Overview
The 8th Ohio Cavalry (Union) was a cavalry regiment from Ohio, organized in early 1864 and serving until July 30, 1865. The regiment was formed by re-designating the veteran 44th Ohio Infantry as cavalry, in accordance with orders from the Secretary of War. Composed of both veterans and new recruits, the 8th Ohio Cavalry served primarily in West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, participating in several notable engagements during its term of service.
The regiment was attached to Union forces operating in the Department of West Virginia and the Army of the Shenandoah. It was involved in major campaigns and actions, including the battles of Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek, as well as numerous skirmishes and defensive operations in West Virginia.
Organization & Service
The 8th Ohio Cavalry was officially organized in January 1864, when the 44th Ohio Infantry was converted to cavalry service by order of the Secretary of War. The regiment was composed of veterans from the 44th Ohio and new recruits, and it retained its organization until mustering out in July 1865. The unit was mustered in for service at various points in Ohio and was assigned to the Department of West Virginia.
After its formation, the regiment was divided during the retreat from Lynchburg, Virginia, in June 1864. One detachment was ordered to Beverly, West Virginia, arriving there on June 30, 1864, while the other detachment participated in operations in the Shenandoah Valley. The latter detachment was engaged in several skirmishes and the battles of Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek.
On August 23, 1864, at Huttonsville, West Virginia, 80 men from Companies C, H, and K were surprised and captured, losing their arms, equipment, and horses. The regiment’s camp at Beverly was attacked on October 29, 1864, resulting in a severe fight in which the Confederates were repulsed with significant losses. On January 11, 1865, the camp at Beverly was again attacked and surprised by Confederate forces under General Rosser, resulting in the capture of 583 men, who were subsequently sent to Richmond as prisoners of war. These men were later paroled and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where they were mustered out by order of the War Department. The regiment as a whole was mustered out of service on July 30, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Retreat from Lynchburg, Virginia (June 1864)
- Operations in the Shenandoah Valley (Summer–Fall 1864)
- Battle of Winchester
- Battle of Fisher’s Hill
- Battle of Cedar Creek
- Skirmish at Huttonsville, West Virginia (August 23, 1864)
- Defense of Beverly, West Virginia (October 29, 1864)
- Attack and capture at Beverly, West Virginia (January 11, 1865)
Casualties
During the October 29, 1864, attack at Beverly, the regiment lost 8 killed, 25 wounded, and 13 missing. On January 11, 1865, 5 men were killed, 20 wounded, and 583 captured. Complete aggregate casualty figures for the entire service term are not fully detailed in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Samuel A. Gilbert
- Colonel Alpheus S. Moore
- Colonel Thomas Drummond
- Colonel Wesley Owens
- Lieutenant Colonel Lysander W. Tulleys
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Youart
- Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Dotze
- Major Jacob A. Souders
- Major James W. Shaw
- Major Nicholas D. Badger
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 8th Ohio Cavalry, including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details for those who served in the unit.
To view the full roster, visit the 8th Ohio Cavalry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (Department of West Virginia, Shenandoah Valley operations)
- Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Vol. 2, Federal Publishing Company, 1908