Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
8th Virginia Infantry
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 1, 2007
1. 8th Virginia Infantry Marker
The 8th Virginia Infantry was a local unit made up of six companies from Loudoun, two from Fauquier, and one each from Fairfax and Prince William counties. Commanded by Colonel Eppa Hunton, the Regiment arrived on the field about 12:30 p.m. initially deploying west of the ridge near the Jackson house. With the withdrawal of the 15th Massachusetts from that area, the 8th Virginia moved cautiously forward and deployed on the battlefield.
Shortly thereafter, the right wing of the unit clashed with two companies of the 1st California Regiment advancing up the slope to the right of this location. A hard skirmish was fought on that slope around 3:00 p.m. The California companies took heavy casualties and fell back. Meanwhile, a misunderstood withdrawal order by Lt. Col. Charles B. Tebbs of the 8th caused some of the men to break and run. Colonel Hunton managed to restore order to the 8th Virginia by withdrawing the regiment a few hundred yards toward the Jackson house. The 8th got back into the fight, conducting a bayonet charge around 5:00 p.m. which overran the Federal mountain howitzers.
Erected by Ball's Bluff Regional Park/Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil
this page online
Location. 39° 7.892′ N, 77° 31.801′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Virginia, in Loudoun County. It can be reached from Balls Bluff Road, on the left when traveling east. Located at trail stop 2, in the Balls Bluff Regional Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Leesburg VA 20176, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 8th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Ball's Bluff (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Ball's Bluff - October 21, 1861 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Battle at Balls Bluff (about 400 feet away); Battlefield Historic Restoration Project (about 400 feet away); Additional Area Civil War Sites (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Battle of Balls Bluff (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named A Divided America, A Divided Loudoun County (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. 8th Virginia Infantry (has been replaced with this marker); The Battle at Ball's Bluff (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 30, 2007
2. 8th Virginia Infantry Marker
At the time of the battle, the ground to the right of the marker was open field. The park administration is reducing the undergrowth and cutting some trees to restore the battlefield's appearance.
More about this marker. The marker displays a portrait of Colonel Eppa Hunton.
Regarding 8th Virginia Infantry. This marker is one of a set along the Balls Bluff Battlefield walking trail. See the Balls Bluff Virtual Tour by Markers link below for details on each stop.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "8th Virginia Infantry"
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Ball's Bluff. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 7, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Ball's Bluff Staff Ride Guide. U.S. Army Center of Military History PDF (Submitted on August 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. 8th Virginia Infantry. Civil War in the East website entry (Submitted on May 7, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
4. Balls Bluff Battlefield Virtual Tour by Marker. Over twenty markers detail the action at Balls Bluff and related sites. Please use the Click to map all markers shown on this page option at the bottom of the page to view a map of the marker locations.
Internet Archive
3. Eppa Hunton
Engraved by E. G. Williams & Bro. NY in Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Lyon Gardine Tyler, ed. 1915, Vol. 3, between pages 56 and 57.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 6, 2021
4. 8th Virginia Infantry Marker
The marker has weathered, although it remains legible.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,363 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 1, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 17, 2023, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on March 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
