The Eighth Iowa Cavalry

This regiment was raised by Col. J. B. Dorr, of Dubuque, by special authority from the secretary of war, in the summer of 1863. The companies were recruited largely in the counties of Fremont, Page, Jefferson, Wapello, Van Buren, Clarke, Ringgold, Henry, Appanoose, Dubuque, Jackson, Marshall, Clayton, Johnson, Cedar, Muscatine, and Polk. The regiment numbered 1,234 men and was mustered into the service at Davenport in September, 1863. The field officers were: Colonel, J. B. Dorr; lieutenant-colonel, H. G. Barner; majors, John J. Brown, James D. Thompson, and Alvo J. Price. In October the regiment was ordered to Chattanooga to guard lines of railroad and suppress the guerrillas. During the winter it captured nearly 500 of the members of small rebel bands, and afforded security to union men in eastern Tennessee. On the 28th of July Colonel Dorr, with a part of the Eighth, joined General McCook's expedition to Lovejoy. In a battle near the Chattahoochee, on the 29th, the Eighth cavalry bore a prominent part, and lost about thirty men. The next day the command was assailed by General Roddy's army on its way to Atlanta. A sharp conflict ensued and Colonel Dorr and his regiment, after a fierce fight, were taken prisoners near Newnan, Ga. The remainder of the regiment was under command of Major Price for a time, but upon his resignation in September, Captain Cummins succeeded him. Colonel Dorr was exchanged in November and resumed command, and was with the army at the battle of Franklin. The Eighth took part in the battle of Nashville, and joined in the pursuit of Hood's army, and soon after stopped at Waterloo. About the middle of January, 1865, it joined General Wilson's army in its great raid. The Eighth remained at Macon, Ga., about three months, where the gallant Colonel Dorr died from a congestive chill on the 28th of May, 1865. Lieutenant-Colonel Barner was promoted to colonel and took command of the regiment, and in July it was mustered out.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, Biographies And Portraits Of The Progressive Men Of Iowa, Volume 1, p. 123