Virginia Units - Other

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Virginia State Rangers
Virginia State Line

The Virginia State Rangers

Virginia State Rangers were authorized by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on March 27, 1862. The act authorized ten or more companies, but less than twenty. A total of nine companies were raised and commissioned by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862. Actually, some companies were already in operation, and Governor Letcher forwarded blank commissions to their leaders, which were completed by the guerrillas in case they were captured. This occurred nine days before the enabling legislation was finalized. The rangers primarily operated in what is now the state of West Virginia. Their fundamental mission was to operate in small detachments behind Federal lines to counter Federal scouting parties and foragers. Their area of operation was on the northern, western and northwestern frontier of the Old Dominion. When the rangers were in proximity to regular Confederate units they were to subject themselves to their commanding officer.

Ranger companies were, according to the legislation, to have 75 men, one captain, one first lieutenant, and one second lieutenant. Battalions and regiments were authorized, but neither were formed. Lee Wallace accurately characterized their service when he wrote:

The number of Ranger companies organized is undetermined and the few known records that remain of their service reflect nothing to the State's credit. Reports show that the operation of the companies under Captains Downs and Spriggs appear to have been conducted in direct contradiction to the act under which they were authorized.

Company No. 1 was Captain George Downs' Company of Rangers, also known as the Moccasin Rangers, organized on July 15, 1861, in Calhoun County, (West) Virginia. It apparently operated with only state authorization in the territory which is now included in the Mountain State. Governor Letcher issued commissions to the officers of this company on March 19, 1862. He also ordered "that new commissions be issued to Captain George Downs and his two lieutenants as Company Number 1 of Rangers to take rank from the date of his previous commission which will thereafter be revoked." General Henry Heth characterized this company as "an outlaw band that robbed and plundered" and said that he would revoke Downs' commission. Heth had not authority to do so. This company became Company A, 3rd Virginia State Line, and in April 1863 it became Company A, 19th Virginia Cavalry in the regular Confederate Army.

Despite Downs' official position as chieftain of the Moccasin Rangers, two other factions of the guerrillas existed, one led by Perry Connolly and the other by Jack Tuning (Chewning). None of the bands was terribly scrupulous in their operations.

Company No. 2 was Captain John L. Spriggs' Company of Rangers. This unit was in service by April 2, 1862, and was the object of some of Henry Heth's anger. Spriggs was captured in Greenbrier County in May 1862 and was to be hung as guerrilla by Federal authorities. Spriggs was, however, sent to Johnson's Island and was exchanged some time before February 28, 1863. Spriggs was reported as commander of Company B, 3rd Virginia State Line, on February 28, 1863. His company was then stationed near Lewisburg in Greenbrier County. Spriggs later served as Captain of Company B, 19th Virginia Cavalry, organized in April 1863 from members of the Virginia State Line. Many men of his ranger company presumably accompanied their leader into this new organization.

Company No. 3 was Captain Marshall Triplett's Company of Rang- ers. Governor Letcher appointed officers of this company on March 18, 1862. Triplett was taken prisoner in Greenbrier County in May 1862 and sent to Johnson's Island.

Company No. 4 was Captain John Righter's Company of Rangers. Governor Letcher appointed the officers of this company on March 18, 1862. It was organized by April 12, 1862 when it was reported operating in Marion County. Righter's company became Company C, 3rd Virginia State Line and was stationed near Lewisburg, Greenbrier County. Righter later served as captain of Company D, 19th Virginia Cavalry which was organized in April 1863.

Company No. 5 was Captain James McCray's Company of Rangers. Officers for this company were appointed by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862.

Company No. 6 was Captain John E. Hays' Company of Rangers. Officers for this company were appointed by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862.

Company No. 7 was Captain William Harris' Company of Rangers. Officers for this company were appointed by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862. Harris, a Parkersburg resident, forwarded captured mail, medicines, stolen horses and other goods to the Confederate lines.

