Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
8th Virginia Infantry
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 . In addition, it is included in the NOVA Parks series list.
Location. 39° 7.892′ N, 77° 31.801′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Virginia, in Loudoun County. Marker can be reached from Ball’s Bluff Road, on the left when traveling east. Located at trail stop 2, in the Ball’s Bluff Regional Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Leesburg VA 20176, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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); The Battle at Ball’s Bluff (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 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 Divided America, A Divided Loudoun County (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesburg.
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. The hybrid view offers an excellent overlook of the park. (Submitted on November 11, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 6, 2021
Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,033 times since then and 50 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.