The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry (89th Volunteers) was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
First intended to be equipped as a volunteer infantry regiment the 8th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry was recruited in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Lycoming, Bucks and Schuylkill counties. It was mustered into the Federal service from July 23 to September 17, 1861, at Philadelphia, for a three years' term under the command of Colonel Ernest G. Chorman. It left the state for Washington on October 4, where it was brigaded with the 3rd Pennsylvania cavalry in Daniel Butterfield's 3rd Brigade of Fitz John PorterâÂÂs Division. The regiment spent the winter in the vicinity of the capital in the performance of various routine duties. On January 17, 1862, the vacancy caused by the retirement of Col. Chorman was filled by the appointment of Capt. David McMurtrie Gregg, of the 6th U. S. Cavalry,.
In the Peninsular campaign the brigade was enlarged by the addition of the 1st U.S. Cavalry and was attached to the Army of the PotomacâÂÂs (AoP) IV Corps. . It shared in a light skirmish at New Kent Court House and soon after participated in a severe skirmish near Garnett's house, where it suffered its first losses. In April 1862, the regiment was moved to Blake's Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to July 1862. It was present at the Battle of Fair Oaks and active at Malvern hill. During this campaign companies D, A and B were detached from the regiment on special duties.
Upon the AoPâÂÂs retreat to Harrison's landing, Col. Gregg moved up to the 8thâÂÂs cavalry brigade which was employed in heavy picket duties. As part of Stoneman's division, its brigade moved with Pleasonton's brigade to Yorktown, serving as rear-guard, but returned to Alexandria just after the second Bull Run battle.
On September 4, it was sent to Freedom Hill, encountering the enemy there, at Sugarloaf Mountain and Darnestown. It was now in the 2nd Brigade of Pleasanton's Cavalry Division. On the 12th it entered Frederick and drove out the rear-guard of the enemy's cavalry, capturing a number of prisoners. It then moved on a reconnaissance north into Pennsylvania to Gettysburg, captured about 50 more prisoners, and thence marched to the Antietam battlefield, skirmishing on the Sharpsburg Pike on the day after the battle. 00 It remained encamped at Sharpsburg for a time; had a sharp engagement with the enemy at Charlestown; and on October 26, as a part of Pleasonton's cavalry, led the advance of the army into Virginia, being engaged in rapid succession with heavy losses at Philomont, Upperville, Aldie, Barbour's Crossroads, Ashby's Gap, Chester Gap, Orleans, Amissville and Hazel River. It was next assigned to picket duty at the fords of the Rapidan and Rappahannock, and while in the vicinity of Leeds, a squadron under Capt. ÷Wilson, was captured after a spirited resistance.
Under the command of Lieut. Col. Amos E. Griffiths, the regiment moved to Fredericksburg on the night before the battle and had one squadron engaged on the following day. When Brig. Gen. Bayard fell, Col. Gregg took command of the division and was officially notified on the field of his promotion to brigadier general. Maj. Huey succeeded to the command of the regiment on June 17, 1862. The regiment now returned to Falmouth and was employed in scout and picket duty along the Rappahannock, going into winter quarters at Acquia creek about the middle of February 1863. While here it was assigned. to Col. Devin's brigade of Pleasonton's division, comprising the 8th and 17th Pa. and 6th N. Y. cavalry.
On April 21 it embarked upon the Chancellorsville campaign and in the first day's fighting at Chancellorsville suffered heavily in killed, wounded and horses. On May 2, it made one of the most gallant charges in the war, winning for itself the following commendation from Gen. Pleasonton: "The distinguished gallantry of the 8th Pa. regiment, in charging the head of the enemy's column, advancing on the XI corps, on the evening of the 2nd inst., has excited the highest admiration. * * * The gallant McVikar, the generous chivalric Keenan, with 150 killed and wounded from your small numbers. attest the terrible earnestness that animated the midnight conflict of the second of May."
After the battle, it moved to Potomac creek, and on the 14th to Acquia creek and Falmouth, being engaged in picket duties until the Gettysburg campaign. It was in action at New Market, losing 15 killed and wounded, and as part of the 2nd brigade, 2nd cavalry division, it moved on the 30th to Westminster, thence to Hanover Junction and on July 4, to Emmitsburg, where it joined the command of Brig. Gen. Kilpatrick, crossed South Mountain and assisted in the capture of 250 wagons and 600 prisoners of the enemy's wagon train.
During the next few days, it was engaged in constant skirmishing in the vicinity of Boonesboro and Jones' cross-roads. Returning to Virginia, it was engaged in guard and picket duty on the Manassas railroad and at Thoroughfare Gap, and in August it became a part of the 1st brigade commanded by Gen. J. Irvin Gregg. In the campaign which followed, the regiment was heavily engaged at Sulphur springs, and was again in action two days later at Bristoe Station. In the advance to Mine Run, it was sharply engaged at New Hope Church and on its return went into winter quarters at Bealeton Station. During the winter it engaged in raids into the Luray Valley and through Chester gap. Most of the men reenlisted at this time and were given veteran furloughs by battalions.
Upon the opening of the Wilderness campaign the 8th participated in the various movements and battles of Sheridan's corps, losing about 100 men on the Richmond raid, 25 at Haw's shop, and 35 at Trevilian Station. At St. Mary's Church, Gregg's division was attacked by superior numbers, and the 8th again lost heavily, Col. Huey and Capt. Piggott being captured, and some 40 men being killed, wounded or missing.
