863, there were 343 men present for duty. The 26th suffered their greatest single battle loss at the Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864 when they lost 72 men. They lost many more at Sayler's Creek, and surrendered with 8 officers and 113 men.

BATTLES:

Jackson Siege MS (JUL 1863)

Charleston Harbor (AUG - SEP 1863)

Bermuda Hundred (17 MAY - 16 JUN 1864)

Petersburg Siege VA (JUN 1864 - APR 1865)

The Crater (30 JUL 1864)

Ft. Stedman (25 MAR 1865)

Five Forks VA (1 APR 1865)

Appomattox Court House VA (9 APR 1865)

OFFICERS:

Colonel Alexander D. Smith, Lieutenant Colonels Stephen D.M. Byrd and Joshua H. Hudson, and Majors Ceth S. Land and Cornelius D. Rowell.