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8th Georgia Infantry Webpage |
Click to hear "The Girl I Left Behind" |
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8th Georgia Infantry Webpage |
Click to hear "The Girl I Left Behind" |
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Battles, Campaigns and History
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The 8th Georgia Regiment was organized for the War in late May and early June, 1861. Most of the units' members had seen pre-War militia service. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Bartow, Howard's Grove, Richmond, Virginia in June of 1861. Francis S. Bartow was its first commander. A brief historical summary of the 8th is included on the Company G Roster page. |
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Battles and Campaigns: The 8th Georgia participated in many engagements during the War, and was known as the "Fighting 8th." President Davis supposedly wrote: "The 8th is known." Battles include: First Manassas, Yorktown, New Bridge, Seven Days, Rappahannock Station, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Gettysburg, Funkstown, Charleston, Chicamauga, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Wilderness, Petersburg, and Appomattox. Descriptions follow: FIRST MANASSAS, VA, July 21, 1861 (Order of Battle) Go to 8th Georgia at First Manassas for first-hand accounts, diaries, photos, links, and a description of the 8th Georgia's dramatic role. The 8th suffered the highest casualty rate of any Confederate unit in this battle.SIEGE OF YORKTOWN, VA, April - May 1862 (Order of Battle) In 1862, the 8th, along with the 6th, 7th, 10th and 16th Regiments, were on duty in the trenches at Yorktown, Virginia. On April 16th, the Federals attacked at Dam No. 1, the center of Gen. Magruder's line. After initial success, the Federals were met by the reinforced 7th and 8th Georgia Regiments in that section of the line. Under the command of Col. George T. "Tige" Anderson, along with Col. Lucius M. Lamar of the 8th, and other Georgia, Louisiana and North Carolina troops, made a gallant charge and drove the Federals from the pits and across the pond.Gen. J. B. Magruder writes of the 7th and 8th Georgia regiments at Dam No. 1: "... with fixed bayonets and the steadiness of veterans, charged the rifle pits and drove the enemy from them with great slaughter." [O.R. Series I, Vol. 11 Part 1, pg 411]Gen. L. McLaws writes: "... charging the enemy with the bayonet, and assisted by the Fifth Louisiana and others, drove them back across the pond, killing a large number." [O.R. Series I, Vol. 11 Part 1, pg 415]Col. George T. Anderson, as Brigade commander, was cited for special distinction, as was the 7th and 8th Georgia Regiments. This brigade action occurred under the overall command of Brig. General Toombs of Georgia.NEW BRIDGE, VA, May 23-24, 1862 Regarding skirmishes at New Bridge, Va. (near Mechanicsville), the report of Col. Beverly H. Robertson, 4th Va. Cavalry, commanding, includes the 8th Georgia: "I proceeded yesterday afternoon with the 8th and 9th Georgia Regiments, one 8-pounder rifled gun from the Washington Artillery, and one 6-pounder howitzer, belonging to the Wise Artillery, both commanded by Capt. T. L. Rosser, and a portion of the 1st and 4th Virginia Cavalry, to reoccupy Mechanicsville, from which our cavalry force had retired on the day previous. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 11, Part 1, pg. 663]SEVEN DAYS BATTLES, VA, June - July 1862 (Order of Battle) At the Seven Days' Battles (Oak Grove, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Garnett's Farm, Savage Station, Frayser's Farm, Malvern Hill), the 8th was part of Col. George T. Anderson's Third Brigade, First Division, Magruder's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. At this time, Anderson's Brigade was composed of the 1st Georgia (Regulars), and 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Georgia Volunteer Regiments. The 8th sustained 102 casualties (28 killed, 63 wounded, 11 missing or captured) during this campaign [O.R. Series I, Vol. 11, Part 2, pg. 504 and 509].More detailed casualties are given at Garnett's and Golding's Farms (92 aggregate), and Malvern Hill (12 aggregate). [O.R. Series I, Vol. 11, Part 2, pg. 977].Captain George O. Dawson, Company I of the 8th Georgia, gives two descriptive written battle reports of the 8th at Garnett's Farm. Read these reports. Col. "Tige" Anderson