Company No. 8 was Captain Benjamin W. Haymond's Company of Rangers. Officers for this company were appointed by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862.

Company No. 9 was Captain William T. Meador's Company of Rangers. Officers for this company were appointed by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862. The men who formed this company probably came from what is now southern West Virginia, but this is not certain.

Company No. 10 was Captain Jonathan Haymond's Company of Rangers. Officers for this company were appointed by Governor Letcher on March 18, 1862.

Captain George Duskey's Company of Rangers was specifically mentioned in the Virginia legislation transferring state troops to Confederate control. Duskey had served as a private in the Moccasin Rangers. He was paid for service in that unit through July 15, 1862. Duskey then sought and received permission to raise a ranger company, which became Company E, 3rd Virginia State Line. On February 28, 1863, this company was stationed near Lewisburg in Greenbrier County, where its last muster roll as a member of Virginia's irregular forces was made.

Captain Daniel Duskey's Company of Rangers was listed by the U.S. War Department. Duskey was captured in 1862 and convicted at Wheeling of robbing the mails. Daniel Duskey was imprisoned at the penitentiary at Albany, New York under a four-year sentence. The Confederate government held hostages for the safe return of Duskey and a Lieutenant Barnes. Duskey apparently was exchanged on February 18, 1864, as Federal reports of that date note, "the notorious guerrilla chief, Dan Dusky" was captured in Webster County.

Additionally, John Anderson, David Barker, Brice Welsh, John Lewis, John Knight, and Washington Smith were reported as authorized to raise ranger companies. The source of that information is Federal records, which may not be entirely accurate.

The Virginia State Line

Organizational Structure of the Virginia State Line

Command Section

On June 4, 1862, the Adjutant General of Virginia made public General Floyd's General Order No. 1 of May 30. This order announced the opening of recruiting stations at Richmond; Petersburg; Lynchburg; Staunton; Charlottesville; Union, Monroe County; Fincastle, Botetourt County; Farmville, Prince Edward County; and Hillsville, Carroll County. Enlistees were sent to either Wytheville or Goodson (now Bristol). Goodson's Southern Advocate seemed pleased that its town was chosen as a recruiting station. It carried the following article on July 31:

Gen. Floyd's Command-Come to the Rescue. Our townsman, Col. William E. Eakin, the recruiting and mustering officer for the Virginia State Line, under Major General John B. Floyd, has established a recruiting and forwarding station at this post. His office is at the store front of J. F. Parrott, on main street [now State Street]. Let true men who are not subject to the conscript law by the score and by the hundred promptly report their names to Col. Eakin. We confidently predict a brilliant, glorious career for this arm of the service and the demand for its immediate operations is of an important character.

       Major General          1
       Staff                 19
       Cavalry               70
       Infantry              74
       Riflemen               4
       Artillery              8
       Total Officers         176

If Ratliff's company was fully formed, it was commanded by another officer in the State Line.

3rd Regiment

The Third State Line of nine companies was organized in 1862 and was composed of cavalry and infantry. This regiment led in the State Line fight at Prestonsburg, Kentucky on December 4, 1862. Cavalry companies of this regiment were reported to total 230 men in January 1863 and its infantry companies included 290 men. At this time the regiment was stationed at Bath Alum Springs, Virginia. Most of the men of the 3rd Virginia State Line enlisted in Colonel William L. Jackson's 19th Virginia Cavalry on April 11, 1863.

Officers of the 3rd Virginia State Line were:
John Nicholas Clarkson, Colonel
Thomas Belt Swann, Lieutenant Colonel
Peachy Gilmer Breckinridge, Major
Alexander Clendinen, Surgeon
Floyd Rocke, Assistant Quartermaster
Runnels Davis, Adjutant
William Leigh Barksdale, Captain, Assistant Surgeon

Subcommands of the 3rd Regiment were:

Company A - An infantry company - Captain George Downs' Company. This company was organized as the "Moccasin Rangers" on July 15, 1861, in Calhoun County. It became Ranger Company No. 1 and joined the Virginia State Line some time after July 2, 1862. Most members were later assigned to Company A, 19th Virginia Cavalry. Most of the rangers were from Calhoun County. Officers for this company were: Captain George Downs, 1st Lieutenant John Henchin, and 2nd Lieutenant Lewis Logue.

