The Virginia 16th Cavalry Regiment was formed at Camp Zirkle, near Salem, Virginia, on 15 January, 1863, by consolidating six companies of Ferguson's (167th) Militia Battalion with four companies of Otis Caldwell's (188th Militia) Battalion. The unit was assigned to Jenkins' and MacCausland's Brigade and fought in western Virginia, including the conflict at Droop Mountain. Later it saw action at Gettysburg and other points in Pennsylvania. Returning to western Virginia, the 16th participated in various engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. This regiment had 265 men in action at Gettysburg, and during February, 1864, there were 163 present for duty. It disbanded in April 1865. Company A (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Stevenson's Company) - Russell County Company B (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Gent's Company) - Russell County Company C (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Hankin'sCompany) - Tazewell County Company D (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Morris' Company) - at least six different counties of Virginia and present-day West Virginia including Cabell and Putnam Company E (Ferguson's Battalion, Formerly Spurlock's Company) - Wayne County, West Virginia Company F (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Taylor's Company) - Tazewell County Company G (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Parks' Company) - Wayne County Company H (Milton J. Ferguson's original company in Ferguson's Battalion) - Wayne County Company I (Caldwell's Battalion, formerly Graham's Company) - Tazewell County Company K (Ferguson's Battalion, formerly Nounnan's Company) - at least eight or ten different counties