Roster of 8th Virginia Cavalry, Company A, CSA

"Smyth Dragoons"

Great Seale of the Confederate States of America

The 50th Virginia Infantry was organized in July of 1861 and contained ten companies, plus three companies of cavalry. The companies were known respectively as Capt. John Thompson's Va. Cavalry, later, "Smyth Dragoons" Company A, the "Lee Grays" Company B and the "Nelson Rangers" Company C. This type of arrangement was not unusual in the beginning of the war. The Smyth Dragoons were organized 23 April 1861, in Marion, Smyth County. The Company enlisted May 27, 1861 for twelve months and reorganized May 13, 1862. As part of part of the 50th Virginia Infantry, the Smyth Dragoons, Company A saw action in the New River Valley in August - September 1861. The Smyth Dragoons were operating under the leadearship of Lieutenant Colonel Albert G. Jenkins, a future officer in the 8th Virginia Cavalry. The exact organization date of the 8th Cavalry has been lost. In September 1861 Captain John Thompson's Virginia Cavalry, later the "Smyth Dragoons," Company A, 50th Infantry was officially assigned as Co. A., 8th Virginia Cavalry.

Company A Information
Original Officers:
John H. Thompson, Captain (50th Infantry) John P. Sheffey, 1st Lt. (50th Infantry) -- Captain (Co., A., 8th Cav.) Wilham E. Peters, 1st Lt. (50th Infantry) - AAG 7-21-61 (Co., A., 8th Cav.) Alphonso F. Cook, 2nd Lt. (50th Infantry) - Lt. Col. (Co., A, 8th Cav.) C.W. Venable, 2 Lt. (50th Infantry) Andrew F. St. John, 1st Lt., (Co. A., 8th Cav.) Hezekiah Harmon, 2nd Lt., (Co. A., 8th Cav.) William C. Copenhaver, 2nd Lt. (Co., A., 8th Cav.)
Adams,W.J., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Aker, B. F., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Aker, G. W., Pvt., Mntgomery Co., VA Aker, John F., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Aker, Thomas Harvey., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Anderson, J. C., Smyth Co.,VA Anderson, John W. , Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Anderson, Wesley, Pvt., Wytheville, VA Angle, Lee, Pvt., Monroe Co., VA Ashlin, G. B., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Baker, Joel H., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Bear, David, Pvt., Wythe Co., VA Bell, James O., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Blackered, Aaron, Pvt., Floyd Court House, VA Buchanan, L. A., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Clifton, B. F., Pvt. Cole, A. P., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Cook, A. G., Sgt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Cook, A. M., Pvt. Copenhaver, A. G., Bvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, Andrew J., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, James Henry, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, J. P., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, R. N., Pvt. Copenhaver, R. P., Pvt., East TN Copenhaver, Stephen Norman., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, Thomas, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, T. P., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Copenhaver, Warron M., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, William C., Lt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Copenhaver, William Edwin, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Davis, A. J., Cpl., Wytheville, Va Davis, Armistead Franklin, Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Davis, Defau Tallyrand, Pvt., Davis, P. L., Pvt., Raleigh Co., WV Davis, W. G., Pvt., Patrick Co., VA Davis, William Martin, Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Dillon, J. R. Dowdy, H., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Edwards, William, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Elgin, John, Pvt., Henry Co., VA Fox, P. F., Pvt., East TN Fulcher, G. F., Pvt., Henry Co., VA Gilberts, G. W., Pvt., East TN Gilley, William H., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Greaver, G. B., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Gregory, P. J., Pvt., Camp Rand, Montgomery Co., VA Groseclose, Joseph L., Pvt., Monroe Co., WV Grubb, John J., Pvt. Gullion, H. F., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Hall, John H., Pvt., Monroe Co., WV Haller, James F., Cpl., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Hancock, C. P., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Harman, Hezekiah, Lt. Col., Smyth Co., VA Harman, H. J., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Harman, James H., Pvt., Monroe Co., WV Harmon, Jeff, Pvt. Harris, James A., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Hayton, Peter, Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Hester, John Easter, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Hester, William T., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Hill, Joseph M., Sgt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Jackard, H. L., Pvt. James, C. M., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA James, S. J., Bugler, Marion, Smyth Co., VA James, S. P., Pvt. James, W. P., Sgt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Johnson, G. W., Pvt. Johston, Ferdinand, Pvt., Wytheville, VA Jones, John J., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Jones, John L., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Kegley, Daniel, Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Kegley, G. C., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Kegley, Mitchell, Pvt., Henry Co., VA Kegley, T. J., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Kesner, G. P. Killinger, Henry T., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Killinger, J. P., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Killinger, W. S., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Kitts, Dulaney, Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Lambert, W. J., Pvt., East TN Mantz, J. P., Pvt., Washington Co., VA Mathews, R. W., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Mattocks, G. W. Maupin, L. G., Pvt., Guyandotte, WV McGraden, Robert, Pvt. McGruder, E. K., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Meek, William Hobart, Pvt. Miller, M. D., Pvt. Moore, Elbert S., Pvt., Scott Co., VA Moppin, Lindsay G., Pvt., Guyandotte, WV Morris, James, Smyth Co., VA Morris, William, Pvt., Monroe Co., WV Morrison, S. L., Pvt., Wythe Co., VA Motley, S. A., Pvt. Neal, A. J., Pvt., Wythe Co., VA Neikirk, J. L., Pvt., Pulaski Co., VA Nickels, Morgan, Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Nuckles, James H., Blacksmith, Oliver, C. H., Pvt., Franklin Co., VA Palmer, J. S., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Paston, Jerry, Blacksmith, Smyth Co., VA Peck, Henry Peters, William Elisha, 1st Lt. Col. Porter, A. J., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Posten, Jeremiah Poteet, Isaiah Respass, R. F., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Rhea, Joseph, Pvt., Monroe Co., WV Rider, F. W., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Rosenbalm, A. J., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Rosenbaum, John, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Rosenbaum, S. A., Pvt. Rosenbaum, Thomas Marion, Cpl., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Sanders, James Garland, Pvt. Saunders, G. W., Pvt., Wytheville, VA Saunders, James N., Sgt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Scott, Hugh, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Scott, James A., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Sheffey, John Preston, Capt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Shelton, C. M., Pvt., East TN Showalter, William, Pvt., Floyd Courthouse, VA Six, Joseph, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Sloan, J. O., Pvt. Smith, Thomas, Pvt., Wythe Co., VA Smithers, Jacob A. Snider, R. B., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Spracher, John, Pvt., Monroe Co., VA (WVA) Stewart, Thompson, M., Pvt., Wythe Co., VA St. John, Andrew F., 1st Lt. Col., Smyth Co., VA St. John, C. J., Pvt., Greenbrier Co., VA (WV) St. John, N. C. B., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Thomas, A. M., Pvt., Monroe Co., VA Thomas, Haynes M., Pvt., Monroe Co., VA Thomas, John L., Pvt., Monroe Co., VA Thompson, John Henry, Capt., Smyth Co., Va Thompson, Leslie Haynes, Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Thompson, William H., Pvt., Monroe Co., VA (WVA) Tilson, William V. B., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Turner, John S., Pvt., Winchester, VA Turner, Obediah, Pvt., Monroe Co., VA Underwood, John Venable, C. W., 1st Sgt., Smyth Co., VA Walker, Daniel, Pvt., Washington Co., VA Walker, Silas, Pvt., Wythe Co., VA Wall, Thomas, Pvt., Augusta Co., VA Ward, E. H., 1st Sgt., Smyth Co., VA Ward, James R., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Watson, Opie N., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Whitehead, Francis, Pvt., Roane Co., VA (WVA) Wilkerson, Samuel, Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Williams, John F., Pvt., Smyth Co., VA Williams, Robert C., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Williams, S. M., Pvt., Marion, Smyth Co., VA Williams, W. J., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Wolf, M. R., Pvt., Montgomery Co., VA Many of these men were either my (Neale's) ancestors, or represent collateral lines. Regardless of relation, I am honored to call the roll of these brave men who fought for family, property, Virginia, and country, one more time. *Comments or Suggestions*	Private Noah C. B. St.. John
8th Virginia Cavalry Regimental Information The Virginia 8th Cavalry Regiment was orgainized in early 1862 with nine companies. By July 1862 the companies increased to eleven. Many of the men were recruited in Smyth, Nelson, Kanawah and Tazwell Counties. This unit confronted the Union forces in western Virginia, fought in east Tennessee and then returned to western Virginia. Later, the 8th Cavalry was in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations and the Appomattox Campaign. This regiment contained 225 effectives in April , 1864. No men of the 8th were included in the surender at Appomattox as the unit cut through Union lines and disbanded. The field officers were Colonels James M. Corns and Walter H. Jennifer; Lieutnenant Colonels Thomes P. Bowen, A.F. Cook, Henry Fitzhugh, and Albert Jenkins; and Major P. M. Edmondson. Please reference: Units of the Confederate States Army , by Joseph H. Crute, Jr.

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Modified 26 February 2009

Roster of 8th Virginia Cavalry, Company A, CSA

"Smyth Dragoons"

Company A Information

8th Virginia Cavalry Regimental Information