Eighth New York Infantry Regiment

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

“1st German Rifles”

The Eighth New York Infantry Regiment lost 90 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 42 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

1861
Organized at New York City.
April 26 The Eighth New York Infantry Regiment mustered in under the command of Colonel Louis Blenker, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Stahel and Major Andrew Lutz
May 26 Left New York for Washington, D.C. and duty in the defenses there attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Miles’ Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia
July 7

Great Falls

Two men were killed.
July 16-21 Advance on Manassas, Virginia.
July 21

Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Blenker, the regiment lost 2 men killed, 2 wounded and 7 missing. It was in reserve and covered the retreat of the army, repulsing a cavalry attack in the late afternoon.
August 5 Major Lutz resigned.
August 10-11 Colonel Blenker was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. Lieutenant Colonel Stahel was promoted to colonel, Captain Francis Wutschel of Company K promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Carl B. Hedterich of Company I promoted to major
August Duty in the Defenses of Washington at Rouch’s Mills and Hunter’s Chapel. Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac.
October Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
Novembr 15 Colonel Stahel was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and Lieutenant Colonel Wutschel promoted to colonel
December 2 Major Hedterich was promoted to lieutenant colonel
1862
January Attached to Stahl’s Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
March Attached to 1st Brigade, Blenker’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
April

Operations in the Shenandoah Valley

Attached to 1st Brigade, Blenker’s Division, Department of the Mountains
June Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
June 8

Battle of Cross Keys

The regiment brought 550 men to the field. It lost 80 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 105 men wounded, and 2 officers and 31 men missing.
June-August Duty at Sperryville and Centreville
August 16-September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 23 Colonel Wutschel was dismissed
August 28

Gainesville
August 29

Groveton

The regiment lost 4 men killed or mortally wounded.
August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

The regiment lost 5 men killed or mortally wounded.
September Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.; Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac
October 31 Prince Felix Salm-Salm mustered in as colonel.
November 28-30 Reconnaissance to Snicker’s Ferry and Berryville.
December 10-16 March to Fredericksburg, Virginia.
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
February-April Duty at Brook’s Station
April 22 Three years service men were consolidated to a company.
April 23 The Eighth New York Infantry Regiment mustered out with the end of its term of enlistment under the command of Colonel Prince Felix Salm-Salm, Lieutenant Colonel Hedterich and Major Hedterich
May 5 The company of three years service men was transferred to 68th Regiment New York Infantry