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Go 973.74 K41u v. 1 1755172
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01084 2000
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494
THE
NION R EGIMENTS
OF KENTUCKY. vol. 1
Published Under the Auspices of the Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association.
The Regimental Histories and Sketch of Military Campaigns, By CAPT. THOS. SPEED.
Political Conditions During the War, By COL. R. M. KELLY.
Biographical Sketches, By MAJ. ALFRED PIRTLE.
A
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LOUISVILLE, KY. : COURIER-JOURNAL JOB PRINTING COMPANY. 1897. 494
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1.55172
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8349 .318 F
Union soldiers and sailors monument association. Louisville,
The Union regiments of Kentucky. Published under the auspices of the Union soldiers and sailor- monument associa- tion. The regimental historie and sketch of military cam- paigns, by Capt. Thos, Speed. Political conditions during the war. by Col. R. M. Kelly. Biographical sketches, by Maj. Alfred Pirtle. Louisville. Courier-journal job printing co., CHILE CARINOT.
3 p. L. T11 p. Incl. maps. 24'. 1. Kentucky-Maltine 2. Kentucky -- Hist. - Chvil war. 3. C. S .- His :.- Civil war -Regimental Histories-Kv. 1. Stred. Thomas. 1:il- II. Prile, Alfred. 1537- Itt. Kelly, Robert Morrow, JE- IV. Title.
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Recat Library of Congress
E500.4.058
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COPYRIGHTED 1397 BY THION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION, OF LOUISVILLE KT.
COPYRIGHTED 1897 BY UNION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION, OF LOUISVILLE, KY.
. Their tombs are often apart from all human habitation, but wherever they were, Old Mortality was sure to visit them when his annual round brought them within his reach. In the most lonely recesses of the mountains the hunter was often surprised to find him busied in cleaning the moss from the gray stones, renewing with his chisel the half defaced inscriptions. Motives of the most sincere devotion induced the old man to dedicate so many years to perform this tribute to the memory of deceased warriors. He considered himself as fulfilling a sacred duty while renewing to the eyes of posterity the decaying em- blems of zeal and sufferings of their forefathers and thereby trimming as it were the beacon light which was to warn future generations.
WALTER SCOTT.
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CONTENTS.
PREFACE
1- 5
UNION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION- Movement to erect a monument in 1864; names of citizens interested ; the present movement, names of , incorporators, and articles ; its publication of this book 6- 9
POLITICAL CONDITIONS, showing the attitude of Kentucky in the war ; vote in 1860 and 1861 ; neutrality the stand for the Union ; first organization of troops ; difficulties ; names of distinguished civilians 10- 28
MILITARY CAMPAIGNS, being a concise statement of the principal campaigns in which the Kentucky regiments served 29- 51
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, containing sketches of general officers and all those who held commissions directly from the President, including officers in the naval service ; also the names of distinguished officers from other states who were natives of Kentucky 52-106
CAVALRY REGIMENTS
107-271
INFANTRY REGIMENTS
272-674
BATTERIES
675-687
ENGINEERS
688-691
STATE TROOPS, number, organization and names of officers, 692-695
STATE MILITIA, number, organization and names of officers, 696-698 CONCLUSION 699-700.
APPENDIX .
701-702
DIAGRAMS of Shiloh, Chattanooga and vicinity, Atlanta Campaign, Stone's River, Chickamauga, Nashville, and Franklin 703-710
INDEX (being i list of Kentucky officers)
711-741
PREFACE.
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In the year 1866, the report of the adjutant-general of Kentucky was published. Gen. D. W. Lindsey, the adjutant-general, had served as colonel of the 22d Ky. In- fantry. His service in the field, and also in the work of organizing troops in Kentucky, gave him a wide acquaint- ance with the regiments of his own state, and enabled him to make some general mention of each one in con- nection with the publication of the roster of officers and men.
It was not practicable then to make a complete his- tory of the regiments. A few of them are mentioned in a manner somewhat complete, but most of them have only a few lines to tell the story of their services. The plan of the book was such as to require it to be in two un- usually large volumes, and both on account of bulkiness and expense it could in no sense be a popular work. While the matter in it is invaluable, it has never served the purpose of a book which the soldiers might be pos- sessed of, and in which they could trace the services of themselves and their comrades of the different regiments.
A popular work of this sort has been contemplated a number of years. It was hoped that it would be accom- plished by the Federal Historical Society of Kentucky fifteen years ago, but it was not.
At that time Col. John Mason Brown, the president of that society, said in an address:
There has as yet been no history of the Kentucky troops prepared beyond the adjutant-general's report of muster rolls. Even the larger facts pertinent to Kentucky regiments are difficult of ascertainment for want of written memorial. It is scarcely possible to say in what corps or campaigns our several regiments participated, for to trace them through the mass of official reports is impossible to the general reader, and no special account has been prepared.
Since that time the Union Soldiers and Sailors Mon- ument Association of Kentucky has been organized at Louisville, having for its object the erection of a monu- ment. This association has, under its auspices, had this volume prepared, which is issued in the hope and belief that it will fill a want which has been seriously felt ever since the close of the war.
The injustice to the Union troops of Kentucky by his- torians who have written general histories of Kentucky since the war makes the need for true and adequate ac-
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Union Regiments of Kentucky.
counts painfully apparent. In none of these histories are the facts stated which show the marked prominence of these troops in the campaigns of the West, the proof of which abundantly appears in the official records. Shaler's History of Kentucky (Commonwealth series), which is most widely circulated, is unjust both negatively and positively. Not only does it fail in the manner stated, but it is unfair in what it does say. For instance in the mention of Gen. J. T. Boyle. This officer was an honored Kentuckian, who held a high position in the esteem of his countrymen before and after the war. At. the beginning of the conflict he proved his military quali- ties by calling to the field a brigade of volunteers, and leading his brigade with the highest credit at Shiloh. On account of his character and known ability he was placed in command of the District of Kentucky, and in the dis- charge of the important and delicate duties of the posi- tion he was noted for his fairness, justice and moderation. Yet he is most harshly and unjustly censured by Shaler. The spirit of Shaler's book is shown by the emphasis he gives to Morgan's Confederate Cavalry, and the little heed it takes of the fact that Kentucky's Union Cavalry regi- ments protected the state against Morgan, neutralizing his efforts, and at last capturing him.
The small account that Shaler takes of Kentucky's splendid contingent of Union troops in the field and at the front battling for the Union with the great armies under the lead of many of the noblest men of the state, while he dwells with delight on the exploits of Morgan, is the natural result of his spirit as an historian.
Collins in his history collected facts mingled with errors, and the whole is pervaded with a manifest aver- sion to the Union cause. The reader would conclude from Collins that Kentucky was held in the Union by despotic force, although the truth was (as is shown even by his own book) that voters of Kentucky rejected secession and stood for the Union by a great majority, and it is also a fact shown by the records that the soldier spirit of Kentucky was by far most strongly manifested on be- half of the Union.
Smith's history, like the others, purports to be a gen- eral history of Kentucky, yet instead of being impartial gives a purely partisan view of the war period.
It is not the purpose of this volume to present a gen- eral history of Kentucky in the war, nor will it bring to view any of the asperities, and controversies of that period. It is a history of the regiments furnished by Kentucky in the struggle for the maintenance of our
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Preface.
National Union. The accounts given are intended to present the facts concerning the organization and career of these regiments. It is regretted that they can not be more extended. It would be a pleasure to make greater personal mention, and give details and incidents, but the detailed story of a single regiment would fill a volume, and the present purpose is to devote one volume to more than seventy organizations. It is believed, however, that these sketches will contain enough to make them inter- esting and valuable. They will show when and where and by whom the regiments were recruited and organ- ized, where they went, in what campaigns they served, and in what battles they fought. The accounts, though brief, are comprehensive, and perhaps better than if longer and more detailed, from the fact that being short they will be read.
When it is considered that such accounts have not been hitherto prepared, and that these have been made up from the most scattered sources of information, includ- ing the mention made in the official records of the war, which number more than a hundred volumes, it is be- lieved that the work here presented will be appreciated.
In this connection, and in order that the writer of these sketches may be introduced to those with whom he has not personal acquaintance, he will here publish the following letter written by the commanding officer of the regiment with which he served, the 12th Ky. Veteran Infantry:
Somerset, Ky., Jan. 18, 1897.
Dear Capt. Speed: I am glad to know that you are engaged upon a history of the Kentucky regiments. They sprang to the country's defense promptly and made a fine record, no proper account of them has ever been made. I am sure you will do it well. You know the history of the 12th Infantry. I will not in this short letter undertake to mention personally the officers, many of whom deserve special notice, but I feel it my duty to speak of your valuable services during the time you were with the regiment. You will doubtless remember that you and I were the only field officers present with the regiment for many months. and during this period of time you were doing double service, your duties being arduous and often very dangerous. While you were with the regiment your general services to it were of the very best and brought it up to the highest merit, in discipline and service to the country; for this service the regiment and the country at large owes you a debt of gratitude. I, on behalf of the regiment, tender to you my sincere thanks for the interest you have taken in getting up a history of the Kentucky regiments, knowing that you will do justice to officers and men. Truly yours.
