The 3rd Virginia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia. Organization On October 16, 1856 at the direction of Governor Henry Alexander Wise, David Smith Walton was commissioned to command a new volunteer militia organization in Norfolk County denominated as 1st Battalion, 3rd Regimental Virginia Volunteers. Prior to his commission, Walton of North Carolina nativity was employed as a civil engineer working on the Erie Canal before removal to Portsmouth, Virginia in 1853. Walton's Battalion was composed of four armed and uniformed companies formerly attached to Portsmouth's 7th Regiment of the line. The companies were as follows: Portsmouth Riflemen under Captain William James Richardson Established in 1792, this company was the oldest organization belonging to the 3rd. In fact in 1850, it received the designation of "Oldest Volunteer Company in the State of Virginia". The company employed Rifle Green uniforms with dark plumes on their caps. Old Dominion Guard under Captain Edward Kearns Organized June 26, 1856 Portsmouth National Light Infantry Greys under Captain P. H. Daughtrey Organized June 4, 1856, the company employed grey frock coats and trousers and were described as handsomely dressed. 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. Their trousers were dark blue with green velvet stripes and gold chords down the outer seam. The company employed the same cap as worn by the U.S. Army with a green plume tipped in black, velvet band and gold chords. In front beneath a brass bugle ornament were brass letters N.M.R. Additional companies From late 1856, up until the middle of the following year three more companies were introduce into the ranks of the 3rd, thus bringing it regimental designation. These additional companies were as follows: Dismal Swamp Rangers under Captain James C. Choate Organized in late 1856 at Deep Creek Portsmouth Light Artillery under Captain Virginius O. Cassell Organized in 1808. On June 22, 1813, under Captain Arthur Emerson, this unit was stationed at Carney Island and conspicuous in the defeat of the British who attempted to capture Norfolk & Portsmouth. For a time, they were known as the Portsmouth Light Artillery Blues and later as the Portsmouth Light Artillery