8th Virginia Infantry

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 8th Virginia Virginia Infantry
unit_name= 8th Virginia Virginia Infantry
colors=
colors_label=Stars and Bars


Flaglink= Flag of Virginia


caption=Flag of Virginia
dates= May 1861 to April 1865
country= Confederate States of America
allegiance= Confederate
branch= Infantry
type= Regiment
size= 10 companies
equipment=
battles=First Bull Run-Battle of Ball's Bluff-Battle of Williamsburg-Battle of Fair Oaks-Battle of Gaines Mill-Battle of Malvern Hill-Second Bull Run-Battle of Ox Hill-Battle of Boonsboro-Battle of Antietam-Battle of Fredericksburg-Battle of Gettysburg-Battle of Cold Harbor-Battle of Sayler's Creek
commander1=Eppa Hunton
commander1_label=1st
commander2=
commander2_label=2nd
commander3=
commander3_label=3rd and Final
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=

The 8th Virginia Infantry was Confederate infantry regiment raised by Colonel Eppa Hunton in Leesburg, Virginia in May of 1861. The unit was comprised of 6 companies from Loudoun, 2 companies from Fauqier, 1 company from Fairfax and 1 company from Prince William.

History

In May of 1861, the Governor of Virginia, John Letcher granted the Eppa Hunton the commission of Colonel and ordered him to raise a company of infantry from the Loudoun County area. Prior to the Battle of First Bull Run, the newly raised 8th Virginia was assigned to guarding the 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 of 1861. In March of 1862 the 8th was forced to leave Loudoun to participate in the Peninsula Campaign as part of Pickett's Brigade.

In September of 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 that escaped that battle were paroled 3 days later following Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

Companies

*A - Loudoun County
*B - Fauquier County
*C - "Evergreen Guards" -Prince William County
**Formed May 8th, 1861 commanded by Captain Edmund Berkeley (1861-1863), Captain Robert H. Tyler (1863-1855)
*D - Loudoun County
*E - Loudoun County
*F - Loudoun County
*G - Fairfax County
*H - Loudoun County
*I - Loudoun County
*K - Fauquier County
**Formed July 30th, 1861, 109 men, Captain Robert T. Scott commanding

References

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