8th Virginia Infantry - History

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.