EIGHTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

THIS regiment (with the exception of Companies H, I and K) was
organized at Baltimore, Md., from August, 1862, to April, 1863,
to serve three years. This regiment, as originally constituted,
consisted of seven companies, of which Company A was recruited
in Cecil County; Companies B, C, D, F and G were recruited in
Baltimore City, and Company B in Frederick County, to serve
for three years. Companies H, I and K were composed of nine
months' drafted men and substitutes. They were mustered in from December, 1862,
to April, 1863, and were mustered out as their terms of service expired.

The veterans and recruits of Companies B and C, Purnell Cavalry (dismounted),
were transferred to the regiment November 17th, 1864, and became Companies H and
I of the Eighth Regiment of Infantry.

Andrew W. Denison, who had been prominently connected with the "Baltimore City
Guard Battalion," of Baltimore City, prior to the Civil War (one of the crack military
organizations of Baltimore), was commissioned the Colonel of the regiment, and, through
his untiring efforts, the regiment was speedily drilled and disciplined and prepared for
active field service, and was soon made conspicuous for its efficiency and esprit de corps.

The regiment became a part of the famous Maryland Brigade, and, in the early part
of September, 1862, when General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Vir-
ginia invaded Maryland and made a demonstration in the direction of Baltimore, the
Eighth Regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, were called upon to repel the invaders.

On the 18th day of September, 1862, this regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, took
the field with the Army of the Potomac, then on the banks of the Potomac, in Western
Maryland, and rendered valuable service.

The regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, was attached to the 8th Army Corps
March 27, 1863, and known as 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Army Corps, and remained
with the Corps until July 11, 1863, when they were assigned with this Brigade to the 1st
Army Corps, and known as the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 1st Army Corps.

In January, 1864, the Maryland Brigade became the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 1st
Army Corps.

On March 23, 1864, the Maryland Brigade became the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th
Army Corps.

On June 6, 1864, the Maryland Brigade became the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th
Army Corps, until the expiration of the close of the war.

On the 3d of April, 1863, the 8th Regiment was sent to West Virginia to assist in
repulsing a raiding party of the enemy in that section; the opportune arrival of the 8th
Regiment and other reinforcements at Clarksburg, West Virginia, caused the enemy to
retire. After a brief campaign in the mountain section of West Virginia, the 8th Regi-
ment returned to Bolivar Heights, Va., opposite Maryland Heights, May 27, 1863.