Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Louisiana
The 8th Louisiana Infantry Regiment enrolled 1,321 men during the Civil War. It lost 252 men killed or died of their wounds, 171 died of disease, 2 men murdered and 1 died in an accident. Eighty men deserted and 56 took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
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1861
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| April-May | The 8th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Moore, Louisiana. |
| June 19 | Mustered in 889 men under Colonel Henry B. Kelly, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Nicholls and Major John Baptiste Eugene Prados. Seven companies mustered in for the duration of the war and the remaining three for three months.The regiment mustered 889 men. The companies came from:
Company A – Creole Guards from East Baton Rouge Parish, Captain L.J. Fremaux |
| June 30-July 1 | Companies B, D, E, F, G & K of the regiment arrived at Manassas and were assigned to the brigade of Brigadier General Milledge Bonham. They were stationed at Mitchell’s Ford on Bull Run. The remaining four companies (A, C, H & I) arrived the following day and were stationed at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction. |
| July 21 |
Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)Reserve Guard. Attached to 1st Louisiana Brigade. The men at Mitchell’s Ford came under fire but, being entrenched, suffered no casualties. |
| July 22 | A detachment of 50 men under Major Prados escorted prisoners to Richmond. |
| July 23- September 15 |
Garrison duty at Manassas Junction |
| July 25 | The regiment was brigaded under Brigadier General Taylor with the 6th, 7th and 9th Louisiana Infantry Regiments and Wheat’s Battalion and was assigned to Ewell’s Division. |
| September 15-26 | Moved to Centreville and stationed at Camp Bienville. |
| September 26-October 16 | Moved to Camp Beauregard at Germantown. |
| September 29-October 1 | Reconnaissance to Great Falls, Seneca Falls, and Coon’s Fairy on the Potomac River. |
| Winter | Northern Virginia |
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1862
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| April | Major Prados was defeated during the reorganization. |
| May |
Shenandoah Valley CampaignAttached to Taylor’s Louisiana Brigade of Ewell’s Division, which joined Jackson’s Army of the Valley in the Shenandoah. |
| May 7 | Adjutant Trevanion D. Lewis was appointed major |
| May 23 | Capture of Front Royal |
| May 25 |
First Battle of WinchesterLieutenant Colonel Nicholls lost his left arm. Major Lewis took over command of the regiment. |
| May 30 | Part of the regiment was captured at Front Royal. |
| June 1 | Mount Caramel |
| June 8-9 |
Battles of Cross Keys and Port RepublicThe regiment lost 9 men killed and 37 wounded |
Seven Days BattlesThe regiment lost 15 men killed and 69 wounded |
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| June 27 |
Battle of Gaines’ Mill |
| July 1 |
Battle of Malvern Hill |
| July | Lieutenant Colonel Nicholls was appoited colonel of the newly created 15th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. |
| August 9 |
Battle of Cedar Mountain |
| August 27-28 | Bristoe Station and Kettle Run |
| August 29 |
Second Battle of Manassas |
| September 1 |
Battle of Chantilly |
| September |
Maryland CampaignThe regiment lost 91 men as casualties |
| September 12-15 |
Siege and Capture of Harpers Ferry |
| September 17 |
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)Commanded by Major Trevannion D. Lewis. The regiment lost 103 casualties. Major Lewis was wounded. |
| October 15 | Major Lewis was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Alcibiades de Blanc was promoted to major |
| December 13 |
Battle of FredericksburgThe regiment was in reserve and suffered no casualties |
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1863
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| January 19 | Jubal Early was promoted to Major General. He had been commanding Ewell’s Division since Alexander Lawton was wounded at Sharpsburg. The division would be known afterwards as Early’s Division. |
| April 6 | Colonel Kelly, who had frequently been absent due to illness, transferred to Military Court. Lieutenant Colonel Lewis was promoted to colonel, Major De Blanc promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain German A. Lester of Company E to major. |
| May 3-4 |
Marye’s Heights and Salem Church (Chancellorsville Campaign)The regiment lost 12 killed and 71 wounded. Colonel Lewis was captured, Lieutenant Colonel DeBlanc was captured at Banks Ford and Major Lester was wounded. |
| May 18 | Colonel Lewis and Lieutenant Colonel De Blanc were paroled from Old Capitol Prison and rejoined the regiment. |
