50th Infantry Regiment was organized in July, 1861, with ten companies and three companies of cavalry temporarily attached. During September one of the cavalry companies was disabled and the other two transferred to the 8th Regiment Virginia Cavalry. The unit was reorganized in May, 1862, with nine companies. It moved to Tennessee and in February, 1862, was captured at Fort Donelson. After being exchanged, it was assigned to the Department of Western Virginia and fought at Carnifax Ferry. Later the 50th served in J.M. Jones', G.C. Wharton's, and Forsberg's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It participated in numerous conflicts from Chancellorsville to Cold Harbor, moved with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and fought its last battle at Waynesborough. The regiment reported 10 killed and 40 wounded at Fort Donelson, and there were 8 killed and 110 wounded at Chancellorsville. More than forty percent of the 240 engaged at Gettysburg were disabled, and it sustained heavy casualties in the fight at The Wilderness. During April, 1865, it disbanded. The field officers were Colonels Thomas Poage, Alexander M. Reynolds, and A.S. Vandeventer; Lieutenant Colonels William W. Finney and Logan H. N. Salyer; and Majors Lynville J. Perkins and C.E. Thorburn.
