8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Union)

United States  U.S. Military   Tennessee    Tennessee Military   Tennessee in the Civil War 1st Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (McNairy's)

Brief History
The 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry was organized August, 1863, by consolidation of 5 Companies organized at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, June 30 to August 14, 1863, for 10th Tennessee Cavalry, and 7 Companies organized in Tennessee at large for 5th East Tennessee Cavalry. They mustered out September 11, 1865.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 8th Regiment Cavalry (5th East Tennessee), (accessed 30 March 2012).
 * The Wikipedia Article, 8th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, (accessed 28 November 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 -
 * Company B
 * Company C - Men from Greene, Hawkins and Jefferson Counties.
 * Company D - Men from Washington, Greene, Hawkins, Hamblen and Cocke Counties.
 * Company E - Men from Greene, Washington, Carter and Hawkins Counties.
 * Company F - Men from Greene, Washington, Hamilton, Union, Knox and Carter Counties.
 * Copmpany G - Some men from Grainger, Knox, Claiborne, Greene, Sullivan and Union Counties.
 * Company H -
 * Company I -
 * Company K -
 * Company L -
 * Company M -

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,270 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 or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Tennessee 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.


 * Tennessee in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Tennessee, 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.


 * Wright, General Marcus J., Tennessee in the War 1861-1865, (Ambrose Lee Publishing Company, Williamsbridge, New York City, 1908), Online book at Internet Archive. Roster of the volunteer force in the United States army from Tennessee. Roster of officers is given as it stood on the day of the muster out. Cavalry 8th Regiment begins on page 148.


 * Tennesseans in the Civil War, 8th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, USA, (accessed 4 Jan 2012). A brief history, field officers, captains and companies of the 5th East Tennessee Cavlary Regiment, USA, the 10th East Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, USA and the 8th Tennessee Cavlary Regiment, USA.


 * Federal Military Rosters, 8th Cavalry Regiment, (accessed 4 Jan 2012).


 * Wikipedia, 8th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, (accessed 4 Jan 2012). Service, commanders, casualties, etc.