CONFEDERATE VIRGINIA TROOPS
8th Regiment, Virginia Infantry
- Overview:
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8th Infantry Regiment was organized at Leesburg, Virginia, in May, 1861. Its members
were recruited in the counties of Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax. The unit was also called
"Old Bloody Eighth" and from time to time "The Berkeley Regiment" because its Colonel,
Lieutenant Colonel, Major, and one Captain were four Berkeley brothers. During the war it was
brigaded under Generals Cocke, Pickett, R.B. Garnett, and Hunton. It fought at First Manassas and Leesburg, and in April, 1862, it totalled 450
effectives. The 8th was involved in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Gettysburg, served in the Department of
Richmond, then took part in the conflicts at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor. It went on to participate in
the Petersburg siege north of the
James River and the Appomattox
Courthouse Campaign. This unit sustained 30 casualties at First Manassas, lost 8 killed and
43 wounded of the 375 engaged at Leesburg, and had 10 killed and 66 wounded during the Seven
Days' Battles. Of the 193 engaged at Gettysburg about ninety percent were killed, wounded, or
missing. From June 1 to December 31, 1864, it reported 53 casualties, and many were captured
at Sayler's Creek. Only 1
surgeon and 11 privates surrendered on April 9, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Norborne
Berkeley and Eppa Hunton, Lieutenant Colonels Edmund Berkeley and Charles B. Tebbs, and
Majors William N. Berkeley and James Thrift.
- Soldiers:
- View Battle Unit's Soldiers ยป
