8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment (Union)

Last updated
8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment
Active6 Aug. 1862 – 20 July 1865
CountryFlag of the United States (1861-1863).svg  United States
Allegiance Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg Union
Flag of Missouri.svg  Missouri
Branch Union Army
Type Cavalry
Size Regiment
Part of Army of the Frontier
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Washington F. Geiger
Elias Briggs Baldwin

8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed between 6 August and 15 September 1862. The regiment fought at Prairie Grove and Van Buren in 1862. The unit participated in Frederick Steele's expedition to Little Rock in 1863, fighting at Brownsville, Bayou Meto, and Bayou Fourche. From 1863 to 1865, the regiment remained in Arkansas, going on expeditions to suppress Confederate raiders and other occupation duties. The unit was mustered out of service on 20 July 1865. In January 1863, the regiment committed what has become known as the Huntsville Massacre.

Contents

Huntsville massacre

After the Battle of Prairie Grove the regiment was ordered to occupy the town of Huntsville, Arkansas. On January 10, 1863, nine southern men who had been detained for some days for reasons unknown were ordered executed by Lieutenant Colonel Elias Briggs Baldwin, for reasons that still today are unclear. Eight of the men would be killed, with the ninth being left as dead, but surviving. At the time of the incident, most of the regiment had moved on toward the Mississippi River with only a small detachment remaining in Huntsville. Baldwin would later be arrested for the murders and transported back to Springfield for trial, but due to witnesses being displaced or otherwise unable to make the trip to Springfield, and the members of the regiment who were present during the event being on active duty elsewhere, Baldwin was released with the charges dropped and dismissed from the army. It would be the only punishment ever carried out in response to the murders.

By the time Baldwin was arrested, the 8th Regiment was on the move in pursuit of Confederate Major General Sterling Price. The regiment would take part in numerous expeditions in and around Arkansas, and took part in the capture of Little Rock in September 1863. They remained in Little Rock until March 1864, when they were sent to Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas. They spent the remainder of the war securing Arkansas, during which time they engaged Confederate forces and Guerrilla bands in several minor skirmishes, but with no major actions.

Organizations

Organized at Springfield, Mo., August 6 to September 15, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, District of Southeast Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Arkansas Expedition, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of Arkansas, to January, 1864, and 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to March, 1865. 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade, 7th Army Corps, to July, 1865.

History

SERVICE.--Springfield, Mo., August 9, 1862. Blount's Campaign in Missouri and Arkansas October 17-December 27. Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7. Expedition from Fayetteville to Huntsville December 21-23. Expedition over Boston Mountains to Van Buren December 27-29. Bloomfield, Mo., May 12, 1863. Join Davidson's Division at Pilot Knob, Mo., June, 1863, and march to Clarendon on White River, Ark. Steele's Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., August I-September 10. Grand Prairie August 17. Brownsville August 25. Bayou Metoe or Reed's Bridge August 27. Reconnaissance from Brownsville August 29. Ferry's Landing September 7. Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Pursuit of Price September 11-14. Near Little Rock September 11. Duty at Little Rock until March, 1864. Duvall's Bluff December 1 and December 12, 1863 (Detachments). Indian Bay February 16, 1864. Clarendon March 15. Fitzhugh's Woods, near Augusta, April 1 (Detachment). Cache River Cotton Plant April 21-22. Operations against Shelby north of the Arkansas River May 13-31. Stony Point May 20. Searcy June 3 (Detachment). Bealer's Ferry, Little Red River, June 6 (Detachment). Expedition from Little Rock to Little Red River August 6-16. Jones' Hay Station and Long Prairie August 24. Expedition in pursuit of Shelby August 27-September 6. Expedition from Lewisburg to Strahan Landing November 26-December 2. Expedition from Brownsville to Augusta January 4-27 (Detachment). Duty in the Dept. of Arkansas until July. Mustered out July 20, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 26 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 352 Enlisted men by disease. Total 382.

See also

Related Research Articles

The 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Illinois Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 3rd Illinois Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It fought at such battles as Pea Ridge, Sherman's Yazoo campaign, the battle of Port Gibson, and the siege of Vicksburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Iowa Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 4th Iowa Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Kansas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 6th Kansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 9th Kansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Missouri Cavalry Regiment (Union)</span> Military unit

The 4th Missouri Cavalry Regiment, also known as the Fremont Hussars, was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Elements of the regiment fought at Pea Ridge, Whitney's Lane, Little Blue River, Byram's Ford, Westport, Marais des Cygnes, Marmiton River, and Mine Creek. Company C served at Iuka and Corinth while Company F was at Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg.

The 22nd Ohio Infantry Regiment, originally mustered in as the 13th Missouri Infantry Regiment, was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 77th Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 77th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

25th Ohio Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 6th Missouri Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was organized in February 1862 by merging three independent cavalry battalions.

The 24th Missouri Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 2nd Missouri Cavalry Regiment, also known officially as Merrill's Horse, was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was one of only a handful of Missouri regiments to be officially named as well as numbered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Missouri Cavalry Regiment (Union)</span> Military unit

The 3rd Missouri Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War principally in Missouri and Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Missouri Cavalry Regiment (Union)</span> Military unit

The 1st Missouri Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment with three battalions that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

Battery K, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and Plains Indian Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Texas Cavalry Regiment (Union)</span> Military unit

The 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment from Texas that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. This regiment, composed of eight companies, was organized at New Orleans, Louisiana from November 6, 1862, to February 26, 1864, to serve three years. It served in the Department of the Gulf and in Texas. It was increased to twelve companies on September 10, 1864, by the consolidation of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment. Afterwards, it continued to serve until it was mustered out of service November 4, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

1st Indiana Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 28th Regiment of Volunteers was a cavalry unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in August 1861, it did most of its fighting in the state of Arkansas. The regiment was in action at Cotton Plant, Helena, Bayou Fourche, Pine Bluff, Mount Elba, and Marks' Mills. One company was detached and fought in several actions in the Vicksburg campaign. The regiment was discharged in June 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Illinois Light Artillery</span> Military unit

The Springfield Illinois Light Artillery, also known as Vaughn's Independent Illinois Battery or Battery A, 3rd Illinois Light Artillery, was an artillery battery from Illinois that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in August 1862, the unit was first stationed at Bolivar, Tennessee. In August–September 1863 the battery participated in Frederick Steele's expedition to Little Rock, Arkansas, being engaged at Bayou Fourche. In spring 1864, the battery took part in the Camden Expedition, fighting at Prairie D'Ane and Jenkins' Ferry. The unit sat out the remainder of the war in Little Rock before being mustered out of service in June 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Missouri Cavalry Regiment (Union)</span> Military unit

7th Missouri Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry unit from Missouri that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed on 20 February 1862 by merging Bishop's Cavalry Battalion with some unattached cavalry companies. The regiment fought at Independence, Lone Jack, Prairie Grove and Van Buren in 1862. The unit participated in Frederick Steele's expedition to Little Rock in 1863, fighting at Brownsville, Ashley's Mills, and Bayou Fourche. In 1864, the regiment went on the Camden Expedition and fought at Mount Elba and Marks' Mills. The remaining soldiers were consolidated with the 1st Missouri Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on 22 February 1865.

References

Further reading