writes in his brigade report "I ordered the 8th and 7th Georgia to advance, which they did in the most beautiful order and with their usual gallantry, driving the enemy before them over and beyond their works, all the time exposed to a galling fire of artillery and musketry..." And "The 8th Georgia led the attack under command of the heroic L. M. Lamar and suffered severely. Colonel Lamar was wounded and taken by the enemy, but has been recovered; Lt. Colonel John R. Towers [view Towers' Autograph Album from Ft. Warren while imprisoned] and Lt. Harper taken prisoner; Major E. J. Magruder seriously wounded; Captain Butler, Lts. Montgomery, Williamson, and Blackwell also wounded, adn 13 men killed, 63 wounded, 6 missing, and 15 prisoners." [O.R. Series I, Vol. 11, Part 2, pg. 706-709]. (View "Tige" Anderson's two reports in full, dated July 8 1862 and July 14 1862.) RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, VA, August 23, 1862 Under research. THOROUGHFARE GAP, VA, August 28, 1862 Under research. SECOND MANASSAS, VA, August 29-30, 1862 (Order of Battle) Brigade commander "Tige" Anderson wrote: "I placed my brigade in line on the field, my left regiment being the 8th Georgia, Lt. Col. John R. Towers commanding. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 12, Part 2, pg. 593]. The 8th Georgia sustained losses of 8 killed, 54 wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas. Officers killed at the battle were Captain J. M. C. Hulsey and Captain Phinizy, Aug. 30th. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 12, Part 2, pg. 560 and pg. 816]SHARPSBURG, MD, September 17, 1862 (Order of Battle) The 8th Georgia Regiment's losses in the Maryland campaign were 2 killed and 17 wounded. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 19, Part 1, pg. 811]FREDERICKSBURG, VA, December 1862 (Order of Battle) Losses at the Battle of Fredericksburg range from 1 killed and 2 wounded [O.R. Series I, Vol. 21, pg. 560] to 2 killed, 1 wounded, and 4 captured or missing. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 21, pg. 623]SUFFOLK CAMPAIGN, VA, April - May 1863 (Order of Battle) Under research. GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN, PA, June - July 1863 (Order of Battle) Go to the 8th Georgia at Gettysburg for writings, journals, photos, map, casualties (143), and an in-depth description of the 8th Georgia's role in the Rose Woods near the Wheatfield.(Order of Battle) The 8th Georgia was engaged in a severe skirmish at Funkstown, Maryland on July 7, 1863, during the retreat from Gettysburg. CHARLESTON OPERATIONS, SC, August - September 1863 (Order of Battle) The 8th Georgia was at Morris Island and possibly James Island, Charleston, South Carolina for approximately 10 days, and was engaged in skirmishes with the enemy almost daily. CHICAMAUGA, TN, September 1863 (Order of Battle) Under research. CHATTANOOGA SIEGE, TN, September - November 1863 (Order of Battle) Under research. KNOXVILLE SIEGE, TN, November - December 1863 (Order of Battle) On Nov. 19, 1863, the 8th participated in the assault on Fort Sanders and suffered a severe repulse. WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN, VA, May - June 1864 (Order of Battle) 8th Georgia losses at the Battle of the Wilderness were reported: 13 killed (2 officers, 11 enlisted); 64 wounded (6 officers, 58 enlisted); and 15 captured or missing; total casualties 92. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 36, Part 1, pg. 1060]PETERSBURG DEFENSES, VA, June 1864 - April 1865 (Order of Battle) Casualties reported on July 31, 1864 include: 2 killed, 12 wounded, 1 captured or missing (15 aggregate). [O.R. Series I, Vol. 40, Part 1, pg. 763]. Incomplete casualty lists for Aug. 1 to Dec. 31, 1864 include: 12 killed, 56 wounded, and 14 captured or missing (82 aggregate). [O.R. Series I, Vol. 42, Part 1, pg. 877].A Federal communication by Major Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren on Sep. 17, 1864, mentions the 8th Georgia: "I have just sent in two deserters from the 8th Georgia who can give you a great deal of information. Their homes are near Atlanta. They say all the cavalry was sent off yesterday and the night before." [O.R. Series I, Vol. 42, Part 2, pg. 890].(Order of Battle) Visit the 8th at Appomattox page for a list of the 8th Georgia Infantry's paroles issued at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. |
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