Home / Civil War Genealogy / Virginia / 23rd Battalion Virginia Infantry
23rd Battalion Virginia Infantry
Company Unknown
Denison Butler Baldwin - Captain
Captain Baldwin transfered from the 51st Virginia in July 1862 and was also an enrolling officer.
Contact Name: Mark Baldwin
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/16/2007

Company Unknown
George Washington Campbell - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Stephen Quick
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/1/2008

Company Unknown
Clarence Derrick - Lt. Colonel
Lt. Col. Clarence Derrick was born 9/7/1837 in Washinton, D.C., son of William Sharples and Anna L. Derrick. His father was Superintendant of the State Dept. and Acting Secretary of State under several Presidents.

The Derrick family was originally from West Chester, PA. Clarence and his brother, Captain Henry Clay Derrick, ANV Corps of Engineers, were educated at Bolmar Academy in Philadelphia.

IN 1855 and 1856 the brothers were U.S. Surveyors in Kansas Territory. In 1857, President Buchanan appointed Clarence Derrick to West Point where he graduated 4th in the Class of 1861. He received a commission in the Artillery.

In July, 1861, Clarence resigned his commission and fled across the Potomac to VA just ahead of Union pursuers who were notified of his flight.

Upon the recomendation of their brother in law, Judge James Gilmore of Marion, VA, the brothers were commissioned by Gov. Letcher. Clarence served briefly in a Light Artillery unit, then in Gen. Floyd's 3rd Regiment which evolved into the 51st VA Infantry under Floyd.

Derrick was promoted to Captain and served as A.A.G. to Floyd at Ft. Donelson from which they escaped to oversee the evacuation of Nashville, the formal report of which was written by Derrick.

The reorganization in May, 1862 resulted in the 23rdVa Infantry Battalion, also known as Derricks's Battalion. Gen. Heth promoted Derrick to Lt. Col. commanding. Derrick commanded the unit thereafter in many actions until he received a saber wound and was captured by the 5th N.Y. Cavalry at Opequon in September, 1864. Derrick was imprisoned at Ft. Delaware until June, 1865. During his confinement, he corresponded with an aunt in Philadelphia who provided him with money, food and clothing.

Upon release, Derrick returned to Marion where he taught mathematics at a local college and read law in the office of Judge Gilmore, helping, along with his brother who was by then a civil engineer, to support their widowed mother and young sisters.

In 1875 Clarence moved to Greensboro, AL where he at first taught at nearby Judson Female Institute, then began practicing law and soon married Fannie Seay, sister of lawyer and State Senator Thomas Seay, who later became a two term Governor of AL.

Over the next 25 years, Derrick prospered as a lawyer, owner of substantial cotton acreage holdings, and as President of the local bank. In 1900, Derrick retired and moved to Philadelphia and soon married his childhood friend, a wealthy widow, Alice Paschall Darlington. Ironically, she was a devout Quaker and her family had been active in the PA Abolition Society.

Col. Derrick died suddenly on 12/7/1907 while visiting in Greensboro. His will ordered that all of his papers and letters be burned. He was buried at Greensboro in the Inge family plot next to his second wife, Imogene Page Inge Derrick. Due to his third wife's personal wealth, he bequeathed his estate to his brother Henry Clay and many neices and nephews throughout the Southeast.

In one instance at West Point, Derrick is referred to as 'General Clarence Derrick.' His commission to Brigadier was pending before the Confederate Congress at the time of his capture.

My wife is directly descended from Captain Henry Clay Derrick, his brother.
Contact Name: Lucian Hiner
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: none
Date Added: 2/10/2009

Company Unknown
Joseph Houston WassumRank Unknown
Joseph Houston Wassum was a member of the 23rd VA Inf. before joining the 63rd VA inf. He was my GG Grandfather and lived to be 91. He died in 1922 and was from Smyth County VA.
Contact Name: William Z Caldwell
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 3/22/2021

Company A
JASPER NEWTON COLE - Corporal
Jasper Cole was my great grandfather's older brother. He was from Washington County VA. Family folklore says that he was killed during the war. I can find no evidence of this.
Contact Name: S PATTERSON
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/15/2009

Company A
Levi H. Cole - Chaplain
would like any info on Levi H. Cole.
Contact Name: cole
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: MSN
Date Added: 10/15/2010

Company A
William A GammonRank Unknown
No comments
Contact Name: Bruce C Bartlam
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/12/2016

Company A
Jefferson Goodman - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Carol Haynes
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/13/2016

Company A
David R HilllRank Unknown
No comments
Contact Name: Bruce C Bartlam
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/12/2016

Company A
james rufus nunn - Private
No comments
Contact Name: james m nunn
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/10/2011

