The 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 8th Wisconsin's mascot was Old Abe, a bald eagle that accompanied the regiment into battle.
8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment | |
---|---|
Active | September 13, 1861 – September 5, 1865 |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Union |
Branch | Infantry |
Size | Regiment |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Colonel | Robert C. Murphy |
Colonel | George W. Robbins |
Colonel | John W. Jefferson |
Colonel | William B. Britton |
The 8th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service September 13, 1861.
The regiment was mustered out on September 5, 1865, at Demopolis, Alabama.
The 8th Wisconsin Infantry along with their mascot Old Abe The War Eagle attended numerous battles and lesser engagements during the war:[1]
The 8th Wisconsin initially mustered 870 men and later recruited an additional 333 men, for a total of 1,203 men.[3] The regiment lost 2 officers and 53 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 219 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 280 fatalities.[4]