The 36th Virginia Infantry was organized in the western
counties of Virginia, now known as West Virginia. On May 13,1861 this unit was
known as the 2nd Kanawha Infantry Regiment, and on July 8, 1861 was accepted
into Confederate State service. July 15, 1861, they were designated the 36th
Virginia Infantry.
The regiments commanding officer was Colonel John
McCausland. He led this regiment until May 19,1864 when he was
promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and transferred to the cavalry,
which he commanded to the end of the war. From May 1864 to the end of the
war this regiment was then commanded by Colonel William E. Fife.
Like almost all civil war regiments, the 36th Virginia Infantry was often
known by alternate designations (such as those to the right) derived from
the names of their commanding officers, such as Lt. Jackson
Via. Unofficially these names were used to identify the
regiment.