| June 13 |
Second Battle of WinchesterHay’s Brigade circled around the west side of Winchester and assaulted the Star Fort on the northwest side of town. The 6th, 7th and 9th were in the front line with the 5th and 8th in support as the brigade stormed the fort, capturing its artillery and driving off the defenders. Captain Albert DeJean was killed. |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgThe regiment was commanded by Colonel Trevanion D. Lewis and brought 296 men to the field. On July 1st it helped crush the Union Eleventh Corps north of Gettysburg. It lost heavily in the July 2 evening attack on Cemetery Hill, losing its colors, 14 men killed, 50 wounded and 11 captured. Colonel Lewis, Captain Victor St. Martin and Lieutenant A. Randolph were killed and Lieutenant Colonel DeBlanc was wounded. Major German A. Lester took command of the regiment after the attack. From the monument to Hays’s Brigade at Gettysburg: July 1. Advancing at 3 P. M. with Hoke’s Brigade flanked Eleventh Corps aided in taking two guns pursued retreating Union troops into town capturing many and late in evening halting on East High St. July 2. Moved forward early into the low ground here with its right flank resting on Baltimore St. and skirmished all day. Enfiladed by artillery and exposed to musketry fire in front it pushed forward over all obstacles scaled the hill and planted its colors on the lunettes capturing several guns. Assailed by fresh troops and with no supports it was forced to retire but brought off 75 prisoners and 4 stands of colors. July 3. Occupied a position on High St. in town. July 4. At 2 A. M. moved to Seminary Ridge. After midnight began the march to Hagerstown. |
| July | Lieutenant Colonel De Blanc was promoted to Colonel while in the hospital at Lynchburg. He would not be able to return to the regiment. Major Lester was promoted to lieutenant colonel. |
| October 9-22 | Battle of Bristoe Station |
| November 7 |
Battle of Rappahannock StationThe regiment was part of two brigades defending a bridgehead on the north bank of the Rappahannock River that was overrun in a rare night attack. Over 1,600 Confederate prisoners were taken from the eight understrength regiments defending the bridgehead, with only a few men swimming across the river at their backs. Of the 1200 men of Hays’ Louisiana Brigade, 699 were captured. The 8th Louisiana lost 162 men captured. |
| November-December |
Mine Run Campaign |
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1864
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| March | 500 of the 699 men from the brigade captured at Rappahannock Station were exchanged and returned to duty |
| May 5 |
Battle of the WIlderness |
| May 8 | The regiment with the rest of Hays’ Brigade was transferred to Johnson’s Division. |
| May 12 |
Battle of Spotsylvania Court HouseThe regiment fought in the defense of the Mule Shoe |
| June 1-3 |
Battle of Cold HarborLieutenant Colonel Lester was killed on June 1 |
| June |
Lynchburg Campaign |
| June | The regiment moved to the Shenandoah Valley with the Second Corps to become part of Early’s Army of the Valley. |
| June 1864 | Early’s Shenandoah Valley CampaignAssigned to Hays’ Brigade (Colonel William R. Peck commanding) of Brigadier General Zebulon York’s Consolidated Louisiana Brigade in Gordon’s Division of the Army of the Valley |
| July 9 |
Battle of MonocacyCommanded by Captain Louis Prados |
| August 15 | Lieutenant Colonel De Blanc transferred to the Invalid Corps. |
| August 25 | Shepherdstown |
| September 19 |
Third Battle of Winchester |
| September 21-22 |
Battle of Fisher’s Hill |
| October 19 |
Battle of Cedar Creek |
| October | The ten regiments of the Louisiana brigade were reorganized as a battalion of six companies with less than 500 men, although it would continue to be referred to as a brigade. Colonel Raine Peck (at 6’3″ and 300 pounds known as “Big Peck”) was given command of the brigade. |
| December | The regiment left the Army of the Valley and returned to the Petersburg defences with the remnants of the Second Corps |
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1865
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| January-March |
Siege of Petersburg |
| February 5-7 |
Battle of Hatcher’s Run |
| February 18 | Colonel Peck was promoted to brigadier general and transferred to the Western Theater. Colonel Eugene Waggaman of the 10th Louisiana was given command of the brigade of 400 men |
| March 25 |
Battle of Fort Stedman |
| April 2 |
Final Assault on Petersburg |
| April 6 |
Battle of Sayler’s Creek |
| April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseThe regiment surrendered 3 officers and 54 enlisted men under the command of Colonel Waggaman. The entire brigade only had 373 men. |