Virginia 8th Cavalry Regiment

Historical Notes:
The exact organization date of the 8th Cavalry has been lost. In September 1861 Captain John Thompson's Virginia Cavalry, later the "Smyth Dragoons," Company A, 50th Infantry was officially assigned as Co. A., 8th Virginia Cavalry.

The beginning of the 8th Virginia Cavalry probably took place on December 10, 1860, at Guyandotte, Cabell County, Virginia. This unit was named the Border Rangers and was the first unit of any kind in the Cabell County area. Starting in May of 1861, many troopers were recruited in adjoining Putnam County. Also recruited were the Sandy Rangers from Wayne County, nicknamed the "Bloodtubs" for the bright red shirts they wore and other local units, plus those from farther east. Former U.S. Congressman and Confederate Congressman Albert Jenkins recruited a company of partisan rangers and he became commanding officer of the 8th Virginia. Later he became a Brigadier General and was probably its most famous commander until his death on May 21, 1864 at Cloyd’s Mountain.

Much of the 8th's action was seen in Western Virginia until 1863 when the regiment or parts thereof saw service in Tennessee, including the battle of Knoxville under Longstreet and McLaws.

After the death of Jenkins, command of the regiment and Jenkins' other regiments passed to Brig. General John McCausland where they saw extensive service in Early's campaigns. By the time of Petersburg, the regiment was greatly lessened in number but still saw service as pickets and scouts at Petersburg. Officers:
Colonels:
James M. Corns
Walter H. Jennifer
Lieutenant Colonels:
Thomas P. Bowen
A.F. Cook
Henry Fitzhugh
Albert Jenkins
Major:
P. M. Edmondson
Assignments:
•September-December 1861: Army of the Kanawha
•March-May 1862: District of Lewisburg
•May-November 1862: District of Lewisburg, Department of Southwestern Virginia
•November 1862: Cavalry, Department of Western Virginia
•february-May 1863: Cavalry Brigade, Department of Western Virginia
•May-August 1863: Jenkins' Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia
•October-November 1863: Jones' Cavalry Brigade, Ransom's Division, Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee
•November-December 1863: Jones' Cavalry Brigade, Ransom's Division, Department of East Tennessee
•December 1863-February 1864: Jones' Cavalry Brigade, Ransom's Division, Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee
•February-March 1864: Jones' Brigade, Cavalry, Department of East Tennessee
•March-April 1864: Jones' Brigade, Jones' Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of East Tennessee
•April-May 1864: Jones' Brigade, Cavalry, Department of East Tennessee
•May-June 1864: Jones'-B.T. Johnson's Cavalry Brigade, Department of Southwestern Virginia
•July-November 1864: B.T. Johnson's Cavalry Brigade, Ransom's-Lomax's Cavalry Division, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia
•November 1864-January 1865: Payne's Brigade, Fitz. Lee's-Rosser's Cavalry Division, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia
•February-April 1865: Payne's Brigade, Fitz. Lee's Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles:
•Camp Creek, Stone River Valley, West Virginia (May 1, 1862)
•Giles Court House, West Virginia (May 10, 1862)
•Lewisburg, West Virginia (May 23, 1862)
•Jenkins' Expedition into West Virginia and Ohio [seven companies] (August 22-September 19, 1862)
•Buckhannon, West Virginia [seven companies] (August 30, 1862)
•Weston, West Virginia [seven companies] (August 31, 1862)
•Glenville, West Virginia [seven companies] (September 1, 1862)
•Spencer Court House, West Virginia [seven companies] (September 2, 1862)
•White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia (August 26-27, 1863)
•Knoxville Siege (November-December 1863
•Rogersville, Tennessee (November 6, 1863)
•Jonesville, Virginia (January 3, 1864)
•Gibson's and Wyerman's Mills, Indian Creek, Virginia (February 22, 1864)
•Piedmont (June 5, 1864)
•Lynchburg Campaign (June 1864)
•Monocacy (July 9, 1864)
•Chambersburg (July 30, 1864)
•Moorefield, West Virginia (August 7, 1864)
•3rd Winchester (September 19, 1864)
•Fisher's Hill (September 22, 1864)
•Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864)
•New Creek (November 28, 1864)
•Petersburg Siege [from February 1865] (June 1864-April 1865)
•Appomattox Station (April 8, 1865)
•Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2107 men.

Many of the men were recruited in Smyth, Nelson, Kanawah and Tazwell Counties.
Company C – Grayson Cavalry
Company E – Border Rangers
Bibliography for Research: