We represent Company "B," of the 9th Virginia Volunteer Regiment. Company "B" was known as the Baltimore Artillery". Many of its recruits steamed from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia after the pro-Confederate riots.  The company organized on June 3, 1861 under Capt. John B. Myrick of Norfolk, and a few weeks later the Marylanders joined the defenses of Craney Island at the mouth of the Elizabeth River.  In May 1862 the regiment joined Gen. Lewis A. Armistead's brigade of Gen. B. F. Huger's division while having been transferred to Richmond. Armistead's Brigade consisted of the 9th, 14th, and 53rd Virginia Regiments, plus the 5th Virginia Battalion. Later that summer, the 38th and 57th Virginia Regiments joined the brigade.  Throughout 1862 the ranks of Company "B" were strengthened in numbers by volunteers from Southampton County, Virginia.

On June 1, 1862 Armistead's Brigade and the 9th Virginia were engaged in the battle of Seven Pines.  Officers were under the false impression that friendly forces were directly in front of the brigade.  Suddenly, the 66th New York fired a volley from about fifty yards which ripped into the ranks.  Total confusion resulted. The 9th Virginia bravely returned the volley, but its captains soon ordered their companies to cease fire.  The officers still thought Confederate forces were ahead.  The brigade then received the command to retreat. Bedlam preceded the order.  Men rushed pell-mell to the rear.  Over thirty years following the spectacle at Seven Pines, John H. Lewis of Company G quipped that "Some of the boys just at that time seemed to have urgent business in Richmond."  The reputation of the brigade was severely damaged at the battle of Seven Pines.  This stain on their honor would remain until an engagement at a little town known as Gettysburg one year later.

The 9th Virginia was engaged at the Battle of Malvern Hill and some limited action at the second Battle of Manassas in August, 1862.  The regiment was on the field at Sharpsburg in September, but was not actively engaged.  During this engagement and the month following, the unit was in tatters, and many men were shoeless.  The end of 1862 saw the men of the 9th Virginia settle into winter quarters near Guinea Station following its involvement in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

With honor and reputation at stake, the men of the 9th Virginia and their comrades in Pickett's Division fell into a long line of battle on the afternoon of July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pa.  The result was "Pickett's Charge" or Longstreet's Assault".  With the gallant General Lewis Armistead leading the way, the 9th Virginia crossed the mile of open ground in nineteen minutes, every step met with death.  As Armistead's Brigade neared Cemetery Ridge, they rushed forward with an awesome surge.  The two sides locked into a death struggle. Moans of wounded soldiers, the clang of steel on steel, and the crackling of point blank gunfire filled the air. Finally, mercifully, it was over.  In little groups, the remnants fell back. The charge destroyed the 9th Virginia.  The attack had been lost but redemption for the Seven Pines fiasco had been won, but at such a heavy price.  Of the 300 veterans engaged, 180 were killed, wounded, missing or captured. General Armistead was mortally wounded.

The remainder of 1863 saw the 9th Virginia constantly on the move between Virginia and North Carolina.

In 1864 the 9th Virginia saw action at New Bern, North Carolina in January, and Drewry's Bluff in May.  In June it skirmished constantly with Union pickets at Cold Harbor.  The close of 1864 saw the 9th Virginia in position along the Howlett Line during the siege of Petersburg.

On April 1, 1865, while outnumbered better than 3 to 1, the 9th Virginia and Pickett's Division fought for their lives while their division commander enjoyed a shad bake along the banks of Hatcher's Run.  The battle of Five Forks resulted in a Union victory and brought on the Confederate retreat from the Richmond and Petersburg area.  The Federals took 173 prisoners, some of which were members of Company "B".  An engagement at Saylor's Creek preceded the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox Courthouse.  Only a tiny remnant of the 9th Virginia was with Lee at the end.