8th NH Infantry  (Three Years)

Date of Organization:     1 Dec 1861                           Muster Date:     28 Oct 1865

Regiment State:               New Hampshire                 Infantry             Regiment Number:         8th

Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded:      8              Officers Died of Disease or Accident:      2

Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded:      94           Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident:      256

By JOHN M. STANYAN, late Captain Eighth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer infantry, and Historian of the Regiment.

6 Newmarket Soldiers

KENISTON, George M – enlisted 18 Jan 1862 (aka Kenniston) at age 29 as a Private in Company A, 8th Infantry. Mustered out 16 Jan 1865 at Vidalia, LA.

KENISTON, Greenleaf C – enlisted 23 Nov 1861 at age 25 as a Private in Company D., 8thInfantry. Mustered in on 20 Dec 1861. Received a Disability Discharge on 26 Aug 1863 at Port Hudson, LA. (had also given home of record as Nottingham).

SPRINGER, Frank – (AKA Charles L.) – DoD- enlisted 29 Oct 1861 at age 18 as a Private in Company I, 8th Infantry. Mustered in on 20 Dec 1861, Died of Disease 9 Jan 1863 at Baton Rouge, LA. He was born in Brunswick, ME. Resided in Newmarket. NH.

Foreign Born – Credited to Newmarket:

GILL, William.. Born Ireland; age 23, credited Newmarket, enlisted  and mustered in 9 Aug 1864 as a Private in Company B; transferred to Company B Company G, 8th Infantry, Vet. Batt;l,  8th NH V 1 Jan 1865. Discharged 28 Oct 1865 at Vicksburg, Miss.

RAY, John. Unassigned, Born Ireland; age 24; Credited to Newmarket. Enlisted and mustered in 5 Aug 1864 as a Private; Delivered 9 Aug 1864 at Regimental Recruiting Depot, Portsmouth. NFRAGO

RICHTER, Fred. Unassigned.  Born Germany; age 28; credited to Newmarket. Enlisted and mustered in 8 Aug 1864 as a Private. Delivered 9 Aug 1864 at Regimental Recruiting Deport, Portsmouth, NFRAGO

Eighth Infantry History

(Known as First New Hampshire Cavalry, December 16, 1863, to February 29, 1864, and as Second New Hampshire Cavalry, March 1 to July 25, 1864.)

Col., Hawkes Fearing; Lieut.-Cols., Oliver W. Lull, George A. Flanders, William M. Barrett; Majs., Morrill B. Smith, Thomas Connolly, Henry H. Huse, John K. Stokes.

The 8th regiment, from the state at large, was mustered in at Manchester Oct. 25 to Dec. 29, 1861, for three years’ service. It was converted into a cavalry regiment between Dec. 16, 1863, and July 25, 1864, and was known first as the 1st and later as the 2nd N. H. cavalry.

The original members, not reenlisted, were mustered out on Jan. 18, 1865, at Concord and the reenlisted men and those whose term had not expired became the veteran battalion, 8th N. H. infantry, and were mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 28, 1865. The original members numbered 926, recruits 674, transferred 3, total strength 1,603. The 8th lost by death 99 men, of whom 81 were killed or died of wounds. The veteran battalion numbered 341, of whom 25 were recruits. Its loss by death was 13.

The 8th was ordered to Fort Independence, Boston harbor, embarked from there Feb. 16 and 18, 1862, for Ship island, Miss., where it arrived on Mar. 18 and 29, after a stormy passage. With Gen. Weitzel’s brigade, the regiment sailed for Donaldsonville, La., landed, and engaged the Confederates at Labadieville, La., on Oct. 27; was then transferred to the 2nd brigade of Emory’s division; was actively engaged at Fort Bisland, La., April 12-13, 1863, and participated in the siege of Port Hudson, La., from May 23 to July 9. On June 14 an assault was made, in which the 8th N. H. was sent in advance as skirmishers, a position requiring, according to orders, “The best troops.” The losses were heavy but the attack was successful.

