Raised from the farms, villages, and crossroads of Henry County, Virginia, Company H, known as the Henry Guard, answered the call to arms in 1861 and became part of the 24th Virginia Infantry. Throughout four years of war, these local soldiers marched across some of the Civil War’s most famous battlefields, including First Manassas, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines’ Mill, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox.
This presentation follows the wartime experiences of the Henry Guard from its formation through the Confederacy’s final surrender. Drawing on soldiers’ records, personal accounts, and local history, it examines who these men were, why they enlisted, the hardships they endured, and the impact their service had on the families and communities they left behind. More than a regimental history, this program tells the story of Henry County’s connection to the Civil War through the lives of the men who carried its name into battle and those who awaited their return at home.
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how a single company of local volunteers experienced the war and how their service became part of the legacy of Henry County and the 24th Virginia Infantry. This program will be presented by historian, Jarred Marlowe.
The program which is free and open to the public will be held in the Susan L. Adkins Memorial Meeting Room of the Bassett Historical Center on November 17, 2026 at 10:30 am.