United States Regiments & Batteries > Illinois
The 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment lost 7 officers and 68 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 174 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg, as well as a marker commemorating the first shot of the battle.
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1861
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| September 18 | The 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment was organized at St. Charles, Illinois, and mustered in under the command of Colonel John Farnsworth and Lieutenant Colonel William Gamble. |
| October 13-17 | Moved to Washington, D.C.; At Meridian Hill |
| December 17 | Attached to Sumner’s Division, Army of the Potomac; at Alexandria, Va. |
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1862
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| March | Attached to Cavalry, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| March 10-19 | Advance on Manassas, Va. |
| March 20 | Reconnaissance to Gainesville |
| March 28-29 | Operations along the Orange and Alexandria R. R. |
| March 28 | Warrenton Junction, Bealeton Station |
| March 29 | Rappahannock Station |
| April 2 | Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock |
| April 23-May 1 |
Peninsula CampaignMoved to the Peninsula, Virginia; Attached to 2nd Corps |
| May 4 | Near Williamsburg |
| May 5 |
Battle of Williamsburg |
| May 23-24 |
Mechanicsville |
| May 31-June 1 |
Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines |
| June | Attached to Averill’s Cavalry Brigade, 5th Corps |
| June 25-July 1 |
Seven days before Richmond |
| June 25 | Ashland (Detachment) |
| June 26 | Mechanicsville, Atlee’s Station and near Hanover Court House |
| June 26-27 | Hundley’s Corners |
| June 27 |
Garnett’s Farm and Gaines’ Mill |
| June 28 | Despatch Station (Companies E and K) |
| June 29 |
Savage Station |
| June 30 |
White Oak Swamp and Glendale |
| July 1 |
Malvern Hill |
| July | Attached to 2nd Brigade, Stoneman’s Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac |
| July 4 | Reconnaissance from Harrison’s Landing; At Harrison’s Landing |
| July 5 | Malvern Hill |
| July 20-22 | Expedition to Malvern Hill |
| August 5 |
Skirmish at Malvern HillLieutenant Colonel Gamble was badly wounded with a bullet to the chest |
| August 16-23 | Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Alexandria |
| September | Attached to 1st Brigade, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac |
| September 3-4 | Falls Church |
| September 7-8 | Poolesville, Md. |
| September 9 | Barnesville |
| September 9 | Monocacy Church and Nolansville |
| September 10 | Middletown |
| September 11-12 | Sugar Loaf Mountain |
| September 12 | Frederick |
| September 13 | Middletown and Catoctin Mountain |
| September 14 |
Battle of South Mountain |
| September 15 | Boonesborough |
| September 16-17 |
Battle of AntietamFrom the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield: The Second Brigade crossed the Middle Bridge under a severe fire of the Confederate Artillery posted on Cemetery Hill. The 8th Pennsylvania was thrown to the right to support the Artillery north of this road. The remaining Regiments took position in the ravine on the left between this point and the Antietam, where, in support to the Batteries in front, they remained until relieved by the advance of the Regular Infantry, when the entire Brigade was withdrawn. The 8th Illinois and 3d Indiana moved up the west bank of the creek and bivouacked in rear of the right wing of the Infantry line. The 8th Pennsylvania crossed the Middle Bridge, ascended the east bank of the Antietam, recrossed the stream near Neikirk’s and bivouacked near the Illinois and Indiana Regiments. The 1st Massachusetts recrossed the Antietam by the Middle Bridge and bivouacked near Keedysville. |
| September 19 |
Shepherdstown Ford |
| October 1 | Reconnaissance from Sharpsburg to Shepherdstown, W. Va. |
| October 1 | Martinsburg |
| October 9-12 | Pursuit of Stuart into Pennsylvania |
| October 12 | Mouth of Monocacy |
| October 16-17 | Sharpsburg and Hagerstown Pike |
| October 29 | Purcellsville and near Upperville (Detachment) |
| October 31 | Snickersville |
| November 1-2 | Philomont |
| November 2-3 | Upperville |
| November 3 | Union |
| November 5-6 | Barber’s Cross Roads, Chester Gap and Markham |
| November 7 | Sperryville |
| November 8 | Little Washington |
| November 10 | Markham Station and Barber’s Cross Roads |
| December 5 | Colonel Farnsworth was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant Colonel Gamble, who had returned from a three month convalescence from his wound, was promoted to colonel. |
| December 12-15 |
Battle of Fredericksburg |
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1863
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| January 30 | Turner’s Mills |
| February | Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| February 10-16 | Operations in Westmoreland and Richmond Counties |
| March | Colonel Gamble received medical furlough for rheumatism and neuralgia along with the continuing effects of his wound. He would return just before Gettysburg. |
| March 15 and 29 | Near Dumfries |
| March 30 | Zoar Church |
| April 27 |
