8th Regiment, California Infantry (Union)

Brief History
The 8th Regiment, California Infantry was organized by companies between November 17, 1864 and February 27, 1865. The regiment mustered out October 24, 1865.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:

The Civil War Archive section, 8th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 8 June 2012).

The Wikipedia article, 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry, (accessed 8 June 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A - At Watsonville and mustered in November 17, 1864. Stationed at Fort Point, California, until February, 1865. At Cape Disappointment, mouth of the Columbia River, Washington Territory, until August 17, 1865, and at Fort Dalles, Oregon, untll October, 1865. Ordered to Fort Point, California, October, 1865.

Company B - At Sacramento and mustered in December 5, 1864. Stationed at Fort Point, California, until April 17, 1865. Moved to Fort Stevens, Oregon, April 17-26, and duty there until Octobcr 11. Ordered to Fort Point, California.

Company C - Organized at San Jose and mustered in January 28, 1865. At Fort Point, California, until October, 1865.

Company D - Organized at San Francisco and mustered in February 14, 1865. Stationed at Fort Point, California until October, 1865.

Company E - Organized at San Francisco January 25, 1865. Stationed at Alcatraz Island until October, 1865.

Company F - Organized at San Francisco February 14, 1865. Stationed at Point Blunt, Angel Island, until October, 1865.

Company G - Organized at Marysville and mustered in January 5, 1865. Stationed at Alcatraz Island until October, 1865.

Company H - Organized in Calaveras County and mustered in February 27, 1865, at San Francisco. Stationed at Alcatraz Island and Fort Point until October, 1865.

Company I - Organized in Yuba and Sierra Counties and mustered in at San Francisco February 6, 1865. Stationed at Fort Point until October, 1865.

Company K - Organized at Placerville and Sacramento and mustered in at San Francisco February 25, 1865. Stationed at Fort Point until October, 1865.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,347 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘California in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * California in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for California, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.