Tom Elmore
Guide battalion
Mon Apr 30 20:20:01 2001


Jim, I believe in this case the "guide battalion" is the battalion (actually regiment) of direction. In other words the 53rd Virginia, which was in the center of the brigade, was the guide and the two regiments on either side aligned with it during the advance. Often the extreme right or the extreme left regiment of a brigade served as the guide, but it makes sense for the center regiment to serve as guide if Brig. Gen. Armistead was directly in front of the center of his brigade. Tom.