Company B - Captain John S. Spriggs' Company. This company served as State Ranger Company No. 2 before affiliation with the Virginia State Line. Later it apparently became Company B, 19th Virginia Cavalry. Members lived in Gilmer, Webster, Braxton, and Jackson counties. Officers for this company were: Captain John S. Spriggs, 1st Lieutenant Samuel Ginens, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Morton, and 2nd Lieutenant John J. Williams.

Company C - Captain John Righter's Company. This company was Company No. 4, Virginia State Rangers prior to its affiliation with the Virginia State Line. It subsequently became Company D, 19th Virginia Cavalry. Righter's men were from Harrison, Jackson, Ritchie, and Taylor counties. Officers for this unit were: Captain John Righter, 1st Lieutenant Ezekiel Martin, and 2nd Lieutenant John Anderson.

Company D - A cavalry company - Captain Joseph R. Kessler's Company. This company enlisted on August 17, 1862, in Roane County, and its officers were commissioned on the same date. Most men enlisted in Confederate service on March 15, 1863, and were assigned as Company C, 19th Virginia Cavalry. These men were from Calhoun, Jackson, Pocahontas, Preston and Wirt counties. Leaders for this unit were: Captain Joseph R. Kessler, 1st Lieutenant J. C. Keister, and 2nd Lieutenant J. W. Reeder.

Company E - An infantry company - Captain George Duskey's Company. Company officers were commissioned on September 18, 1862. Several members enlisted on September 2, 1862, at Millpoint, Pocahontas County, and most later served in Company E, 19th Virginia Cavalry. This company's home territory was Gilmer County, in what is now West Virginia. Officers for this company were: Captain George Duskey, 1st Lieutenant James W. Ball, and 2nd Lieutenant C. W. Minter.

Company F - A cavalry company - Captain Henry D. Ruffner's Company. Officers were commissioned on November 1, 1862. Ruffner had served in Company H, 22nd Virginia Infantry and later served as captain of Company G, 19th Virginia Cavalry, and as commander of the 46th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. Some, if not most, of his company may have gone with him to that organization. Officers were: Captain Henry D. Ruffner, 1st Lieutenant John Holmes, and 2nd Lieutenant William H. Justice.

Company G - Captain William O'Brien's Company. Most of this company later served in Company H, 19th Virginia Cavalry after the State Line disbanded. Several members of the unit were from Roane County in what is now West Virginia. Officers for this company were: Captain William O'Brien, 1st Lieutenant Henry G. Sampson, and 2nd Lieutenant Marrcellus J. West.

Company H - Captain Matthew B. Perrin's Company. This company's home territory is not known but probably was in what is now West Virginia. Officers for this company were Captain Matthew B. Perrin, 1st Lieutenant Jeremiah B. Howell, and 2nd Lieutenant Jasper W. Johnson.

Company I - Captain Edward Norris' Company. Members of this company subsequently served in Company K, 19th Virginia Cavalry. It was recruited from Lewis and Webster counties. Officers for this company were: Captain Edward Norris and 1st Lieutenant William Norris.

4th Regiment

The 4th Virginia State Line was composed of ten companies. It was largely raised by Nathaniel McClure Menifee as an independent command in Eastern Kentucky. Menifee attached himself to the Virginia State Line in case any of his men were taken prisoner. Menifee and Floyd were involved in considerable political intrigue and Menifee lost control of his men, after which David Stuart Hounshell inherited the command. Menifee did receive a colonel's commission, but it was issued in the wrong name, had a late 1862 date rather than August 1862 and applied to the wrong branch of service. This commission was recorded but was refused by Menifee for fear it would relegate him to the status of a junior officer.

