[5] On 17 October of that year, the Warrenton Rifles were disbanded due to having fallen below the minimum number of men required by law, reducing the regiment to nine companies.

[12] Its headquarters was moved to Culpeper on 15 November 1888,[13] after Nalle was elected Colonel of the regiment.

[15] On 30 April 1889 Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Gaines, led the Alexandria Light Infantry and Pittsylvania Guards at the New York City Centennial Celebration, commemorating the anniversary of First inauguration of George Washington.

[21] On 5 June the regiment relocated by train to Camp Alger, joining the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Second Army Corps.

On 2 August it became part of the newly created Second Brigade of the corps' Third Division alongside the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.

[22][23] At Camp Alger on the night of 8 August, a white hospital steward from the regiment scuffled with a black teamster.

[25] On 7 September, after the declaration of an armistice ended the war, the 3rd Virginia left Camp Alger.

[27][22] The 3rd Regiment was disbanded on 29 April 1899, and its elements reorganized between 1899 and 1902 as separate companies in central Virginia.