8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment

The 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 8th Wisconsin's mascot was Old Abe, a bald eagle that accompanied the regiment into battle.

8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
ActiveSeptember 13, 1861 – September 5, 1865
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnion
BranchInfantry
SizeRegiment
Engagements
Commanders
ColonelRobert C. Murphy
ColonelGeorge W. Robbins
ColonelJohn W. Jefferson
ColonelWilliam B. Britton
Old Abe, the live war eagle of Wisconsin, 1876. From the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Service

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The 8th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service September 13, 1861.

The regiment was mustered out on September 5, 1865, at Demopolis, Alabama.

 
Jerome Case chose the eagle mascot as the trademark of Case Corporation

Battles

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The 8th Wisconsin Infantry along with their mascot Old Abe The War Eagle attended numerous battles and lesser engagements during the war:[1]

Total enlistments and casualties

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The 8th Wisconsin initially mustered 870 men and later recruited an additional 333 men, for a total of 1,203 men.[3] The regiment lost 2 officers and 53 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 219 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 280 fatalities.[4]

Commanders

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  • Colonel Robert C. Murphy (July 11, 1861 – January 10, 1863) was dismissed after failing to properly safeguard supplies on two separate occasions.
  • Colonel George W. Robbins (December 20, 1862 – September 1, 1863) was previously lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Corinth
  • Colonel John W. Jefferson (September 1, 1863 – October 11, 1864) was a grandson of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. He began the war as major of the regiment and was promoted to lieutenant colonel before becoming officially promoted to colonel on June 7, 1864. He was wounded twice and mustered out at the end of his three years of service.
  • Colonel William B. Britton (October 11, 1864 – September 5, 1865) began the war as captain of Co. G, and was then promoted to major and lieutenant colonel. He was officially promoted to colonel on March 8, 1865. Wounded at the Battle of Nashville, he mustered out with the regiment. After the war he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Old Abe the Civil War Eagle, Eau Claire County in the Civil War". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  2. ^ Cyrus F. Jenkins Civil War Diary, 1861–1862: Civil War Timeline: June 30, 1861–1862
  3. ^ 8th Wisconsin Archived March 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Civil war Archive

Further reading

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  • Armitage, Ambrose, and Alden R. Carter. Brother to the Eagle: The Civil War Journal of Sgt. Ambrose Armitage, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. [Bangor, ME]: Booklocker.com, Inc, 2006. ISBN 1-60145-042-7 OCLC 123916234
  • Barrett, J. O. History of "Old Abe," The Live War Eagle of the Eighth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. Chicago: O.L. Sewell, 1865. OCLC 8593499
  • Driggs, George W. Opening of the Mississippi: Or Two Years' Campaigning in the South-West. A Record of the Campaigns, Sieges, Actions and Marches in Which the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers Have Participated. Madison, Wis: W.J. Park & Co., printers, 1864. OCLC 1706997
  • Shumway, Francis, Ronald William Harris, and Rhonda Harris. Francis #3138: The Civil War Letters of Francis (Frank) Shumway, Company F, Eighth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, 1861–1862. La Crosse, WI : R.W. Harris, 1995. OCLC 37682547
  • Williams, J. M. The Eagle Regiment, 8th Wis. Inf'ty. Vols. A Sketch of Its Marches, Battles and Campaigns, from 1861 to 1865 ; with a Complete Regimental and Company Roster, and a Few Portraits and Sketches of Its Officers and Commanders. Belleville, Wis: Recorder Print, 1890. OCLC 38307788
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