8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861)

Brief History
The 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861) was organized at Springfield, Illinois, and mustered in for three months' service April 25, 1861. It was mustered out July 25, 1861. The regiment was reorganized for three years service, see 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.

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


 * The Wikipedia article, 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Months), (accessed 13 June 2012).
 * The Civil War Archive section, 8th Regiment Infantry (3 months), (accessed 14 June 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with County 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.

The following counties of origin are taken from the Adjutant General's Report, found on the Illinois Civil War Rosters web site. Roster pages are from the same report found on the Internet Archives web site. The rosters show the men who served in each regiment, their residences, dates of enlistment and mustering out, and other remarks.

Company A - many men from Macon County - Macon County web site -

Company B - many men from Macon County - Macon County web site -

Company C - many men from Coles County - Coles County web site -

Company D - many men from Richland County - Richland County web site -

Company E - many men from Peoria County - Peoria County web site -

Company F - many men from Tazewell County - Tazewell County web site -

Company G - many men from Pike County - Pike County web site -

Company H - many men from Fayette County - Fayette County web site -

Company I - many men from Lawrence County - Peoria County web site -

Company K - many men from McLean County - McLean County web site -

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 861 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources
WEB SITES


 * 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 ‘Illinois 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.


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


 * 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.


 * 8th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Three Month and Three Year Service, has rosters and histories for both the three month regiment and the three year service regiment.

BOOKS