Officers of the 4th Virginia State Line were:
Nathaniel McClure Menifee, Colonel
William A. Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel
William Winston, Lieutenant Colonel
David Stuart Hounshell, Lieutenant Colonel - Colonel
John Taylor Radford, Major
R. A. Thompson, AQM
Philip Spencer Hancock, Surgeon
Frederick H. Harris, 1st Lieutenant and drill master for the regiment.

Subcommands of the 4th Regiment were:

Company A - An infantry company - Captain Peter M. Carpenter's Company. This unit was primarily from Logan and surrounding counties, although Carpenter was from Putnam County. Officers were commissioned on August 10, 1862. Carpenter served in the 36th Battalion Virginia Cavalry for a short time after the Virginia State Line disbanded, but was shown as a deserter from that unit by September 1863. He organized an independent company in February 1864, also known as Carpenter's Battalion Virginia Cavalry, which was assigned to Thomas B. Swann's Battalion Virginia Cavalry in November 1864. It was probably composed of former 4th State Line men. Officers for this company were: Captain Peter M. Carpenter, 1st Lieutenant John Love, 2nd Lieutenant D. T. Angel, and 2nd Lieutenant Isaac Tinsley.

Company B - An infantry company - Captain William Jefferson Pasley's Company. This company was raised in Grayson County, Virginia, and in Ashe and Alleghany counties, North Carolina. Commissions were issued on September 25, 1862. Many of Pasley's men later served as Company I, 21st Virginia Cavalry. Leadership for this unit was provided by: Captain William Jefferson Pasley, 1st Lieutenant Martin Van Buren Norman, and 2nd Lieutenant Henry Hanks.

Company C - A cavalry company - Captain John P. Chase's Company. Postwar, Chase lived in Wise County. Some, if not most, of his men came from Wise and surrounding counties. After State Line disbandment, this unit served in the short-lived 65th Virginia Infantry and then became Company B, 7th Confederate Cavalry Battalion under the infamous Colonel Clarence J. Prentice of Louisville, Kentucky. Officers of this company were: Captain John P. Chase, 1st Lieutenant J. M. Hillman, and 2nd Lieutenant N. McLaughlin.

Company D - An infantry company - Captain Ezekiel Young's Company. Young and his lieutenants were commissioned on September 26, 1862. This company was organized primarily in Grayson and Carroll counties, Virginia and later served as Company I, 37th Battalion Virginia Cavalry (Dunn's Battalion). Leaders of this unit were: Captain Ezekiel Young, 1st Lieutenant R. J. Lemons, and 2nd Lieutenant J. A. Pratt.

Company E - A cavalry company - Captain John E. Love's Company. Some members of this company were from Kanawha County. Officers were commissioned on September 15, 1862. Officers for this company were: Captain John E. Love, 1st Lieutenant Addison Griffith, and 2nd Lieutenant H. Hagan.

Company F - A cavalry company - Captain Steven Peters Halsey's Company. This unit formed the core of Company A, 21st Virginia Cavalry. Some members reportedly were Irishmen and former members of the Louisiana Tigers. Others were from western Virginia and North Carolina. Officers were commissioned on September 15, 1862. Officers for this company were: Captain Steven Peters Halsey, 1st Lieutenant George R. Appleby, 2nd Lieutenant W. D. McGune, and 3rd Lieutenant Jasper M. Shipp.

Company G - A cavalry company - Captain William P. Hensley's Company. Members of this company were from Wayne and Cabell counties. Some members later served in the 45th Battalion Virginia Infantry. Leadership for this company was provided by Captain William P. Hensley, 1st Lieutenant William Adkins, and 2nd Lieutenant R. Blackwood.

