Newton Marion Rifles under Captain Johannis Watson Organized August 1856, the company employed dark blue coats with three rows of state buttons down the front with green velvet collars, cuffs epaulets.

The prize medal awarded to the best shot went to the Portsmouth Light Artillery February- The remainder of January and early part of February were spent in preparation for the upcoming visit to Richmond.

Here they would participate in ceremonies to honor George Washington on the occasion of his birthday as well as attend the dedication of Thomas Crawford's equestrian statue of which still stands in the Capitol Square.

They arrived about 8:30 the preceding morning and though the quarters were slightly unsatisfactory, they soon found refuge among the local regiments who provided them with food and merriment which would soon find them forgetful towards the poor accommodations.

Aug 2, 1858- Captain William Lamb's Woodis Rifles of Norfolk visited Portsmouth and were entertained throughout the day by the Old Dominion Guard, National Greys & Portsmouth Light Artillery Nov 20, 1858- In the final months of 1858 though the exact day is not noted, Colonel David Smith Walton stepped down as commanding officer of the regiment and was succeeded by the election of Major James Gregory Hodges.

A prayer by Dr. Bagwell opened the ceremony followed by reading of The Declaration of Independence by Lieutenant Fauth and addresses by Captain John W. H. Wrenn of the Marion Rifles as well as a patriotic poem by Dr. J. M. Covert, surgeon of the National Greys.

December 1, 1859- Colonel Hodges received orders to hold the recently revived Old Dominion Guard which had been inactive for nearly a year in readiness under Captain A. J. Culpepper being selected to relieve the National Greys.

[1] In the early morning hours of the 19th, Major General William Booth Taliaferro, under orders from Governor John Letcher arrived in the City of Norfolk and established his headquarters at the Atlantic Hotel on Main Street.

Although the sun had not yet risen, local militia commanders from within the city, as well as neighboring Portsmouth wasted no time in seeking to report their numbers and condition as well as procure any orders which were handed down by the governor.

They then hunted for the fuse or slow match, but did not succeed in finding it, and concluded that after the train was laid the orders to blow it up had been countermanded, or that there had been some other hitch in the proceedings.

[7] Within such correspondence, Garnett highlights the lack of defenses along the Nansemond as described by engineer Andrew Talcott and further laments that if federal troops were landed at such location they may overrun local forces and reacquire control of Gosport Naval Yard.

Colonel Fletcher H. Archer followed by Major James Mayo Jr. With these changes in place, General Gwynn then sent requisition for approximately 100,000 rounds of musket ammunition, of which they had none.

When word of the results reached Pryor, he had the men temporary imprisoned on the lower floor of the hospital while awaiting the advice of the governor who stated "release them immediately" as the vote was not predicated on coercion but rather the honest feeling of the voter, whatever that may be.

Towards mid month, with news surrounding the events of the First Manassas being dispensed, Company H which had been stationed at the Gosport Naval Yard since the outbreak of hostilities requested of General Huger to be reunited with the regiment fearing they would miss the war.

A few days following these events on the 24th, William L. Watkins and his delegation on behalf of the ladies of Petersburg presented the regiment with a blue silk state flag in appreciation of their efforts.

A short distance away on the farm of Chapman Edwards, work on Camp Pemberton consumed much of the regiments day with construction commencing at 7:00 AM and continuing through 4:00 PM with a break during the noon hour.

Following completion of these activities the regiment then spent its time drilling in dress parade for approximately 2 hours before settling for the night to repeat the task once again as morning dawned.

This only heightened Colonel Page's frustrations as he had neither a commissary or quartermaster officer at the time and as such the duty of procuring supplies of wood and forage fell upon himself within thin ranks.

Thus embarrassed by extra and ordinary cares and difficulties', I venture to request that I may be furnished with that staff officer, without whose assistance I cannot possibly provide for the comfort of my command.

[1] As the trees of autumn shed their colors transitioning into the upcoming winter, changes also occurred within the command structure as Major James Mayo was promoted to Lt.

Upon arrival they immediately set to work establishing a temporary camp for themselves consisting of canvas tents while they procured supplies to construct shanty log cabins like those of the other companies.

For this purpose on the 9th, Captain West requested 5000 feet of lumber, 4 kegs of nails, 8 sets of door hinges as well as window sashes for their cabins as well as to construct and extra ward on the encampments hospital quarters.

Private Benjamin William Jones of Company I in another letter dated February 10 put it as follows: "matters seem shaping themselves for active operations, and the spring campaign is expected to open early.

On the 17th, Union General George B. McClellan with a flotilla of 300 vessels transported both man and machine to Fortress Monroe on the tip of the Virginia peninsula with hopes of marching on to the confederate capital of Richmond .

This prompted General Robert E. Lee to issue orders to Colston's brigade that should attack fall upon Major Gen. Magruder at Yorktown, he and his men were to cross the James at Stone House Wharf and reinforce Magurder.

Arriving the night of the 29th, they established Camp Pryor on the Curtis Farm outside the city where they suffered thru cold rain since in their hasty departure no time was allotted to gather their tents.

As the month turned, reports of the unseasonable departure reached General Lee who on March 31 dispatched a letter to Magruder addressing the troop shortage created in the Department of Norfolk by the premature movement.

This lead the Union to construct siege fortifications along the Warwick River, delaying their advance by four weeks when in actuality their far superior numbers could have easily routed the small force.

The Confederates in turn used this opportunity to construct defensive positions along their side of the river and bring up reinforcements which swelled their numbers and brought forth re-organization.

When the men protested the perceived sleight of hand Colonel Pryor once again charge mutiny and placed several of the company and Lieutenant George W. Hutchins under arrest.