31st Virginia militia company A
Brief description of the 31st
The evening of Sunday October 16, 1859 members of the Guard were holding a Yorktown Victory Ball when they received word that John Brown had captured the Harpers Ferry Arsenal. The men of the Guard quickly broke up the dance at their Armory and took the train Monday morning towards Harpers Ferry. They got off the train about 4 miles from the ferry and marched the rest of the way. The CMG were put into position guarding the perimeter around the fire house where Brown and his men were holding out. Charles O'Ferrall joined up with "The Continentals", an old military company wearing the Continental Uniform, was ordered to Harpers Ferry, and I was given permission to join them." He later wrote, " The Winchester company with which I went to Harpers Ferry arrived too late to do any fighting. We marched from Halltown to the upper end of the Armory grounds, after nightfall, and there we were told that some of the insurgents were hiding among the buildings. So we were thrown into a skirmish line and with our guns at port and thumb on hammer and finger on trigger, we moved through the grounds..." Following the Marines capture of Brown the C.M.G. moved with the the rest of the troops to Charles Town, VA where Brown was being tried and held, to provide security. While there they were issued Colt revolving rifles, and soon wore out their uniforms during the six weeks they were on duty. They returned home December 5th following Brown's hanging
On April 17, 1861 Virginia seceded from the Union and Governor Letcher called out the militia to defend the state. On the 18th the C.M.G. enrolled at Winchester for one year of service. They would become Company K of the 31st Regiment, and had 133 officers and men. John Avis of Jefferson County was it's first Captain. They were enlisted in to Confederate service on June 20, 1861. These men would see many battles with Stonewall Jackson and the Army of Northern VA.
The Continental Morgan Gaurd were part of the 5th virginia regiment company K but were the 31st confederate militia regiment formed for clearing things up.
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Spoiler
If creation of a continental style uniform is impossible, or to time consuming. Grey Coldstream winter uniforms and will-hats may suffice.