Company H - An infantry company - Captain James M. Barnes's Company. Most of this company were from Stokes County, North Carolina, or Patrick County, Virginia. Several previously had served in the 2nd Battalion North Carolina Infantry and been captured at Roanoke Island in early 1862. Upon exchange, they served under Menifee. Commissions were issued on October 1, 1862. When the State Line was disbanded, this company became Company H, 23rd Battalion Virginia Infantry, and was mustered into Confederate service on April 1, 1863 at Wytheville. Company officers were: Captain James M. Barnes, 1st Lieutenant James F. Harrison, and 2nd Lieutenant William M. Barnes.

Company I(1st) - A cavalry company - Captain David Edmundson's Company. This unit was transferred to the 5th Virginia State Line and designated Company H in that organization. It was organized on December 22, 1862, at Wytheville, which were also the date and place commissions were issued to the company's officers. Its men were primarily from Floyd and surrounding counties in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Company I(2nd) - A cavalry company - Captain Francis "Frank" S. Findlay's Company. Findlay was from Washington County, as were most of his men. He was commissioned on July 25, 1862. This was the second company raised for the Virginia State Line. Officers for this unit were: Captain Francis S. Findley, 1st Lieutenant G. C. Greenway, and 2nd Lieutenant J. P. Kendrick.

Company K - An infantry company - Captain George E. Starnes' Company. The home territory for this company has not been discovered, but was probably Scott County, Virginia, where Starnes lived. Officers were commissioned on September 10, 1862. Officers for this unit were: Captain George E. Starnes, 1st Lieutenant Leroy Lyon, and 2nd Lieutenant Thompson Greear.

5th Regiment

The 5th Virginia State Line was organized on February 9, 1863 and may have been increased from battalion size. Companies in the regiment were of all arms, infantry, cavalry and two companies of field artillery. William C. Pendleton in his History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia noted that Hounshell's Battalion grew to become the 5th Virginia State Line Regiment. It camped for some time in the vicinity of Wytheville but in late 1862 moved to Abb's Valley in Tazewell County. Pendleton noted that several companies were enrolled and officers were elected while the battalion was in Tazewell County. About this time the conscription law was expanded to include men in the Virginia State Line and the men scattered the first night in camp. Pendleton wrote, "The sole result of this organization was the dissemination of numerous empty military titles. The men, who had joined this battalion, were absorbed by different regiments in the regular Confederate Army." This regiment appears to have been recruited by Nathaniel McClure Menifee to join his 4th Virginia State Line. At least three of the captains, Sykes, Rose, and Fulton, were associated with Menifee during the summer of 1862; however, the regiment was apparently taken away from Menifee by Floyd in early 1863. Men in this unit enlisted in Russell County, apparently at Menifee's camp of instruction.

Officers of the 5th Virginia State Line were:
David Stuart Hounshell, Lieutenant Colonel who was promoted to command the 4th Virginia State Line after Menifee's relief from command.
David Edmundson, Lieutenant Colonel.
C. H. Preston, Major
J. T. Alvey, AQM.

Subcommands of the 5th Regiment were:

Company A - Captain Lorenzo Dow Chambers' Company. The recruiting area for this company was Logan County. Chambers served in Co. #1, 129th Militia, in Logan County. Officers for this company were Captain Lorenzo Dow Chambers, 1st Lieutenant Simpson Ellis, and 2nd Lieutenant John R. Mullins.

Company B - Captain James W. Sykes' Company. This unit's recruiting area was probably Pike County, Kentucky. Sykes was an early associate of Menifee from the spring of 1862. He lived on Marrowbone Creek in Pike County, the site of Menifee's earliest operations. Officers for this company were: Captain James W. Sykes, 1st Lieutenant William F. Ratliff, and 2nd Lieutenant H. P. Kendrick.

Company C - Captain William E. Rose's Company. The recruiting area for this company was Holly Creek in present day Dickenson County. (Dickenson County was formed from Wise, Russell and Buchanan counties in 1880). Several members of this company enlisted in Colonel James Milton French's 65th Virginia Infantry regiment about April 1, 1863. French, from Wise County, was a major in the 63rd Virginia Infantry who received permission from Major General Samuel Jones to raise a regiment in early 1863 from the remnants of the State Line. French's command was captured at Piketon (Pikeville), Kentucky on April 15, 1863, and his men were sent to Camp Chase. After these men were exchanged, most of them later joined the 7th Confederate Cavalry Battalion. According to family tradition, Rose was killed by Unionist bushwhackers while with Clarence J. Prentice. Officers for this company were: Captain William E. Rose, 1st Lieutenant John Fleming, and 2nd Lieutenant Aalfreed P. Elling.

