8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate)

United States  U.S. Military   Virginia    Virginia Military   Virginia in the Civil War  8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry

Brief History

 * Organized early in 1862 with nine companies but increased its number to eleven in July.
 * The unit confronted the Federals in western Virginia, fought in East Tennessee then returned to western Virginia.
 * Later it participated in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations and the Appomattox Campaign.
 * This regiment contained 225 effectives in April 1864. However, none were included in the surrender at Appomattox because it had cut through the Federal lines and disbanded.
 * Field officers: Colonels James M. Corns and Walter H. Jenifer; Lieutenant Colonels Thomas P. Bowen, A. F. Cook, Henry Fitzhugh, and Albert G. Jenkins; and Major P. M. Edmondson.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A (Smyth Dragoons) - many men from Smyth County

Company B (Nelson Rangers) - many men from Nelson County

Company C (Grayson Cavalry) - many men from Grayson County

Company D (1st) (French's Comoany) - many men from Mercer County, West Virginia

Company D (2nd) Gunn's Rangers) - many men from Cabell County

Company E (Border Rangers) - many men from Mercer County, West Virginia

Company F (Bland Rangers) - many men from Bland County

Company G (Mountain Rangers) - many men from several counties of present-day West Virginia, including Monroe County and Putnam County

Company H (Tazewell Troop) - many men from Mercer County and Tazewell County

Company I (Kanawha Rangers) - many men from Fayette County and Kanawha County of present-day West Virginia

Company K (Fairview Rifle Guards) (Sandy Rangers) - many men from Wayne County, Virginia

Company L (White's Co. of Cavalry) - many men from Greenbrier County

The information above is from 8th Virginia Cavalry, by Jack L. Dickinson.


 * Many of the men were recruited in Smyth, Nelson, Kanawha, and Tazewell counties.
 * Field and Staff
 * Company A
 * Company B
 * Company C
 * Company D
 * Company D 1st
 * Company D 2nd
 * Company E
 * Company F
 * Company G
 * Company H
 * Company I
 * Company K
 * Company L

Other Sources
National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.