It was composed primarily of freed or escaped slaves from Louisiana's plantations and was commanded by white officers.

During the Vicksburg Campaign, the regiment was attached to the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana.

The brigade was led successively by Col. Isaac F. Shepard (who was under arrest at the time of the Battle of Milliken's Bend) and then Hermann Lieb (wounded June 7, 1863).

[4] Returning to Lake Providence, the regiment was engaged in a minor battle on June 9 against a small Confederate force composed of the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment and the 13th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion.

[5] The 8th Louisiana was then on routine garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until the late winter of 1864.