8th Illinois Cavalry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at St. Charles, Ills., and mustered in September 18, 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., October 13-17. At Meridian Hill until December 17 and at Alexandria, Va., until March, 1862. Attached to Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, December, 1861, to March, 1862, Cavalry 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. Stoneman's Light Brigade to June, 1862. Averill's Cavalry Brigade, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Stoneman's Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, Pleasanton's Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, until February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1864 (Detachment). Regiment Unattached Defenses of Washington, D.C., 22nd Army Corps, to November, 1864. 1st Separate Brigade, 22nd Army Corps, Department of Washington, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.--Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-19, 1862. Reconnaissance to Gainesville March 20. Operations on the Orange and Alexandria R. R. March 28-29. Warrenton Junction March 28. Bealeton Station March 28. Rappahannock Station March 29. Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock April 2.

Moved to the Peninsula, Virginia, April 23-May 1.
May 1-September 2, 1862 - The Peninsula Campaign
- Near Williamsburg May 4.
- May 5, 1862 - Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia
- Mechanicsville May 23-24.
- May 31-June 1, 1862 - Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia
- June 25-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia
  - June 25, 1862 - Skirmish near Ashland, Virginia
- Mechanicsville, Atlee's Station June 26.
- June 26, 1862 - Skirmish at Hanover Court House
- Hundley's Corners June 26-27.
- June 27-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia^[1]
  - June 27, 1862 - Engagement at Gaines's Mill, Virginia
  - June 27-June 28, 1862 - Engagement at Garnett's and Golding's Farms, Virginia
  - Despatch Station June 28 (Cos. "E," "K").
  - June 29, 1862 - Engagement at Savage's Station, Virginia
  - June 30, 1862 - Engagement at White Oak Swamp, Virginia
  - June 30, 1862 - Engagement at Glendale, Virginia
  - July 1, 1862 - Engagement at Malvern Hill, Virginia

Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing July 4. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Malvern Hill July 5. Expedition to Malvern Hill July 20-22. Malvern Hill August 5. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-23. Falls Church September 3-4.

September 3-20, 1862 - The Maryland Campaign
October 9-12, 1862 - Pursuit of Stuart into Pennsylvania
October 12-October 13, 1862 - Skirmishes on the Hagerstown Pike, Maryland^[2]
October 22, 1862 - Skirmish at Monocacy, Maryland

Sharpsburg and Hagerstown Pike October 16-17. Purcellsville and near Upperville October 29 (Detachment). Snickersville October 31. Philomont November 1-2. Upperville November 2-3. Union November 3. Barber's Cross Roads, Chester Gap and Markham November 5-6. Sperryville November 7. Little Washington November 8. Markham Station and Barber's Cross Roads November 10. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Turner's Mills January 30, 1863. Operations in Westmoreland and Richmond Counties February 10-16. Near Dumfries March 15 and 29.

March 30, 1863 - Skirmish at Zoar Church, Virginia
April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign
- May 1-5, 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia^[3]

Stoneman's Raid April 29-May 8. Rapidan Station May 1. Warrenton May 6. Lancaster May 20-21. Clendennin's Raid below Fredericksburg May 20-28. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9.

June 11-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign^[4]
- June 17, 1863 - Action at Aldie, Virginia^[5]
- Goose Creek June 18.
- Upperville June 21.
- July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- July 6, 1863 - Action at Williamsport, Maryland
- July 8, 1863 - Skirmish near Funkstown, Maryland
- July 8, 1863 - Action at Boonsboro, Maryland
- July 9, 1863 - Skirmish at Benevola, Maryland
- Chester Gap July 9.
- July 10-13, 1863 - Skirmishes near Funkstown, Maryland
- July 14, 1863 - Engagement at Falling Waters, Maryland

Chester Gap July 21-22. Lovettsville July 22. Kelly's Ford July 31-August 1. Near Culpeper August 1-3. Brandy Station August 4. Weaversville August 27. Brandy Station September 8. Raccoon Ford and Stevensburg September 10-11. Culpeper and Pony Mountain September 13.

September 13, 1863 - Skirmish at Catoctin Mountain, Maryland

Reconnaissance across the Rapidan September 21-23. Liberty Mills September 21. Jack's Shop, Madison Court House, September 22. Mitchell's Ford October 7. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Culpeper October 9. Raccoon Ford October 10. Morton's Ford October 10. Stevensburg, near Kelly's Ford and Brandy Station, October 11. Fleetwood or Brandy Station October 12. Oak Hill October 15. Madison Court House October 16. Hazel River October 17. Bealeton October 27. Near Catlett's Station October 30. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Warrenton or Sulphur Springs, Jeffersonton and Hazel River November 8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Parker's Store November 29. Jennings' Farm, near Ely's Ford, December 1. Reconnaissance to Madison Court House January 31, 1864 (Detachment). Veterans on furlough January to March, 1864. Camp at Giesboro Point until May. Patrol duty at Washington, D.C., and scout duty at Fairfax, Va., until April, 1865, having numerous engagements with Mosby's guerrillas and the Black Horse Cavalry.

May 4-June 12, 1864 - The Overland Campaign (detachment)
- May 5-6, 1864 - Engagement at Todd's Tavern, Virginia
- May 5-7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
  - May 5, 1864 - Combat at Craig's Meeting House, Virginia (Detachment)
- May 8-21, 1864 - Battles of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
  - May 8, 1864 - Combat at Alsop's Farm, Virginia
  - May 18, 1864 - Skirimish at Guinea Station, Virginia
- Salem Church and Pole Cat Creek May 27.
- June 1-12, 1864 - Battles of Cold Harbor, Virginia (Detachment)
July 5, 1864 - Skirmish at Point of Rocks, Maryland
July 5, 1864 - Skirmish at Noland's Ferry, Maryland
July 7, 1864 - Skirmish at Middletown, Maryland
July 7, 1864 - Skirmish at Solomon's Gap, Maryland
July 7-July 8, 1864 - Skirmishes at Frederick, Maryland
July 9, 1864 - Battle of Monocacy, Maryland
Rockville July 9.^[6]
July 9, 1864 - Skirmish at Urbana, Maryland
July 10, 1864 - Skirmish at Monocacy, Maryland^[7]
July 11, 1864 - Skirmish near Fort Stevens, District of Columbia
July 12, 1864 - Action at Fort Stevens, District of Columbia
July 13, 1864 - Skirmish near Rockville, Maryland
July 14, 1864 - Skirmish at Poolesville, Maryland^[8]
July 18, 1864 - Skirmish at Cockeysville, Maryland
Philomont July 20.
Snickersville July 21.
July 30, 1864 - Skirmish at Monocacy Junction, Maryland

Near Piedmont October 9. Near Rectortown October 10. White Plains October 11. Upperville October 28 (Detachment). Operations at Snicker's Gap October 28-29 (Detachment). Manassas Junction November 11. Fairfax Station November 26. Scout from Fairfax Court House to Hopewell Gap December 26-27. Scout from Fairfax Court House to Brentsville February 6-7, 1865, and to Aldie and Middleburg February 15-16 (Co. "B").

February 15-February 16, 1865 - Scout from Fairfax Court House to Aldie and Middleburg, Virginia (Company B)
Operations about Warrenton, Bealeton Station, Sulphur Springs and Centreville March 3-8.
Duty about Washington, D.C., until July.
Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Chicago, Ill., and mustered out July 17, 1865.