8th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The New Hampshire 8th Infantry Regiment was organized at Manchester and mustered in December 23, 1861. Left State for Boston, Mass., January 24, 1862; thence sailed for Ship Island, Miss., February 15, arriving there March 15th.
It was converted into a cavalry regiment between Dec. 16, 1863, and July 25, 1864, and was known first as the 1st and later as the 2nd New Hampshire cavalry. The original members, not reenlisted, were mustered out on Jan. 18, 1865, at Concord and the reenlisted men and those whose term had not expired became the veteran battalion, 8th N. H. infantry, and were mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 28, 1865. The original members numbered 926, recruits 674, transferred 3, total strength 1,603. The 8th lost by death 99 men, of whom 81 were killed or died of wounds. The veteran battalion numbered 341, of whom 25 were recruits. Its loss by death was 13. The 8th was ordered to Fort Independence, Boston harbor, embarked from there Feb. 16 and 18, 1862, for Ship island, Miss., where it arrived on Mar. 18 and 29, after a stormy passage. With Gen. Weitzel's brigade, the regiment sailed for Donaldsonville, La., landed, and engaged the Confederates at Labadieville, La., on Oct. 27; was then transferred to the 2nd brigade of Emory's division; was actively engaged at Fort Bisland, La., April 12-13, 1863, and participated in the siege of Port Hudson, La., from May 23 to July 9. On June 14 an assault was made, in which the 8th N. H. was sent in advance as skirmishers, a position requiring, according to orders, "The best troops." The losses were heavy but the attack was successful. In Sept., 1863, as part of McMillan's brigade, the regiment participated in the second Red River expedition and marched north. In Jan., 1864, it was made a cavalry regiment and ordered back to New Orleans, where it remained until March 2. Engagements followed at Henderson's hill, La Natchitoches, Crump's hill, Wilson's farm, Sabine cross-roads, Monett's bluff, Cane river, near Alexandria, Snaggy Point, Gov. Moore's plantation, Moreauville, Bayou de Glaize and Yellow bayou, all between March 21 and May 18. The duties of the 8th were so severe that they called forth a protest from Gen. Arnold, but the regiment never flagged. On June 16, 1864, the regiment left New Orleans for Concord and spent the next two months on furlough, leaving for Natchez, Miss., Aug. 29, where it remained until mustered out. The veteran battalion, 8th N. H. infantry, was then organized as above described by special orders, and was assigned to Vidalia. In March it returned to Natchez and was mustered out in October.
The designation of Regiment changed to 2nd New Hampshire Cavalry December, 1863. There is no separate roster as a Cavalry Unit. The records are all filed under the New Hampshire 8th Infantry Regiment.
This Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 94 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 256 Enlisted men by disease. Total 360.
OFFICERS:
Col., Hawkes Fearing; Lieut.-Cols., Oliver W. Lull, George A. Flanders, William M. Barrett; Majs., Morrill B. Smith, Thomas Connolly, Henry H. Huse, John K. Stokes.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Butler's New Orleans Expedition to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to November, 1862. Independent Command, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1863.
SERVICE:
Duty at Ship Island till April, 1862. Occupation of Ports Wood and Pike, Lake Pontchartrain, May 5. Moved to New Orleans and duty at Camp Parapet till October. Expedition to Lake Pontchartrain July 23-August 2. Operations in District of LaFourche October 24-November 6. Occupation of Donaldsonville October 25. Action at Georgia Landing , near Labadieville, October 27, and at Thibodeauxville October 27. Duty in the District of LaFourche till March, 1863. Expedition to Bayou Teche January 12-14, 1863. Steamer "Cotton" January 14. Operations on Bayou Plaquemine and the Black and Atchafalaya Rivers February 12-23. Operations against Port Hudson March 7-27. Teche Campaign April 11-20. Fort Bisland, near Centreville, April 12-13. Irish Bend April 14. Expedition from Opelousas to Chicotsville and Bayou Boeuff May 1. Expedition to Alexandria on Red River May 5-17. Movement from Alexandria to Port Hudson May 17-24. Siege of Port Hudson May 24-July 5. Assault on Port Hudson June 14. Expedition to Nibletts Bluff May 26-29. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., August 22. Sabine Pass Expedition September 4-11. Moved to Camp Bisland September 15 and duty there till October. Moved to Opelousas, thence to Franklin December -.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contains the names of 2101 men.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
It was converted into a cavalry regiment between Dec. 16, 1863, and July 25, 1864, and was known first as the 1st and later as the 2nd New Hampshire cavalry. The original members, not reenlisted, were mustered out on Jan. 18, 1865, at Concord and the reenlisted men and those whose term had not expired became the veteran battalion, 8th N. H. infantry, and were mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 28, 1865. The original members numbered 926, recruits 674, transferred 3, total strength 1,603. The 8th lost by death 99 men, of whom 81 were killed or died of wounds. The veteran battalion numbered 341, of whom 25 were recruits. Its loss by death was 13. The 8th was ordered to Fort Independence, Boston harbor, embarked from there Feb. 16 and 18, 1862, for Ship island, Miss., where it arrived on Mar. 18 and 29, after a stormy passage. With Gen. Weitzel's brigade, the regiment sailed for Donaldsonville, La., landed, and engaged the Confederates at Labadieville, La., on Oct. 27; was then transferred to the 2nd brigade of Emory's division; was actively engaged at Fort Bisland, La., April 12-13, 1863, and participated in the siege of Port Hudson, La., from May 23 to July 9. On June 14 an assault was made, in which the 8th N. H. was sent in advance as skirmishers, a position requiring, according to orders, "The best troops." The losses were heavy but the attack was successful. In Sept., 1863, as part of McMillan's brigade, the regiment participated in the second Red River expedition and marched north. In Jan., 1864, it was made a cavalry regiment and ordered back to New Orleans, where it remained until March 2. Engagements followed at Henderson's hill, La Natchitoches, Crump's hill, Wilson's farm, Sabine cross-roads, Monett's bluff, Cane river, near Alexandria, Snaggy Point, Gov. Moore's plantation, Moreauville, Bayou de Glaize and Yellow bayou, all between March 21 and May 18. The duties of the 8th were so severe that they called forth a protest from Gen. Arnold, but the regiment never flagged. On June 16, 1864, the regiment left New Orleans for Concord and spent the next two months on furlough, leaving for Natchez, Miss., Aug. 29, where it remained until mustered out. The veteran battalion, 8th N. H. infantry, was then organized as above described by special orders, and was assigned to Vidalia. In March it returned to Natchez and was mustered out in October.
The designation of Regiment changed to 2nd New Hampshire Cavalry December, 1863. There is no separate roster as a Cavalry Unit. The records are all filed under the New Hampshire 8th Infantry Regiment.
This Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 94 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 256 Enlisted men by disease. Total 360.