I am researching units that were raised in the area where I grew up. I have been looking at the 29th Virginia Infantry and have not been able to find a lot of material on them. I did however come upon a confusing bit that I need help with. According to Sifakis's Compendium the 29th was assigned to the Dept. of North Carolina and Southern Virginia December, 1862. A few days ago I had the opportunity to read David E. Johnston's History of the 7th Virginia Infantry. In his narrative Johnston mentions the make up of Pickett's Division in December, 1862 going into the Fredericksburg Campaign. In his writing Johnston places the 29th with Corse's Brigade in Pickett's Division. In his book, Johnston gives the make up of the division as this:

An excerpt from the book:

Page 165

..."LONGSTREET'S command left the vicinity of Winchester the latter part of October, 1862, crossing the Shenandoah river, Blue Ridge, and reaching Culpeper the early part of the first week in November, going into camp a short distance southeast of the court house. Several companies of the 7th regiment were from Orange, Culpeper, Madison and Rappahannock, and while in this camp the friends of these men came with wagons loaded with provisions and clothing, supplying many of their needs, and relieving much of their suffering.
Here the reorganization of the army was effected into two army corps, the first commanded by General James Longstreet, the second by General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson. Later a third corps was organized, of which Lieutenant General A. P. Hill was appointed commander. Pickett's division was also organized, composed of five brigades, as follows:
First brigade, General James L. Kemper: regiments 1st, 3d, 7th, 11th and 24th Virginia.
Second brigade, General R. B. Garnett: regiments 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th and 56th Virginia.
Third brigade, General Lewis A. Armistead: regiments 9th, 14th, 38th, 53d and 57th Virginia.

Page 166
Fourth brigade, General M. D. Corse: regiments 15th, 17th, 29th, 30th and 32d Virginia.
These four Virginia brigades were composed of the flower of the state.
Jenkins' South Carolina brigade - General M. Jenkins: regiments Palmetto sharpshooters, 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th South Carolina, and 4th battalion.
To which was attached the following Virginia artillery: Major Dearing's 38th battalion, with Caskie's, Stribling's and Latham's batteries.
Many additions were made to the ranks at Culpeper, greatly increasing our strength; the organization now being better as to numbers and discipline than at any previous period. The health of the soldiers was also much improved; the entire army, however, still being deficient in equipment, especially shoes, overcoats and blankets, and the chilly November winds, the precursor of that fearfully cold winter just ahead, causing suffering among the men, who bore the same without murmuring - such was their metal. The weather by this time had become quite cold, the men building strong fires, and to keep off the cold ground at night they procured, when possible, two or three flat fence rails, placing them near the fire, lying down upon them...."

Knowing Sifakis' penchant for inaccuracies I thought someone might see this post and enlighten me.

Some of the men recruited for the 29th Virginia were members of my community.

Many thanks

Len