The 26th Virginia was organized during May and June, 1861, with men recruited in the counties of Gloucester, King and Queen, and Mathews.

After being involved in the Seven Days' Battles it was transferred to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

The field officers were Colonels Charles A. Crump and Powhatan R. Page; Lieutenant Colonel James C. Coucill; and Majors Patrick H. Fitzhugh, Joshua L. Garrett, William K. Perrin, and William H. Wheelwright.

Colonel Page was mortally wounded at Taylor's Farm Virginia and died days later.

The unit's chaplain was the Reverend William E. Wiatt who was with the regiment from July 1861, shortly after it was formed until April 9, 1865 when it surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia.