Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Buffalo [Virginia] Guards Roster, Ms1996-004, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Buffalo [Virginia] Guards Roster was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1996.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Buffalo [Virginia] Guards Roster commenced and was completed in October, 2023.

Biographical / Historical

The Buffalo Guards were organized by William E. Fife in Putnam County, (West) Virginia, as a state militia company in 1859. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, the Guards were combined with other local units and organized for Confederate service as the Second Kanawha Regiment, Virginia State Troops, under the command of Colonel (Later General) John McCausland. On July 15, 1861, the Second Kanawha was mustered into the Confederate Army as the 36th Virginia Infantry, with the original Buffalo Guards forming Company A of the regiment. For the most part, the regiment operated in southwestern Virginia and what is now southern West Virginia, participating in--among others--the Battle of Carnifex Ferry, the Kanawha Valley Campaign of 1862, the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain, and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. (In Tennessee, the 36th participated in the Battle of Fort Donelson in February, 1862.) The regiment disbanded in Montgomery County, Virginia, on April 12, 1865, upon receiving news of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a typescript roster (entitled "Roll of the Buffalo Guards") of soldiers in the Buffalo Guards, organized as a Virginia state militia company in Putnam County (in present-day West Virginia) in 1859, and mustered into Confederate service as Company A, 36th Virginia Infantry during the American Civil War. The roster includes a heading that provides a very brief account of the company's early history. Notations for individuals indicate those who died or were wounded during their service, as well as those who had been members of Sweeney's Company and had transferred into the Buffalo Guards.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Buffalo [Virginia] Guards Roster by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

General

This collection had been accessioned, cataloged and originally accessioned as "Roll of Buffalo [Virginia] Guards." In the course of processing in 2023, it was determined that "Buffalo [Virginia] Guards Roster" would be a more appropriate title, in keeping with department standards.