Company A
john austin nunn - Private
No comments
Contact Name: james m.
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/8/2016

Company A
john austin nunn - Private
No comments
Contact Name: james m nunn
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/10/2011

Company A
william j. nunn - Private
No comments
Contact Name: james m nunn
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/10/2011

Company A
Ezekiel James Reedy - Private
No comments
Contact Name: david counts
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 9/11/2011

Company A
stephen rouse - Private
stephen died as a p.o.w. at look out point md, he was my 1st cousin 5 x removed
Contact Name: haroldl owens
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: none
Date Added: 1/2/2009

Company A
george washington surber - Private
my gg uncle son of james palser surber, brother to my gg grandpa william meeks surber from smyth co va
Contact Name: harold
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: kn_haroldowens@webtv.net
Date Added: 6/8/2009

Company A
james palser surber - Private
he was the father of william m surber my gg grandpa, he was my ggg grandpa, from smyth co va.
Contact Name: harold lee owens
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: none
Date Added: 1/2/2009

Company A
william meeks surber - Private
william and his father paulser surber were in co a 23rd va infantry battalion and a relative named liburn surber was in this unit.they were from smyth co va
Contact Name: harold l owens
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: n/a
Date Added: 6/23/2008

Company A
william meeks surber - Private
william surber and his father palser surber served in this unit. they were from smyth co va
Contact Name: kn_haroldowens@webtv.net
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 3/13/2008

Company A
Philip UrpRank Unknown
No comments
Contact Name: Louise Osborne
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/28/2009

Company A
Clark Gordon Wells - Blacksmith
No comments
Contact Name: Michael Smith
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/9/2010

Company B
george washington shrewsbury - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Ray Mills
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/25/2008

Company B
elisha apple - Private
elisha was my great-great uncle, brother to pinckney apple of the 54th n.c.. elisha moved to giles city,va from guilford co. n.c. and joined the 23rd on 04/10/1862. after serving with the reg he was listed as a deserter near gosion(sp), va. but i can't confirm this as he lived the rest of his life in giles city. i would think a deserter would be shunned by the community. will continue to research this.
Contact Name: jim barrett
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/3/2012

Company B
Elemuel B Clyburn - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Chris Clyburn
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/23/2012

Company B
Reuben Calvin Farmer - Private
No comments
Contact Name: wayne farmer
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/26/2008

Company B
Andrew L. Lilly - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Lori
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/20/2008

Company B
R. C. Lilly - Lieutenant
No comments
Contact Name: Lori
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/20/2008

Company B
Robert W. Lilly - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Lori
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/20/2008

Company B
Samuel G. Lilly - Private
Also served in company B.
Contact Name: Lori
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/20/2008

Company B
John Dudley LyonRank Unknown
John Dudley Lyon
Enlisted in Company B 23rd Battalion Virginia Infantry. Enlisted in Mercer Co., VA (WV) September 13, 1862, By Captain Beckley for 2 years. Vouchers show he was present for rollcall , but received no pay until January 1, 1863. He received pay from Capt. Dunlap for May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 1863.

The Company Muster Roll records have the following remarks:
December 31, 1863 Absent sick in hospital at Parisburg since 16 Dec 1863.
April 1, 1864 Absent sick in Mercer County, VA since 22 Feb 1864.
April 30, 1864 Camp Northrop, Greenbrier County, VA - absent sick.
October 31, 1864 Absent sick.
February , 1865 Sick - Mercer Furlod Hopital, Union, Monroe Co., March 10, 1864.
Contact Name: Susan E. Richmond
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/14/2004

Company D
Richard W Carter - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Greg Carter
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 5/16/2008

Company D
James Puckett - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Brad
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/18/2013

Company D
Peter Vernon - Private
My 3rd Great Uncle. Deserted from the 23rd Battalion on the 26th of August, 1863, during the Battle of White Sulfur Springs.
Contact Name: Chad Timothy
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 5/22/2013

Company D
William Vernon - Private
My 3rd Great Grandfather. He deserted with his twin brother on the 26th of August, 1863 during the battle of White Sulfur Springs, and joined the Union Army in 1864 in Indiana.
Contact Name: Chad Timothy
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 5/22/2013

Company D
Benjamin Franklin White - Sergeant
My great grandfather, Benjamin White, joined the 23rd Battalion August 22, 1861 in Tazewell, Va. He left behind a pregnant wife, Phebe, and in a letter home instructed her to name the baby Martha after Martha Washington if it were a girl, which she did. Benjamin's son, John Sizemore White, approx 18, served with his father also. They were taken POW Sept. 19, 1864 at Winchester, VA (Battle of Opequon/3rd Winchester) and held at Point Lookout until the end of the war. His younger son, George Washington White joined his father's unit, at age 15, in 1865 and was on his way to active duty when the war ended. Benjamin carried the colors (assumed to be the Virginia State Flag issued to the 23rd Battalion at the beginning of the war) of the 23rd Battalion and lost them at the time of his wounding/imprisonment. Documented because the Union Soldier who captured them was given a medal of honor. The family believes this flag to be in the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond.

