Captain William H. Rice's Company of Artillery from Shenandoah County was known as the 8th Star Artillery and was part of the Virginia volunteers called into service by the Governor under an Ordinance of the State Convention adopted 17 Apr 1861 to server for the term of twelve months unless sooner discharged. Enrolled for active service at New Market on the 17th of May 1861, they then traveled to Staunton, arriving on 31 May.

"This company was raised and mustered in as an Artillery Company, but being unarmed and the Ordnance prepared for them being by order of the Government transferred for the use of an Artillery Company from Tennessee, I have furnished them with Flintlock--Muskets and bayonets and cartridge boxes for use in the expedition to Beverly or Greenbrier River, in which a number of the company were either killed or wounded." - Maj. M.G. Harman