8th Florida Infantry

8th Florida Infantry
Active	1861 – April 10, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Branch	Confederate States Army
Role	Infantry
Part of	Army of Northern Virginia
Engagements	American Civil War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Edward A. Perry Joseph Finegan

In the summer of 1862, the 8th Florida Infantry Regiment was assigned to E.A. Perry's newly formed Florida Brigade alongside the 2nd and 5th Florida. Perry's Brigade served under Anderson’s Division of Longstreet’s First Corps, of the Army of Northern Virginia.^[1]

They fought in the Battles of Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Antietam from Aug-Sep 1862. Colonel David Lang took command of the Florida Brigade and led them at Fredricksburg in Dec 1862 and Chancellorsville in May 1863. Under Col. Lang's command the Florida Brigade fought at Gettysburg in July 1863. They were attached to Picket's Division, and took part in the famous attack on the Union center on the 3rd day.

After the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania in 1864, the Brigade was joined by the victors of the Battle of Olustee, the 9th, 10th, and 11th Regiments. General Joseph Finegan, the famous commander of Florida forces at Olustee, took command of the Florida Brigade, then known as “Finegan’s Brigade”.^[2]

In the last year of war the Florida Brigade fought at Cold Harbor in June 1864 and Petersburg during the winter. The Florida Brigade retreated with the Army of Northern Virginia and surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. By the time of surrender, the regiments were the size of modern-day platoons or companies. The 2nd, 5th, and 8th surrendered 68, 53, and 32 men respectively. The 9th, 10th, and 11th surrendered 124, 162, and 23. Most of the 11th had been cut off in the Army’s retreat and had previously surrendered.^[3]

Engagements and Battles

1862

• Battle of 2nd Bull Run, August 28—30, 1862.
• Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862.
• Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.

1863

• Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1—4, 1863.
• Battle of Gettysburg, July 1—3, 1863.
• Bristoe Campaign, October 1863.
• Mine Run Campaign, November—December. 1863.

1864-1865

• Battle of the Wilderness, May 5–6, 1864.
• Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 8—21, 1864.
• Battle of North Anna, May 22—26, 1864.
• Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1—3, 1864.
• Petersburg Siege, June 1864—April 1865.
• Weldon Railroad, June 23, 1864.
• Ream's Station, June 30, 1864.
• Battle of Globe Tavern, August 21, 1864.
• Battle of Hatcher's Run, February 5–7, 1865. Farmville, April 7, 1865.
• Battle of Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.

See also

• Florida Civil War Confederate Units
• Florida National Guard
• 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
• 124th Infantry Regiment

References