During the year of service in the volunteers 1465 names were borne upon the rolls of the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment. This does not necessarily mean that 1465 different men were connected with the regiment, for that was not so, for some of the men's names appear upon the rolls twice, such as when an enlisted man was promoted to be an officer, or when an officer was transferred from one company to another, or an enlisted man transferred from a company to the regimental band.
The following figures will no doubt be of interest to the men who served in the regiment.
Of the officers of the regiment 46 were mustered out with the regiment, 12 resigned and were discharged, one died, one was discharged by reason of promotion outside the regiment, and four were discharged for promotion in the regiment.
Of the enlisted men, 1161 were mustered out, 53 were discharged for disability, 5 were discharged because they were minors, 2 were discharged (no reason given), 51 were discharged by order, (the majority for physical unfitness), 11 were discharged for promotion; 6 were dishonorably discharged; 71 were discharged by reason of transfer, 30 died, and 11 deserted.
The record by companies is as follows:
Field and staff—Ten mustered out and three resigned. Total 13.