Organized May 29, 1861 in Provisional Army of Tennessee; Confederate service August 31, 1861; reorganized May 8, 1862; formed Company “D”, 1st Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment; paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina May 1, 1865.
FIELD OFFICERS
- Colonels-Alfred S. Fulton, William Lawson Moore, L. W. Oglesby, John H. Anderson.
- Lieutenant Colonels-William Lawson Moore Andrew G. Ewing, John H. Anderson, Christopher C. McKinney.
- Majors-William H. Botts, Christopher C. McKinney, W. G. Burford.
All company letters were changed at the reorganization of May 8, 1862, and those shown are the letters used after reorganization, with the prior numbers indicated.
CAPTAINS
- William G. Burford, I. A. McCall, J. A. McCall, D. O. Puryear, Co. “A”, formerly “I”. Men from Smith County.
- Tim S. McHenry, James C. Chowning, W. B. Petty, Co. “B”, formerly “F”. Men from Overton County.
- A. M. Hall, B. E. Malear, William H. Blake, William D. Bonds, Co. “C”, formerly “B”. Men from Lincoln County.
- George W. Higgins, M. C. Shook, T. A. Yant, Co. “D”, formerly “G”. “The Norris Creek Guards.” Men from Lincoln County.
- Bane McKinney, N. M. Bearden, J. S. Brown, Co. “E”, formerly “C” “The Comargo Guards.” Men from Lincoln County.
- Calvin E. Meyers, James I. Cullom, Co. “F”, formerly “D”. Men from Overton County, some from Fentress County.
- William Gore, William Sadler, John S. Quarles, Co. “G”, formerly “K”. Men from Jackson County, some from Putnam County. A number of men from this company later enlisted in Co. “E”, 4th (Murray’s) Cavalry Regiment.
- L. T. Armstrong, A. J. B. Walker, J. B. Overstreet, Thomas Jefferson Davis, Co. “H”, formerly “E”. Men from Celina, Jackson County (now Clay County).
- James L. Bryant, Ben B. Bowers, James M. McAfee, Co. “I”, formerly “A”. Men from Marshall County.
- William Lawson Moore, W. J. Thrash, John D. Tolley, Moses B. Shores, Co. “K”, formerly “H”. “The Mulberry Riflemen.” Men from Lincoln and Moore Counties.
Of the field officers, Colonel Fulton, Colonel Oglesby, Lieutenant Colonel Ewing, and Major Botts were dropped from the rolls at one time or another. Colonel William Lawson Moore was killed in the Battle of Murfreesboro on December 31, 1862.
Some of the companies constituting the 8th Tennessee assembled at Camp Harris, near Winchester, Franklin County, and were mustered into state service on May 18, 1861. They moved to Camp Trousdale, Sumner County, where, with other companies, they were organized into this regiment.
The Eighth was organized at Camp Trousdale on May 2; 1861. In July, 1861, it had 887 men armed with percussion muskets. Arriving at Huntersville, Virginia, July 21, 1861, it was placed in Brigadier General Daniel S. Donelson’s Brigade, along with the 16th Tennessee, and the 1st and 14th Georgia Regiments; as part of this brigade it participated in the Cheat Mountain Campaign. The 8th and 16th Tennessee Regiments served in the same brigade organizations throughout the war.
A report from Company “K” dated January 9, 1864, stated that this company was organized April 24, 1861, at Mulberry Station, Lincoln County; was received into state service at Camp Harris, Franklin County; and organized as part of the 8th Tennessee Infantry Regiment at Camp Trousdale; mustered into Confederate service July 31, 1861 at Big Springs, Virginia. It took part in the Cheat Mountain Campaign, fought at Corinth, Mississippi, Munfordville and Perryville, Kentucky, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. It reported a cumulative total of nine killed, 51 wounded, 12 died of disease, 48 deserted, 28 honorably discharged, nine transferred to other commands, and two furnished substitutes who had deserted.
After the Cheat Mountain failure, the 8th and 16th, Donelson’s Brigade were sent to Port Royal, South Carolina, arriving December 16, 1861. The 8th was in a skirmish at Port Royal Ferry January 1, 1862.
April 10, 1862, Donelson’s Brigade, 1572 men, was ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, and in May the brigade consisted of the 2nd, 8th, 15th, 16th and 154th Tennessee Infantry Regiments, and Carnes’ Tennessee Battery. By June 15, 1862, the 154th had been replaced by the 51st Tennessee. By June 30, the 2nd was no longer shown as part of the brigade.
At Perryville, October 8, 1862, the brigade consisted of the 8th, 15th, 16th, 38th and 51st Tennessee Regiments. The 8th suffered 38 casualties in this battle.
On December 29, 1862, two days before the Battle of Murfreesboro, the newly organized 84th Regiment was added to the brigade, but was held in reserve during the battle. In the Battle of Murfreesboro, the 8th did valiant service in the battle, but at heavy cost, losing 306 casualties out of 474 engaged, including Colonel William L. Moore, who was killed. Lieutenant Colonel John H. Anderson replaced him, and as full colonel, commanded the regiment till after the Battle of Nashville, when he was given command of a brigade. In the Battle of Murfreesboro, the brigade captured 11 pieces of artillery and 1000 prisoners.
On April 1, 1863, Brigadier General Marcus J. Wright commanded the brigade, which was composed of the 8th, 16th, 28th, and 51st Tennessee Regiments, plus Carnes’ Battery, totaling 1698 effectives. The brigade continued to be known as Wright’s Brigade until after the Battle of Franklin, though it was commanded at various times by Colonel Anderson, of the 8th, and Colonel Carter, of the
38th. On August 10, 1863, Murray’s 22nd Infantry Battalion was added to the brigade; by this time the 8th had been consolidated into a field organization with the 28th Regiment.
At Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863, Wright’s Brigade consisted of the 8th, 16th, 28th, 38th and Murray’s Battalion and 5lst/52nd Consolidated Infantry Regiments. At Missionary Ridge, November 24-25, 1863, the 38th had been left at Charleston. Company returns state that the regimental and company books, rolls, papers of every kind were destroyed by the enemy November 25, 1863 on the retreat from Missionary Ridge with General Wright’s Brigade wagon train. Colonel Anderson was in command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel C. C. McKinney of the regiment. On December 14, 1863 the 8th reported 214 effectives. On January 20, 1864 the 8th and 28th were reported on detached duty at Atlanta, Georgia. On May 9, 1864, the 8th was present at Rocky Face, Georgia.
On December 10, 1864, the 8th, 16th, and 28th, under Colonel John H. Anderson, formed one regiment in Maney’s Brigade, commanded by Colonel Hume R. Feild. After the Battle of Nashville, December 15-16, 1864, the 8th joined General Joseph E. Johnston, in North Carolina, and was surrendered and paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, as part of the 1st Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Oliver A. Bradshaw; this was composed of the 1st, 6th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 27th, 28th and 34th Regiments and the 24th Tennessee Infantry Battalion. The 8th Regiment formed Company “D” of this regiment.
This unit history was extracted from Tennesseans in the Civil War, Vol 1. Copyrighted 1964 by the Civil War Centennial Commission of Tennessee and is published here with their permission. This history may not be republished for any reason without the written permission of the copyright owner.