Although not even one was designated as a West Virginia regiment (remember West Virginia was not officially a state until June 20, 1863) western Virginians enlisted in 26 different Confederate cavalry regiments all across the state.
Parts of the 1st, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th,14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 26th, 34th, 36th, 37th, 43rd Virginia Cavalry, the 2nd Battalion of the Kentucky Mounted Rifles, the 14th Kentucky Cavalry, the 44th Battalion Virginian Partisan Rangers, McNeill’s Company of Virginia Cavalry, Swann’s Battalion of Virginia Cavalry, Thurmond’s Rangers and Ashby’s Horse Artillery were western Virginians.
The 1st Virginia Cavalry was part of General Stonewall Jackson’s command and saw more action than any of the other regiments. They took part in over 200 engagements throughout the conflict including First and Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Fredericksburg to name just a few.
The 43rd Virginia Cavalry was perhaps the most famous of the group. Known as Mosby’s Rangers, they had the reputation of disrupting Union supplies and wreaking havoc on Union forces while seeming to disappear and elude its pursuers.
Most of the other units were active throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
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