We're rearranging our Civil War exhibits - you can help!

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 15, 2009:

The infantry was the backbone of the military during the Civil War. The infantry men were foot soldiers carrying small arms who were responsible for most of the fighting during the war. The smallest fighting unit in the infantry was the company usually consisting of about 100 men. Infantry companies came together as battalions or regiments with 8 companies per battalion or 10 companies per regiment. Regiments, generally from the same state, came together to make brigades, several brigades became a division, and several divisions became a corps. The entire organization, formed of several corps, became a division led by a general. A local example of this hierarchy from Giles County was the 24^th Virginia Infantry Regiment Company F, a part of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia most famously commanded by General Robert E. Lee.

The Civil War Sesquicentennial is approaching in 2011. Virginia has appointed a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission to plan the commemoration which will last until 2015. Here at the Giles County Historical Society, we are reorganizing our Civil War exhibit to provide a more comprehensive picture of life in Giles County between 1861 and 1865. The exhibit will include information about the skirmishes fought in the area, encampments, and life on the home front. A display of items found in Giles, Pulaski, and Monroe Counties by Thomas Francis. include the "I" buttons shown where the "I" signifies that they were from an infantry uniform.

If you have any interesting stories – preferably with documents/photos – about your Civil War-era ancestors (men and women), please contact Kate Delaney on Thursday afternoons at the Historical Society, 540-921-1050.

To learn more about the 24^th Virginia Infantry, attend the Giles County Confederate Memorial 100^th Anniversary Celebration on August 8^th.