After the enemy retreated we were unmolested. It is due to the officers and men of the command to say that generally they behaved with cool and intrepid courage. Adjutant Pratt fell dead near my side gallantly fighting, musket in hand, and cheering on the men. Our loss, I regret to say, was comparatively heavy, [...]
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General Stevens with the 1st brigade led by Colonel Fenton and composed of the 8th Michigan, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Graves, 7th Connecticut and 28th Massachusetts, together with the 79th New York, 100th. Pennsylvania, and 46th New York, composing the brigade commanded by Colonel Leisure and four detached companies of artillery. Strict orders had been [...]
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Colonel Fenton says of his brigade in the affair: “The order not to fire, but use the bayonet, was obeyed, and the advance companies reached the parapet of the works at the angle on our right ana front, engaging the enemy at the point of the bayonet. During our advance the enemy opened upon our [...]
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These two regiments covered themselves with glory, and their fearful casualties show the hot work in which you were Greeley says: Stevens was in position at 3. 30 A. M. at our outer picket line within range of the enemy, and advanced at 4 the morning being dark and cloudy so swiftly and noiselessly that [...]
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General Stevens’s division, in which the regiment served, is mentioned in the Cyclopedia of 1864 as follows: General McDowell’s corps was stationed on the Warrenton turnpike, about two miles west of Fairfax. General Reno was pushed north of the turnpike at a point, about two and a half miles east of Centerville, and supported by [...]
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Immediately following these battles the regiment, in command of Lieutenant Colonel Graves, moved on the Maryland campaign, marching via Alexandria, Washington, Frederick City, and Middleton, Md., and became heavily engaged at South Mountain on September 14th, and on the 17th at Antietam. The gallant conduct of Major Belcher (then a lieutenant) at the battle of [...]
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On September 19th the regiment commenced to march back into Virginia again, via Sharpsburg and Harper’s Ferry. On the 24th Colonel Fenton returned to the regiment and assumed command of the 1st brigade, while Major Ely was in command of the 8th. The regiment left Waterford, Va., on the 2d of November, 1862, and arrived [...]
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On the 23d it was again in camp at Milldale, where it remained until the 6th of August. From Milldale it proceeded to Crab Orchard, Ky., via Cairo, Cincinnati, and Nicholasville, arriving at Crab Orchard on the 27th. Marching from that point on the 10th of September, via Cumberland Gap, it arrived at Knoxville, Tenn., [...]
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During the retreat to Knoxville and the siege of that place, which was immediately commenced by the rebel forces, the regiment endured many hardships and privations, suffering especially from want. of sufficient food and proper clothing. The 8th during the entire siege occupied the front line of works. On the 29th of November, the regiment, [...]
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On the 5th of December, 1863, the rebels withdrew from in front of Knoxville, and the 8th engaged in the pursuit as far as Rutledge, but on the 16th returned to Blain’s Cross Roads, where it encamped. Two hundred and eighty three of the regiment having reenlisted as veteran volunteers, on the 8th of January, [...]
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