No other event in American history has so indelibly shaped the country than the American Civil War. Virginia provided the setting for countless bloody clashes and decisive battles. Average Americans from all over the Union and the Confederacy made their way to the Old Dominion, only to give their lives for the causes they held dear. Virginia captures the essence of the American Civil War, as it was the site of the first, and last, major clash. The...

They considered themselves "Lee's Body Guard," cavalrymen specifically recruited to serve as scouts, couriers and guides for General Robert E. Lee. Though their battle experiences might pale compared to those of soldiers under J.E.B. Stuart and Wade Hampton, the men of the 39th Virginia served crucial roles in the Confederate army. From the fields of Second Manassas to Appomattox Court House, they were privy to the inner workings of the Confederate...