Company D - Captain Wilburn Fulton's Company. This company's recruiting was in present day Dickenson County. Fulton and his men rode with Lieutenant Colonel Prentice's 7th Confederate Cavalry Battalion after the State Line was abolished. Though the name on the roll of State Line Officers is clearly William, it is just as clear that his name was really Wilburn "Lib" Fulton. Officers for this company were: Captain Wilburn Fulton, 1st Lieutenant J. F. Stuart, and 2nd Lieutenant Delano Bolling.

Company E - A cavalry company - Captain Melvin B. Lawson's Company. Lawson and his lieutenants were commissioned on October 7, 1862. Although Melvin Lawson was from Logan County, the recruiting area for this company is unknown. Lawson kept his unit together after the Virginia State Line disbanded and collaborated with the 10th Kentucky Cavalry as long as its operations did not stray too far from home. Leadership of this company was provided by: Captain Melvin B. Lawson, 1st Lieutenant J. Gosling, and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas McCoy.

Company F - An infantry company - Captain William H. Henderson's Company. Its recruiting area is unknown. Officers of this company were: Captain William H. Henderson, 1st Lieutenant William Canterberry, and 2nd Lieutenant George T. McCune.

Company G - Captain Thomas A. Gillespie's Company. Tazewell County was probably Gillespie's recruiting area. The only known officer for this company was Captain Thomas A. Gillespie.

Company H - A cavalry company - Captain Charles Burke's Company which previously served as Company I(1st), 4th Virginia State Line. Burke was from Botetourt County and some members of this company may have been as well. Officers for this company were: Captain Charles Burke, and 2nd Lieutenant Jackson Moore.

Company I - An infantry company - Captain P. K. McComas' Company. This company was formerly Captain P. K. McComas' Infantry Battalion, Vir- ginia State Line. This company, the nucleus of McComas' Battalion and the 5th Regiment Virginia State Line, was organized on December 22, 1862, at Wytheville. The recruiting area for this company is unknown, but McComas was from Logan County and was commissioned on September 22, 1862. Officers were: Captain P. K. McComas, 1st Lieutenant J. M. Smith and 2nd Lieutenant J. S. Dodd.

Fontaine's Regiment

William Winston Fontaine was apparently granted authority to raise a regiment in the territory now embraced by the state of West Virginia. Only two companies have been identified and they were later assigned to the 19th Virginia Cavalry. Captain Thomas E. Davis, Assistant Adjutant General of the Virginia State Line, reported that Fontaine had a force of 500 men in Pocahontas County on January 11, 1863. Fontaine, however, made no official returns as to his command's composition or strength. This unit apparently was headquartered at Camp Dunmore at Pocahontas Court House, a base established by Confederates in early 1861. Fontaine later served as a captain in the 46th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. He was the only regimental officer listed in contemporary records.

Known companies for Fontaine's Regiment were:

Captain William Lamb McNeel's Company. It was enlisted at Huntersville and Mill Point in Pocahontas County in January 1863. Most of its men were from Pocahontas County and later served in the 19th Virginia Cavalry.

Captain Marshall's Company. This company was formed in Pocahontas County in early February 1863, about the time Fontaine was reported there recruiting men for his regiment. Since the Virginia State Line was on its death bed, this orphaned child was adopted by Colonel W. L. Jackson and became Company K of the 19th Virginia Cavalry.