On Oct. 20, 1863 he was given a 'commutation of rations' of $14.25 because he was away for 19 days in 'service' where it was impractical for him to take rations. This was signed by Brig. Gen. Echols in Lewisburg, WV.

He is documented at roll calls and visits to the hospital at Point Lookout. Family history says he 'walked' home to Tazewell, Va. after his release.
Contact Name: Melanie Brackenrich
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/30/2009

Company D
George Washington White - Private
Only 15 years old, he joined in 1865 in Tazewell, Va. He possibly saw a skirmish, was furloughed after the surrender.
Contact Name: Melanie Brackenrich
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/30/2009

Company D
John Sizemore White - Private
While imprisoned at Point Lookout, John S. White was documented in the hospital several times. Upon release after the war, he spent some time in a hospital in northern Virginia before returning to Tazewell, Va. He is buried in the Laughlin Cemetery in Tarriff, WV a few feet from his father, Benjamin. Having lost everything in Tazewell, after the war they removed to Roane County, WV.
Contact Name: Melanie Brackenrich
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/30/2009

Company E
William Henry Harrison Allison - Private
Harry Allison enlisted in August, 1863. Was at Cedar Creek at Middletown, VA, and by family history, contracted pneumonia wading across Cedar Creek. In December 1864 he was sent to the hospital at Montgomery Springs, VA, and discharged as unfit for duty in January 1865. He died in 1900 and is buried on the family farm in the Delton area of Pulaski County, VA.
Contact Name: Scott Jackson
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/24/2012

Company E
Augustus Freeman - Private
Mortally wounded 2 June 1864 at Second Cold Harbor. Died in hospital 4 June 1864.
Contact Name: Stephen Wallace
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 3/28/2009

Company E
William A Hightower - Sergeant
Our family is wondering if William A. Hightower is related to my family. According to my parents he was born in 1828.
Contact Name: Tait Hightower
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/21/2008

Company E
Alexander MooreRank Unknown
Enlisted 5/1/62 in Smyth County, VA. Captured at Droop Mountain, WVA (11/6/63), imprisoned (2/29/64) at Camp Delaware.(released 6/7/65).
Contact Name: Dennis Harris
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 5/18/2011

Company E
Robert Swiney - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Karen Hucko
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/10/2012

Company F
George W CalhounRank Unknown
No comments
Contact Name: Duane Baker
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 3/12/2008

Company F
David Washington Goodpasture - Private
Killed at White Sulphur Springs in August of 1862
Contact Name: Steve Woody
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/9/2009

Company F
Joseph Nathanial Medley - Private
Enlisted Sept. 14, 1861 Smyth County Virginia. He was a butcher.
Contact Name: Robert Weaver
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: http://www.genealogy.com/users/w/e/a/Robert-Weaver-/
Date Added: 11/19/2012

Company F
William Prater - Private
William was a butcher as listed on the muster roll cards I have copies of.
Contact Name: Steve
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/19/2010

Company G
John Allen Dent - Corporal
No comments
Contact Name: Edward Dent
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 5/3/2014

Company G
henry lawrence francisco - Private
looking for info as to burial site--Francisco was killed Mar. 23,1862 at Kernstown

Francisco is a relative of mine----------
Contact Name: r.f. grimes,jr.
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 12/27/2004

Company G
richard giles hall - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Michael Hall
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 1/16/2005

Company G
James S Johnson - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Dawn
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/9/2010

Company G
Josiah Lilly - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Lori
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/20/2008

Company H
WILLIAM BONDURANT - Corporal
WILLIAM WAS ONE OF SEVERAL MEN THAT SERVED IN COMPANY A OF THE 2ND BATTALION NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY BEFORE JOINING THE 23RD VA. BATTALION. HE IS ALSO LISTED IN RECORDS AS WILLIAM BUNDRANT.
Contact Name: MARK YOUNG
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/18/2008

Company H
Levi Patterson Collins - Corporal
No comments
Contact Name: Sarah Collins
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/2/2017

Company H
wade h duncan - Private
great grandfather enlisted 1863,dischared october 1864
Contact Name: david duncan
Contact Email: Show Email
Contact Homepage: msn.com
Date Added: 5/18/2007

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