Charles J. P. Cresap

Cresap replaced William G. Brown Sr. at the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861's third session in November as the representative from Preston County after the latter man was expelled on 29 June 1861.[1] In May 1863, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates,[4] representing Preston County alongside Robert E. Cowan[5] until leaving office in 1864.[4]

For the American Civil War, Cresap sided with the Confederacy out of an allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia, not necessarily in opposition to the Union.[2] Previously a second lieutenant with the Provisional Army of Virginia, Cresap enlisted with the Confederate States Army at Camp Allegheny on 1 April 1862; he was assigned to the 25th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Private Cresap was hospitalized twice as an enlisted man: once in October 1862 for fever, and again in December 1862 for diarrhea. He was promoted to sergeant on or before 1 January 1863.[4]

Cresap requested discharge on 8 June 1863, and was released from the service on 4 August 1863. That November 20, he requested permission of the Confederate Army to be commissioned a captain and to raise a company of infantry or cavalry in northwest Virginia; this permission was granted ten days later. Cresap later requested of Confederate President Jefferson Davis a promotion above captain in order to command "colored troops."[4]