In Sept., 1863, as part of McMillan’s brigade, the regiment participated in the second Red River expedition and marched north. In Jan., 1864, it was made a cavalry regiment and ordered back to New Orleans, where it remained until March 2.

Engagements followed at Henderson’s hill, La Natchitoches, Crump’s hill, Wilson’s farm, Sabine cross-roads, Monett’s bluff, Cane river, near Alexandria, Snaggy Point, Gov. Moore’s plantation, Moreauville, Bayou de Glaize and Yellow bayou, all between March 21 and May 18.

The duties of the 8th were so severe that they called forth a protest from Gen. Arnold, but the regiment never flagged. On June 16, 1864, the regiment left New Orleans for Concord and spent the next two months on furlough, leaving for Natchez, Miss., Aug. 29, where it remained until mustered out. The veteran battalion, 8th N. H. infantry, was then organized as above described by special orders, and was assigned to Vidalia. In March it returned to Natchez and was mustered out in October.

E N G A G E M E N T S .

Labadieville (or Georgia Landing), La. Oct. 27, 1862

Bayou Teche, La., (Co. B) Jan. 14, 1863

Port Hudson, La. Mar. 14, 1863

Bisland, La. April 12-14, 1863

Siege of Port Hudson, La. May 23 to July 9, 1863

Sabine Pass, La. Sept. 8, 1863

Henderson’s Hill (or Bayou Rapides), La. Mar. 21, 1864

Natchitoches, La Mar. 31, 1864

Crump’s Hill ( or Piney Woods ), La. April 2, 1864

Wilson’s Farm, La. April 7, 1864

Sabine Cross Roads, La. April 8, 1864

Monett’s Bluff (or Monett’s Ferry ), La. April 23, 1864

Cane River, La. April 24, 1864

Near Alexandria, La. April 25, 1864

Alexandria, La. April 26, 1864

Near Alexandria, La. April 27 to May 7, 1864

Snaggy Point (or Pineville), La. May 1, 1864

Govenor Moore’s Plantation, La. May 2, 1864

Moreauville (or Mansura, or Marksville), La. May 14-16, 1864

Bayou de Glaize, La May 17, 1864

Yellow Bayou, La May 18, 1864

Battles Fought 

Fought on 27 Oct 1862 at Labadieville, LA.

Fought on 20 Mar 1863.

Fought on 12 Apr 1863 at Bisland, LA.

Fought on 13 Apr 1863 at Bisland, LA.

Fought on 15 May 1863.

Fought on 26 May 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 27 May 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 29 May 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 31 May 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 14 Jun 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 20 Jun 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 27 Jun 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 6 Jul 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.

Fought on 9 Jul 1863.

Fought on 10 Jul 1863.

Fought on 16 Jul 1863 at Donaldsonville, LA.

Fought on 23 Aug 1863 at Baton Rouge, LA.

Fought on 15 Mar 1864.

Fought on 7 Apr 1864 at Sabine Cross Roads, LA.

Fought on 8 Apr 1864 at Sabine Cross Roads, LA.

Fought on 15 Apr 1864 at Grand Ecore, LA.

Fought on 24 Apr 1864 at Cane River, LA.

Fought on 25 Apr 1864 at Alexandria, LA.

Fought on 26 Apr 1864 at Alexandria, LA.

Fought on 28 Apr 1864.

Fought on 29 Apr 1864.

Fought on 1 May 1864 at Alexandria, LA.

Fought on 5 May 1864 at Alexandria, LA.

Fought on 14 May 1864 at Moreauville, LA.

Fought on 16 May 1864 at Moreauville, LA.

Fought on 17 May 1864 at Bayou De Glaize, LA.

Fought on 18 May 1864 at Yellow Bayou, LA.

Fought on 29 May 1864 at Morganzia, LA.

Fought on 31 May 1864.

(Source: New Hampshire Soldiers & Sailors War of the Rebellion, Ayling;

Regimental history taken from “The Union Army” by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1)