The Upshur Grays were organized in Upshur County, (West) Virginia by Captain John C. Higginbotham on May 27, 1861, despite strong Union sentiment in the county.  On June 3rd, the fine new tents of the Upshur Grays became the target of the first cannon shots fired at the "Philippi Races".  The group was designated Company A of the 25th Regiment Virginia Infantry when state forces were organized by Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett at Huttonsville in mid-June.  Lt. Col. Jonathan Heck became the first official commander of the regiment.  As part of the Army of the Northwest, the 25th took an active part in the Tygart and Cheat campaigns, and participated in the battles of Rich Mountain, Greenbrier River and Allegheny Mountain.

In a regimental reorganization during the winter at Camp Allegheny (to replace losses incurred at the Battle of Rich Mountain), Company A became the second "Company B", while the companies of Lt. Col. George Hansbrough's 9th Virginia Battalion were organized into the empty companies of the 25th.  The 9th had been an active Battalion in the Army of the Northwest, participating in actions at Corrick's Ford, Cheat Fort, Greenbrier River and Allegheny Mountain.

The "new" regiment would fight at McDowell with "Stonewall" Jackson, and under the command of General Ewell they would take part in all of the 1862 battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, including Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Chantilly, Cedar Mountain, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg.

In 1863, the 25th was again reorganized under the brigade command of Brig. Gen. John M. Jones.  Temporarily transferred to John D. Imboden for his spring raid into West Virginia, the regiment returned to Jones in time to take part in the Gettysburg campaign.  Afterwards, the 25th would be in the center of action at Mine Run.

The 25th and Jones' Brigade would be decimated during the campaign of the Wilderness in May of 1864.  The few men remaining were attached to John B. Gordon and continued fighting through Early's Valley Campaign of 1864, at Petersburg, and at Saylor's Creek.  Of the 2,000 plus men comprising the wartime rolls of the 25th, only 1 officer and 14 men were present at Appomattox.

The confederates of the WVRA take pride in commemorating those Western Virginias who remained loyal to "The Old Dominion" and fought gallantly for the fated Confederate States of America.