57th Va. regiment, Col. Armistead

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From the Richmond Dispatch, 2/14/1862, p. 3, c. 2
Re-Enlisted.
The 40th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. John M. Brockenbrough, stationed on the Northern Neck, have re-enlisted for the war.
In the 57th Va. regiment, Col. Armistead, now stationed at Howard's Grove, near this city, a considerable number have re-enlisted for the war, and it is presumed that nearly all will do so. The men are devotedly attached to their Colonel, and anxious to be led to battle by this brave and accomplished officer. It will gratify the friends of the regiment to learn that its sanitary condition is rapidly improving, and that the sick list is now quite small.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

Armistead would late get promoted to Brigadier General and leading his new brigade consisting of the 9th,14th,53rd Virginia Infantry Regiments and 5th Virginia Battalion. At the Battle of Seven Pines his brigade performance was mixed, after routing some Union regiments, they got caught in a deadly friendly fire incident, and a Union Counterattack forced back his Brigade. Though, his men still declared this Baptism of Fire a "Victory" (Both sides claimed a victory at Seven Pines). Later Armistead's brigade would gain two new regiments the 38th Virginia from Garland's Brigade and Armistead's old 57th Virginia. They Would fight at Malvern Hill on July 1st, spearheading the bloody assault and suffering heavy losses. Ironically almost a year later in July 1863 they would take part in another bloody failed assault.

In Between the battles Armstead's Brigade saw some minor action at Second Manassas and Sharpsburg.

After Armistead's Death, his old brigade now lead by Gen.Seth Barton would fight at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff where they suffered heavily again, some say here (Armistead's Old) Brigade lost more men than at Gettysburg. Drewry's Bluff and the Bermuda Hundred Campaign would end in a confederate victory and further deadlock the 1864 Overland Campaign.

the 57th Virginia saw its baptism of fire at Malvern Hill and suffered 16 killed and 82 wounded in that battle.