Chancellorsville Campaign |
| April 29-May 8 |
Stoneman’s Raid |
| May 1 | Rapidan Station |
| May 6 | Warrenton |
| May 20-21 | Lancaster |
| May 20-28 | Clendennin’s Raid below Fredericksburg |
| June 9 |
Battle of Brandy StationThe regiment was command by Captain Alpheus Clark until he was mortally wounded. Captain George A. Forsyth then took command until he was also wounded. |
| June 17 |
Aldie |
| June 18 |
Goose Creek |
| June 21 |
Upperville |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgCommanded by Major John Beveridge. The 8th Illinois had 491 men present, of whom 1 was killed, 5 were wounded and 1 missing. From the monument at Gettysburg:First line of battle July 1, 1863. Occupied until relieved by 1st Corps. One squadron picketed ridge east of Marsh Creek and supported by another squadron met enemy’s right advance, Lieut. Jones, Co. E, fired first shot as the enemy crossed Marsh Creek Bridge. On reforming line regiment took an advanced position on Hagerstown Road. Late in the day delayed enemy’s advance by attacking his right flank, thereby aiding the infantry in withdrawing to Cemetery Hill. In the evening encamped on left flank. July 2,1863 Buford’s Division retired toward Westminster. The rear of the monument is inscribed with the name, “David Diffenbaugh,” the only member of the regiment killed at Gettysburg.  Monument to the 8th Illinois Cavalry at Gettysburg |
| July 6-7 |
Williamsport |
| July 8 | Funkstown, Maryland and Boonesborough |
| July 9 | Chester Gap and Benevola or Beaver Creek |
| July 10-13 | At and near Funkstown, Md. |
| July 15 |
Falling Waters |
| July 21-22 | Chester Gap |
| July 22 | Lovettsville |
| July 31-August 1 | Kelly’s Ford |
| August 1-3 | Near Culpeper |
| August 4 | Brandy Station |
| August 27 | Weaversville |
| September 8 | Brandy Station |
| September 10-11 | Raccoon Ford and Stevensburg |
| September 13 | Culpeper and Pony Mountain |
| September 21-23 | Reconnaissance across the Rapidan |
| September 21 | Liberty Mills |
| September 22 | Jack’s Shop, Madison Court House |
| October 7 | Mitchell’s Ford |
| October 9-22 |
Bristoe Campaign |
| October 9 | Culpeper |
| October 10 | Raccoon Ford |
| October 10 | Morton’s Ford |
| October 11 | Stevensburg, near Kelly’s Ford and Brandy Station |
| October 12 | Fleetwood or Brandy Station |
| October 15 | Oak Hill |
| October 16 | Madison Court House |
| October 17 | Hazel River |
| October 27 | Bealeton |
| October 30 | Near Catlett’s Station |
| November 2 | Major John Beveridge mustered out. He would become Colonel of the 17th Illinois Cavalry Regiment. |
| November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
| November 8 | Warrenton or Sulphur Springs, Jeffersonton and Hazel River |
| November 26 – December 2 |
Mine Run Campaign |
| November 29 | Parker’s Store |
| December 1 | Jennings’ Farm, near Ely’s Ford |
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1864
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| January to March | Camp at Giesboro Point. Veterans on furlough until May |
| January 1864 | Attached to Defenses of Washington, D.C., 22nd Army Corps. Patrol duty at Washington, D.C., and scout duty at Fairfax, Va., having numerous engagements with Mosby’s guerrillas and the Black Horse Cavalry |
| January 31 | Reconnaissance to Madison Court House (Detachment) |
| April | Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac. Colonel Gamble, who continued to suffer from health issues throughout the war, transferred to Washington D.C. where he was given command of Camp Stoneman. |
| May-June |
Rapidan Campaign (Detachment) |
| May 5 | Craig’s Meeting House, Va. (Detachment) |
| May 5-6 | Todd’s Tavern (Detachment) |
| May 8 | Alsop’s Farm (Detachment) |
| May 18 | Guinea Station (Detachment) |
| May 27 | Salem Church and Pole Cat Creek |
| June 1-12 |
Cold Harbor |
| July 5 | Moved to Washington DC and assigned to the Defences of Washington. |
| July 5 | Point of Rocks, Maryland and Noland’s Ferry |
| July 7 | Middletown and Solomon’s Gap |
| July 7, 8 | Frederick (Detachment) |
| July 9 |
Battle of Monocacy; Rockville and Urbana |
| July 11 | Near Fort Stevens, D.C. |
| July 11-12 | Along northern defenses of Washington, D.C. |
| July 13 | Rockville |
| July 18 | Cockeyville |
| July 20 | Philomont |
| July 21 | Snickersville |
| July 30 | Monocacy Junction |
| October 9 | Near Piedmont |
| October 10 | Near Rectortown |
| October 11 | White Plains |
| October 28 | Upperville (Detachment) |
| October 28-29 | Operations at Snicker’s Gap (Detachment) |
| November | Attached to 1st Separate Brigade, 22nd Corps, Department of Washington |
| November 11 | Manassas Junction |
| November 26 | Fairfax Station |
| December 26-27 | Scout from Fairfax Court House to Hopewell Gap |
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1865
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| February 6-7 | Scout from Fairfax Court House to Brentsville |
| February 15-16 | Scout to Aldie and Middleburg (Co. B) |
| March 3-8 | Operations about Warrenton, Bealeton Station, Sulphur Springs and Centreville |
| March – July | Duty about Washington, D.C. |
| July | Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., then to Chicago, Ill. |
| July 17 | The 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment mustered out |