8th Virginia Infantry Regiment | |
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Active | May 1861 to April 1865 |
Country | Confederate States of America |
Allegiance | Confederate |
Branch | Confederate States Army |
Type | Infantry regiment |
Size | 10 companies |
Stars and Bars | |
Engagements | First Bull Run Battle of Ball's Bluff Battle of Williamsburg Battle of Fair Oaks Battle of Gaines Mill Battle of Malvern Hill Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Ox Hill Battle of Boonsboro Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Five Forks Battle of Sailor's Creek |
Commanders | |
1st | Eppa Hunton |
2nd | Norborne Berkeley |
The 8th Virginia Infantry Regiment was a Confederate infantry regiment raised by Colonel Eppa Hunton in Leesburg, Virginia on May 8, 1861. The unit comprised six companies from Loudoun, two companies from Fauquier, one company from Fairfax and one company from Prince William. Initial regimental officers included: Lt. Colonel Charles B. Tebbs, Major Norborne Berkeley, John M. Orr - Quartermaster, Dr. Richard H. Edwards - Surgeon, Charles F. Linthicum - Chaplain. After Eppa Hunton's promotion to brigadier general in August 1863, in part based on his valor during the Battle of Gettysburg, particularly during Pickett's Charge (although the regiment suffered 90% casualties, either wounded like Hunton, killed or missing), Norborne Berkeley was promoted to command the 8th Virginia, and his brother Edmund became the Lieut. Colonel, his brother William Berkeley, Major, and Charles Berkeley became the senior Captain of what then became known as the "Berkeley Regiment."[1] Nonetheless, Norborne, William and Charles Berkeley were all in Union prisoner of war camps and their brother Edmund still recovering from his Gettysburg wound on August 9.[2]