On July 1, it crossed the James with its division, moved to Blackwater, and was engaged on picket duty until the 26th on the Jerusalem plank road. It then crossed the Appomattox and the James; was in action at Malvern hill, and again on the Charles City road. About two weeks later it was again engaged at Charles City Road and in August was in action the whole day at Yellow Tavern, where Lieut. Col.÷Wilson was among the wounded, and the command devolved on Maj. Wistar. The regiment was now reduced to about 200 men fit for duty. At Reams' station, on Aug. 23, Maj. Wistar was among the wounded and the command devolved on Capt. Alex. McCallum, all its field officers having been killed, wounded or captured.
It participated in the cavalry operations during the siege of Petersburg and in the spring of 1865, moved with Sheridan to Five Forks, participating in a brilliant campaign which resulted in the surrender of Lee, after which the 8th was ordered to Lynchburg and consolidated with the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry on July 24. It was finally mustered out with that organization on Aug. 11 1865, at Richmond.
Left Pennsylvania for Washington, D.C., October 4, 1861. Duty at Arlington Heights, Va., defenses of Washington, D.C., until March 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10âÂÂ15. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula April. Siege of Yorktown April 11-May 4. Baltimore Cross Roads, near New Kent Court House, May 13. Operations about Bottom's Bridge May 20âÂÂ23. Reconnaissance toward Richmond and to Turkey Island Creek Bridge May 23. Savage Station May 24. Reconnaissance to Seven Pines May 24âÂÂ27. Chickahominy May 24. Garnett's Farm and White Oak May 27. Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) May 31-June 1. Reconnaissance to White Oak Swamp June 22âÂÂ23. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Bottom's Bridge June 28âÂÂ29. Savage Station June 29. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. (Company A at the Headquarters of Gen. Porter; Company B at the Headquarters of Gen. McClellan; Company D at the Headquarters of Gen. P. St. G. Cooke.) Turkey Island Bridge July 20. Reconnaissance to Malvern Hill July 23. Retreat from the Peninsula and movement to Alexandria. Maryland Campaign September. Falls Church September 3âÂÂ4. Sugar Loaf Mountain September 10âÂÂ11. Frederick September 12. Middletown September 13. Battle of Antietam September 16âÂÂ17. Boteller's Ford, Sharpsburg, Md., September 19. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Amissville September 30. Reconnaissance from Sharpsburg to Shepherdstown and Martinsburg, W. Va., October 1 (3 companies). Philomont November 1âÂÂ2. Castleman's Ferry, Upperville, Union, and Bloomfield November 2âÂÂ3. Aldie and Ashby's Gap November 3. Markham Station November 4. Barbee's Cross Roads November 5. Waterloo Bridge November 7. Hazel River November 8. Newby's Cross Roads, near Amissville, November 10. Philomont November 19. Leed's Ferry and King George Court House December 2. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12âÂÂ15.
Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. 1863. Richard's Ford and Barnett's Ford April 29. Ely's Ford Road April 30. Chancellorsville May 1âÂÂ2. Salem Heights and Banks' Ford May 4. Aldie June 17. Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 21. Thoroughfare Gap June 25. Westminster, Md., June 30. Battle of Gettysburg July 1âÂÂ3. Monterey Gap July 4. Smithsburg July 5. Williamsport and Hagerstown, Md., July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Jones' Cross Roads, near Williamsport, July 10 and 13. Hagerstown July 10âÂÂ13. St. James College July 11âÂÂ12. Williamsport Road July 14. Shepherdstown July 16. Rixey's Ford September 2. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13âÂÂ17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Rapidan Station September 15âÂÂ16. Robertson's River September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 9âÂÂ22. Near Warrenton October 11. Warrenton or White Sulphur Springs October 12. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. St. Stephen's Church October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7âÂÂ8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Blind Ferry December 5. Raid to Luray Valley December 21âÂÂ23. Regiment reenlisted December 31, 1863.
Raid through Chester Gap January 1âÂÂ4, 1864. Rapidan Campaign MayâÂÂJune 1864. Todd's Tavern May 5âÂÂ8. Spotsylvania Court House May 8âÂÂ21. Sheridan's Raid to James River May 9âÂÂ24. Matapony Church May 9. North Anna River May 9âÂÂ10. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Brook Church or Fortifications of Richmond May 12. Haxall's Landing May 18. Line of the Pamunkey May 26âÂÂ28. Battle of Totopotomoy Creek May 28âÂÂ31. Haw's Shop May 28. Cold Harbor May 31-June 1. Sumner's Upper Bridge June 2. Sheridan's Trevillian Raid June 7âÂÂ24. Trevillian Station June 11âÂÂ12. White House or St. Peter's Church June 21. Black Creek or Tunstall Station June 21. St. Mary's Church June 24. Siege of Petersburg and Richmond June 1864 to April 1865. Warwick Swamp July 12. Charles City Cross Roads July 15âÂÂ16. Demonstration north of the James River at Deep Bottom July 27âÂÂ29. Malvern Hill July 28. Warwick Swamp July 30. Demonstration north of the James River at Deep Bottom August 13âÂÂ20. Gravel Hill August 14. Strawberry Plains and Deep Run August 14âÂÂ18. Charles City Cross Roads August 16. Dinwiddie Road, near Ream's Station, August 23. Ream's Station August 25. Belcher's Mills September. 17. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Arthur's Swamp September 30-October 1. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27âÂÂ28. Reconnaissance to Stony Creek November 7. Stony Creek Station December 1. Bellefield Raid December 7âÂÂ12.
Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5âÂÂ7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30âÂÂ31. Five Forks April 1. Paine's Cross Roads and Amelia Springs April 5. Battle of Sailor's Creek April 6. Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23âÂÂ29. Duty at Lynchburg and in the Department of Virginia until July.
The regiment lost a total of 188 men during service; 5 officers and 55 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 126 enlisted men died of disease.
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