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H.W. Wingfield

H.W. Wingfield

Confederate (CSV)

Captain

Henry Wyatt Wingfield

(1829 - 1902)

Home State: Virginia

Education: Randolph-Macon College

Command Billet: Company Commander

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 58th Virginia Infantry

Before Sharpsburg

A schoolteacher before the War, Wingfield enlisted as Private, Company H, 58th Virginia Infantry on 5 September 1861. He was appointed 3rd Lieutenant on October 15th, and elected Captain of his Company at the Army reorganization in May 1862.

On the Campaign

Colonel Letcher was absent sick before the Regiment went on campaign in Maryland, and Major Kasey, then in command, left due to illness as they reached Frederick. Captain Wingfield was left in command as senior officer present, and led them in action at Harpers Ferry (12-15 September) and Sharpsburg (16 and 17 September).

The rest of the War

He was wounded in action near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in May 1863 on the Chancellorsville campaign, but returned to command the Regiment again in July 1863. He was absent at Patrick County, Virginia, in August and September 1863 - noted as deserter - and again due to illness in May 1864. He had married in January 1864, and was in command of the 58th through most of June and July 1864. He was captured at Winchester on 19 September 1864 and prisoner at Fort Delaware until being released after War's end on 17 June 1865.

After the War

He returned to Hanover County and was a surveyor and later Professor at Randolph-Macon College. He died at his birthplace, "Marl Ridge", in 1902.

References & notes

Biographical and service data from muster rolls and other records as compiled by Driver1, also the source of the picture above. Wingfield is listed as "Colonel" in family genealogical records, but if he was officially promoted beyond Captain, the dates are unknown.

Birth

06/26/1829; Hanover County, VA

Death

08/11/1902; Hanover County, VA; burial in Marl Ridge (family) Cemetery, Hanover Co, VA

Notes

1   Driver, Robert J., 58th Virginia Infantry, Lynchburg (Va): H. E. Howard, Inc., 1990, pp. 34-36, 144  [AotW citation 242]