Swann's (1st) Battalion, Virginia State Line

According to family correspondence of Micajah Woods, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Belt Swann of the 3rd Virginia State Line was forming a battalion in early 1863. This fact is confirmed by prisoner of war records for members of the Virginia State Line and one reference in the Official Records. Exactly how successful Swann was in recruiting a new battalion is unknown. It is possible that some of the captains commissioned in late 1862 who have no other data were part of this command, or possibly Fontaine's Regiment.

Jackson's Battalion Light Artillery

Jackson's Battalion Light Artillery was probably organized in December 1862 when John M. Oliver's Company was organized. Oliver had been recruiting for Nathaniel Menifee, but Menifee's difficulty with Floyd caused the company to be assigned to Thomas Jackson's command. This battalion is unusual because both companies have muster rolls on file.

Officers of Jackson's Battalion Virginia State Line were:

Jackson, Thomas E., Jackson Major
R. A. Richardson, Assistant Quartermaster
H. Blair Randolph, Adjutant.

Subcommands of this organization were:

Company A - Captain P. Warfield Semmes' Company, formerly Captain Horace B. Balfour's Company, Virginia Mounted Riflemen. The date of organization is unknown. The extant company roster lists only names and ages. Other important identifying information was omitted. Several members later served in John T. Levi's Light Artillery Battery of Thomas' North Carolina Legion. A few later saw service in Thomas E. Jackson's Virginia Horse Artillery. Officers for this company were: Captain P. Warfield Semmes and 1st Lieutenant John T. Levi.

Company B - Captain John Mayo Oliver's Company was mustered into service December 17, 1862. Oliver recruited for Menifee's 4th Virginia State Line, primarily in Ashe County, North Carolina, and Carroll County, Virginia. His men did not join Menifee due to the latter's relief from command by General Floyd. They organized an artillery company in early 1863 and 15 members later served in Co. K, 21st Virginia Cavalry. Officers for this unit were: Captain John Mayo Oliver and 1st Lieutenant V. M. Johnson.

August's Howitzer Battery - Captain James August commanded a section of artillery under the umbrella of Jackson's Battalion, Light Artillery, Virginia State Line. August was on duty through at least January 27, 1863, but little other information on this section of artillery has come to light. Some men in this company may have served later in Barr's Battery Virginia Artillery. Officers for this company were: Captain James August and 2nd Lieutenant John W. Barr.

Independent and Incomplete Companies

Balfour's Company of Virginia Mounted Riflemen was organized on June 2, 1862. While it is not certain that this company was part of the State Line, the evidence supports that conclusion. The only extant muster roll for this company was found in John Floyd's personal papers at the National Archives. All officers for this company except Captain Louis Balfour are subsequently found on a list of Virginia State Line officers. It would appear that Balfour was replaced by Captain C. F. McDonald from Smyth County, Virginia, who was commissioned on August 17, 1862. McDonald had previously served in the 50th Virginia Infantry. Albert S. Hobson served this company as 1st lieutenant and Levin Lake was a 2nd lieutenant. William D. McGuire also served as 2nd lieutenant in this organization. This company also appears to have maintained a non- regimental affiliation with Floyd's command as late as mid-January 1863.

Captain William St. Martin's Company, Virginia Mounted Riflemen probably was part of the Virginia State Line. St. Martin's company was raised in western Virginia at the appropriate time to be a member of the Virginia State Line. However, the only records for this company indicate an affiliation with the 60th Virginia Infantry. In that record, dated October 16, 1862, Major Thomas Broun of the 60th noted that he was "sending forward the company of Capt. William St. Martin" in charge of Lieutenant Matthews. While no record for a St. Martin exists in the lists of Virginia State Line officers, a Captain Daniel Matthews was on August's list of such officers, with no unit ascribed.

Captain L. R. Smoot raised an independent company of mounted partisan rangers in the late spring of 1862. This company was mustered into Confederate service on June 10, 1862 at Lynchburg, Virginia by Captain Otey. Since no further record for this company can be found, and considering Smoot's association with the Virginia State Line, it is possible that this company of 63 rank and file became part of the Virginia State Line.