Unit History – 8th Louisiana Infantry

Completed its organization at Camp Moore, Louisiana, in June, 1861. Its members were from the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Bienville, St. Martin, St. Landry, Webster, Rapides, and Plaquemines. Sent to Virginia, six companies (508 men) were held in reserve during the Battle of First Manassas. During the war it was brigaded under Generals R. Taylor, Hays, and York. It fought in JAckson’s Valley Campaign and on many battlefields of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days’ Battle to Cold Harbor. The 8th went on to participate in Early’s operations in the Shenandoah Valley, then shared in various conflicts around Appomattox. It reported 9 killed and 37 wounded at Cross Keys and Port Republic, had 15 killed and 69 wounded during the Seven Days’ Battles, and sustained 91 casualties in the Maryland Campaign. The unit lost 12 killed and 71 wounded at Chancellorsville and twenty-five percent of the 296 engaged at Gettysburg.. It had 162 captured at Rappahannock Station. Only 3 officers and 54 men surrendered. Its commanders were Colonels Alcibiades DeBlanc, Henry B. Kelly, and Trevanion D. Lewis; Lieutenant Colonels Germain A. Lester and Francis T. Nicholls; and Major John B. Prados.

From Joseph H. Crute, Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army, p. 146