8th Virginia Infantry

8th Virginia Virginia Infantry

Flag of Virginia
Active May 1861 to April 1865
Country Confederate States of America
Allegiance Confederate
Branch Infantry
Type Regiment
Size 10 companies
Stars and Bars
Engagements First Bull Run
Battle of Ball's Bluff
Battle of Williamsburg
Battle of Fair Oaks
Battle of Gaines Mill
Battle of Malvern Hill
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Ox Hill
Battle of Boonsboro
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Cold Harbor
Battle of Five Forks
Battle of Sailor's Creek
Commanders
1st Eppa Hunton

The 8th Virginia Infantry was Confederate infantry regiment raised by Colonel Eppa Hunton in Leesburg, Virginia on May 8, 1861. The unit comprised six companies from Loudoun, two companies from Fauquier, one company from Fairfax and one company from Prince William. Regimental officers included: Lt. Colonel Charles B. Tebbs, Major Norborne Berkeley, John M. Orr - Quartermaster, Dr. Richard H. Edwards - Surgeon, Charles F. Linthicum - Chaplain.

History

In May 1861, the Governor of Virginia, John Letcher granted Eppa Hunton the commission of Colonel and ordered him to raise a company of infantry from the Loudoun County area. Before the Battle of First Bull Run, the newly raised 8th Virginia was assigned to guard the numerous Potomac River crossings in Loudoun. The regiment fought in that battle to particular acclaim and then returned to Leesburg, where they were engaged in the Battle of Ball's Bluff in October 1861. In March 1862 the 8th was forced to leave Loudoun to participate in the Peninsula Campaign as part of Pickett's Brigade. After the Battle at Gaines' Mill in June, Col Hunton referred to his men whom he felt would go against any odds seemingly without counting the cost, as The Bloody Eighth, a term he would use from then on.1

In September 1862, the 8th briefly returned to Leesburg, following the Battle of Second Bull Run, in which they participated, on their way to the Maryland Campaign. The following year, they took part in Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. They remained with the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the remainder of the war, taking part in the Overland Campaign, Richmond-Petersburg Campaign and the Appomattox Campaign.

On April 6, 1865, the majority of the regiment was captured or killed at the Battle of Sayler's Creek. Those who escaped that battle were paroled 3 days later following Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

Companies

References

http://www.8thvirginiareg.org/unithist.html

1 8th Virginia Infantry, 2nd Edition, John E. Devine, copyright 1983, H. E. Howard, Inc., Lynchburg, Virginia

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