Eighth New Jersey Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New Jersey > Eighth New Jersey Infantry Regiment

The Eighth New Jersey Infantry Regiment lost 9 officers and 167 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer and 109 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
The regiment was organized at Camp Olden, Trenton, New Jersey.
September 14 The Eighth New Jersey Infantry Regiment  mustered in under the command of Colonel Adolphus J. Johnson.
October 1 Left State for Washington, D.C. Attached to Casey’s Provisional Brigade, Division of the Potomac at Meridian Hill.
November 3-11 Expedition to lower Maryland
December 6 Duty at Budd’s Ferry, Maryland attached to 3rd Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
1862
March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 5-8

Peninsula Campaign

Moved to the Virginia Peninsula
April 10-May 4

Siege of Yorktown, Virginia
May 5

Battle of Williamsburg
May 31-June 1

Battle of Fair Oaks (or Seven Pines)
June 2-25 Duty near Seven Pines
June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond
June 25

Action at Oak Grove, near Seven Pines
June 29

Battle of Savage Station
June 30

Glendale
July 1

Malvern Hill
July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 15-26 Movement to Centreville
August 26-
September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 27 Action at Bristoe Station (or Kettle Run)
August 29

Battle of Groveton
August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)
September 1

Battle of Chantilly
November 1 Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C.
November 1-28 Movement to Falmouth, Virginia
November 28-December 11 Duty near Falmouth, Virginia
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January-April At Falmouth
January 20-24
“Mud March”
February 5-7 Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church
March 19 Colonel Johnson Resigned
April 1 John Ramsey was promoted to colonel.
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The Eighth New Jersey Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel John Ramsey until he was wounded on July 2nd. Captain John Langton then took command.

From the monument in the Wheatfield:

8th New Jersey Volunteers, Col. John Ramsay. Engaged here July 2nd, 1863, being detached from the Brigade. Supported batteries on Cemetery Ridge July 3. Took into action 170. Killed 7. Wounded 7 officers, 31 men. Missing 2. Total 47.
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va.
July 23
Wapping Heights, Va.
August Duty near Warrenton, Va.
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign
October 15 McLean’s Ford
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 7

Kelly’s Ford
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign
November 27

Payne’s Farm
December Duty near Brandy Station
1864
February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Attached to 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Corps
May 3-June 15 Campaign from the Rapidan to the James attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
May 5-7
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-10 The regiment was detailed along with the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment and 16th Massachusetts infantry Regiment to guard an ammunition train.
May 8-21
Spotsylvania Court House
May 12

Assault on the Salient (“Bloody Angle”)
May 19

Harris Farm, or Fredericksburg Road
May 23-26

North Anna River
May 23-24 Ox Ford
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy
June 1-12

Cold Harbor

June 16-18

Before Petersburg
June 16-18

Siege of Petersburg begins
June 22-23

Jerusalem Plank Road
July 27-29 Demonstration north of the James
July 27-28

Deep Bottom
August 13-20 Demonstration north of the James
August 14-18

Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom
August 25

Ream’s Station
September 10

Fort Sedgwick
September 29-
October 2

Poplar Springs Church
October 2-5 Yellow House
October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run
December 7-12

Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad
1865
February 5-7

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run

The regiment was commanded by Major Hartford and lost 11 enlisted men killed and 2 officers and 35 enlisted men wounded.
March 25 Watkins’ House
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign
March 30-31

Boydton and White Oak Roads
March 31 Crow’s House
April 2

Fall of Petersburg
April 3-9 Pursuit of Lee
April 6

Sailor’s Creek
April 7

High Bridge, Farmville
April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
May 2-12 March to Washington. D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June Duty at Washington
July 17 The Eighth New Jersey Infantry Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel Ramsey.