(Picture above: The 8th USCT advancing against the confederate right at the Battle of Olustee, Florida.)
Commanding Officer
Colonel John W. Fuller
This regiment was ready for the field in December, 1863, and left Philadelphia for Hilton Head, S. C., on January 16th, 1864 from which point it was ordered to Jacksonville, Fla. At the battle of Olustee, a point about fifty miles westward from that city, on February 20th the ”8th” met with disastrous losses. Among the wounded was Capt. (afterward Lieut. Col.) George E. Wagner, brother of Gen. Louis Wagner After several months of further campaigning in Florida the regiment was sent to the Tenth Corps, operating in front of Richmond and Petersburg. The ”8th” was engaged in the battles of Chaffin’s Farm (Fort Harrison), Darbytown Road and the second Fair Oaks. After wintering in the trenches before Richmond the regiment participated in the final struggle around Petersburg, and was present at the scene of the surrender at Appomattox. After several weeks of duty at Petersburg the ”8th” was sent by transport to Texas, serving there until November. The regiment was mustered out on the 20th, and finally discharged at Philadelphia December 12th, 1865.
TOTAL LOSSES
Killed or mortally wounded
officers..............4
men.................115
Died of disease
officers..............?
men.................132
Wounded, not mortally
officers..............?
men.................245
Captured or Missing
officers..............?
men..................72
BATTLES
Olustee (Florida)
Bermuda Hundred (Virginia)
Chaffin’s Farm (Virginia)
Darbytown Road (Virginia)
Siege of Petersburg (Virginia)
Hatcher’s Run (Virginia)
Fall of Petersburg (Virginia)
Pursuit of Lee (Virginia)
Appomattox Court House (Virginia)
NOTE:
This regiment is included in the well-known and often quoted list of ”Three Hundred Fighting Regiments.” -Fox.
Additional information:
(from: http://www.civilwararchive.com)
Organized at Camp William Penn, Philadelphia, Pa., September 22 to December 4, 1863. Left Philadelphia for Hilton Head, S.C., January 16, 1864. Attached to Howell's Brigade, District of Hilton Head, S. C,, Dept. of the South, to February, 1864. Hawley's Brigade, Seymour's Division, District of Florida, Dept. of the South, to April, 1864. District of Florida, Dept. of the South, to August, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps, Army of the James, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 25th Corps, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 25th Corps, and Dept. of Texas, to November, 1865.
SERVICE.--Expedition from Hilton Head, S.C., to Jacksonville, Fla., February 5-6, 1864. Occupation of Jacksonville February 7. Advance into Florida February 8-20. Camp Finnegan February 8. Battle of Olustee February 20. Retreat to Jacksonville and duty there until April. Moved to St. John's Bluff April 17. and duty there until August. Raid on Baldwin July 23-28. Moved to Deep Bottom, Va., August 4-12. Action at Deep Bottom August 12. Duty at Deep Bottom and in trenches before Petersburg until September 27. Battle of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30. Fort Harrison September 29. Darbytown Road October 13. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28. In trenches before Richmond until March 27, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher's Run March 29-31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Petersburg April 11, and duty there until May 24. Sailed from City Point for Texas May 24. Duty at Ringgold Barracks and on the Rio Grande, Texas, until November, 1865. Mustered out November 10, 1865. Moved to Philadelphia, Pa., November 10-December 3. Discharged December 12, 1865. Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 115 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 132 Enlisted men by disease. Total 251
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8th USCT, Co. B: Re-enactors Home Page
Additional 8th USCT history #1
Additional 8th USCT history #2
Camp William Penn
