Georgia 8th Infantry Regiment
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 8th Georgia Regiment was organized for the War in late May and early June, 1861. Most of the units' members had seen pre-War militia service. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Bartow, Howard's Grove, Richmond, Virginia in June of 1861. Francis S. Bartow was its first commander.
Bartow was killed at First Manassas. Bartow and Gen. Bernard Bee were struggling to hold their ground and many Confederate troops were withdrawing when Jackson and his brigade came up. In the midst of a fierce battle, Bee is reported to have said: “There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!” The remark has been taken as a tribute to Jackson for standing firm in the face of superior Federal forces, a courageous example and rallying point for Bee, Bartow, and the men of the 8th.
Tragically for Bee and Bartow, both were soon killed. Bartow took a bullet in the heart after having one horse shot from under him and receiving a minor wound; Bee was mortally wounded, dying a short time after he was shot. Bartow and Bee became the second and third Confederate generals to be killed in the war,
The 8th Georgia continued throughout the war in Virginia except when they accompanied Longstreet to Tennessee, participating in Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. They surrendered at Appomattox.
FIELD OFFICERS:
Bartow, Francis S: Colonel
Gardner, William Montgomery--Colonel
Lamar, Lucius M.-Colonel
Towers, John R.-Colonel
Gardner, William Montgomery-Lieutenant Colonel, Brig. General
Cooper, Thomas L --Lieutenant Colonel
Towers, John R: Lieutenant Colonel
Lamar, Lucius M.- Major, Lieutenant Colonel
Magruder, E. J. Major, Lieutenant Colonel
Cooper, Thomas L. Captain, Major
Cooper, John F.Captain, Major
Lamar, Lucius M.- Captain, Major
Magruder, E. J: Captain, Major
Dawson, George Oscar- Captain, Major
Brantley, Amos W: Corporal, Adjutant
Branch, John L.- 2d Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant. Adjutant
Harper, Armistead R.- 2nd Lieutenant, Adjutant
Shellman, W. F.4th Sergeant, Adjutant
Harper, Charles M.- Adjutant
Dunlap, W. C.- Chaplain
Menard, Henry J:. - Sergeant Major
Andrews, Lewis H.-- Sergeant Major
Ayer, W. Frank- Quartermaster
Wheeler, Calvin Quartermaster
Wilcox, E. A.- Jr. 2nd Lieutenant, Assistant Quartermaster
Cothran, Hugh Dickson - Assistant Quartermaster
Davis, E. W. Assistant Quartermaster
Hall, S. H. M.- Quartermaster Sergeant.
Williams, J. H.- Quartermaster Sergeant
Bennett, William Henry- Assistant Quartermaster.-
Wellborn, Harrison G:. - Quartermaster Sergeant
Davis, E. W.- Assistant Quartermaster
Davis, William E.- Ordnance Sergeant
Towers, Daniel R.--Ordnance
Fleming, D. G. Ordnance Sergeant
Miller, H. V. M.-- Surgeon June 6, 1861.
Jackson, John F. Surgeon
Taylor, Bushrod - Acting Surgeon
Melhaney, J. W. - Assistant Surgeon
McFarland, John T. 1st Lieutenant, Assistant Surgeon
Hoyle, James M.- Assistant Surgeon
Griffin, George G.-- Assistant Surgeon
Cole, W. H. - Assistant Surgeon
Willis, D. W. - Assistant Surgeon
Bates, C. A. - Assistant Surgeon
Barnsley, George S: Assistant Surgeon
Brodie, J. L: Hospital Steward.
Brightwell, A. T.-Hospital Steward
Barns, Thomas M. - Hospital Steward.
Barnsley, George S. - Hospital Steward
Smith, Charles Henry (Bill Arp.) - Commissary (with rank of Major)
Norton, George C: Assistant Commissary
Morrell, W. J. - Acting Commissary Sergeant.
Dunlap, W. C. - Chaplain.
Eubanks, John J. Ensign
Merck, G. G. - Chief Musician.
Affleck, A. H.
Buckley, S. B.- Drummer.
Carruthers, Josephus- Musician.
Connelly, William C:
Dupree, M. M.(or W. M.) - Musician
Edwards, W. C: Musician
Fleming, John T. - Musician.
Harris, J. M: Musician.-
Holmes, John H. Musician
Kreuger, Paul (or Kruger) - Musician
Latimer, A. W: Musician
Lowry, John H: Musician.
Parrish, William F.(or Parish) - Musician.
Parrott, J. H. - Musician
Schwaab, F. - Musician.
Spear, Charles Henry (or Speer) - Musician.
Starowski, A.-Musician.
Walker, S. W. - Musician.
West, John Richard - Regimental Musician
Williams, Felix A.-Musician.
Wray, Pleasant J. - Musician.
Young, John A: Musician.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Assigned to F.S. Bartow's Brigade at First Manassas
For the balance of the war served under General G.T. Anderson.
BATTLES:
First Manassas
Yorktown
New Bridge
Seven Days
Rappahannock Station
Second Manassas
Sharpsburg
Fredericksburg
Suffolk
Gettysburg
Funkstown
Charleston
Chickamauga
Chattanooga
Knoxville
Wilderness
Petersburg
Appomattox
COMPANIES:
Company A Rome Light Guards Floyd County
Company B Oglethorpe Light Infantry Chatham County
Company C Macon Guards Bibb County
Company D Echols Guards Meriwether County
Company E Miller Rifles Floyd County
Company F Atlanta Grays Fulton County
Company G Pulaski Volunteers Pulaski County
Company H Floyd Infantry Floyd County
Company I Stephens Light Guards Greene County
Company K Oglethorpe Rifles- Oglethorpe County
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
REFERENCES:
Sifakis - Compendium of the Confederate Armies
Bartow was killed at First Manassas. Bartow and Gen. Bernard Bee were struggling to hold their ground and many Confederate troops were withdrawing when Jackson and his brigade came up. In the midst of a fierce battle, Bee is reported to have said: “There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!” The remark has been taken as a tribute to Jackson for standing firm in the face of superior Federal forces, a courageous example and rallying point for Bee, Bartow, and the men of the 8th.
Tragically for Bee and Bartow, both were soon killed. Bartow took a bullet in the heart after having one horse shot from under him and receiving a minor wound; Bee was mortally wounded, dying a short time after he was shot. Bartow and Bee became the second and third Confederate generals to be killed in the war,
The 8th Georgia continued throughout the war in Virginia except when they accompanied Longstreet to Tennessee, participating in Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. They surrendered at Appomattox.