8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
| 8th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1861–1864 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 950 soldiers at outset of the war |
| Nickname(s) | "Fighting Fools" |
| Engagements | |
The 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (or 8th OVI) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a number of campaigns and battles, but perhaps is most noted for its actions in helping repulse Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg.
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces that had recently seceded from the Union fired upon Federal controlled Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. In response to the attack, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. Hundreds of men from northeastern Ohio were quick to respond, volunteering for three months of military service. The 8th Regiment was organized in Cleveland between April 18 and May 4, 1861. In June, the regiment moved via train to Camp Dennison near Cincinnati for training and garrison duty. It mustered out June 22, having not left the Buckeye State.
Among the early recruits in Company F was Fremont dentist Everton Conger, who later in the war led the cavalry that tracked down and killed President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Conger did not re-enlist in the regiment after his term expired, instead joining the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry.
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