L. H. ROUSSEAU.
The writer takes pleasure also in publishing the fol- lowing letter from Gen. Lew. Wallace:
Crawfordsville. Ind., June 5, 1897.
Dear Capt. Speed: Having learned while in Louisville a few days ago that you are preparing a history of the Union regiments of Ken-
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Union Regiments of Kentucky.
tucky, I want to express my hope that you will certainly carry your design into execution, and at an early day.
But little has been written about the Kentucky Union troops and in consequence little is known about them. As I was neighbor to your state I had opportunity to know the important service they rendered. Gov. Morton, of Indiana, felt the great importance of protecting his state by keeping the war across the river. I was cognizant of the use of the Kentucky regiments in defending the cause of the Union both on Ken- tucky soil and farther south. Having served in Kentucky, I knew many of the gallant officers of that state, as well as her devoted Union men. They did a great work in the cause, and it should long ago have been commemorated in a proper volume.
Your friend, most truly, LEW. WALLACE.
The following extract from a letter to the writer from Justice John M. Harlan shows the desirability of this work:
It is a good thing for the Kentucky Union soldiers that you have taken in hand the work of preparing a history of the regiments which were organized in our state to support the Union cause. The country at large has never properly understood what was accomplished by the Union men of the border states.
The writer has also received letters urging the com- pletion of the undertaking, from Gen. J. M. Shackelford, Gen. E. Il. Hobson, Gen. D. W. Lindsey, and many others.
In the nature of the case it is not possible, in this vol- ume, to do full justice to the officers and men as suggested by Col. Rousseau. It must be agreed by all that the stand they took, both political and military, was beset with difficulties. Yet they were true to the old flag, with an enthusiasm that brushed aside all difficulties. The record they made in the war was peculiarly excellent, as will be seen from the accounts of the several regiments.
The names of the general officers and the officers of regiments show that the Kentucky Union troops were led by many of the best known Kentuckians of that day. The Crittendens, Nelsons, Andersons, Wards, Boones. Frys, Jacksons, Rousseaus, Green Clay Smith, Popes, Hob- sons, Boyles, MeDowells, Marshalls, Hawkins, Woods, Landrums, Starlings, Buckners, Bristows, Metcalfs, Breathitts, Murrays, Harlans, Shackelfords, Bufords, Garrards, Dudleys, Lindseys, Bruces, Monroes, Prices. Wolfords, Taylors, Mundys, Grigsbys, Fairleighs, Nich- olas, Jouetts, Griders, Haggards, Gallups, Croxtons, Whitakers, Breckinridges, Craddock, Bramlettes, Jacobs, Adams, Bullitt, Hanson, Watkins, McHenry, Faulkner, and many times as many more whose names will appear in this work.
The men who enlisted under such leaders were native- born Kentuckians, from every section of the state, the blue grass, the barrens, the mountains, the counties along
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Preface. 5
the Ohio, and those along Green river, from the southern tier of counties, and the west end. They were the young voters of the state who had voted for the Union at several elections, and who were willing to take up arms for the cause for which they voted.
It is not intended to enlarge on this theme in this place. The political conditions will be presented in a chapter by Col. R. M. Kelly.
In another chapter, biographical sketches of officers holding commissions directly from Washington, and who were not immediately identified with any particular regi- ment, will be given by Maj. Alfred Pirtle.
The Kentucky regiments served with the armies in the West, and a sketch of the campaigns in which they participated has been prepared.
Information concerning the regiments has been ob -- tained from two main sources, the adjutant-general's re- port and the records of the war published by Congress. The former has been mentioned; the rosters have been copied from it. The records of the war contain the official reports-Federal and Confederate-of regimental, bri- gade, division, corps, and army commanders. Also offi- cial correspondence. For accurate information nothing can equal this great publication.
The regimental accounts here presented are not based on the lively fancy of individuals seeking to glorify their particular commands. The career of each regiment has been obtained from official data. The writer, however, has been aided by any and all facts obtainable, and here wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Gens. D. W. Lindsey, S. W. Price, E. H. Hobson, W. E. Woodruff, Cols. R. M. Kelly, R. T. Jacob, John H. Ward, Elijah Watts, S. P. Love, IT. M. Buckley, W. E. Hobson, I. B. Nall, John Treanor, A. Y. Johnson, Wm. R. Milward. John S. Hurt, Marc Mundy; Maj. W. P. McDowell; Capts. W. H. Mundy, S. D. Brown, M. C. Hutchins, John Speed, John W. Neville, John Baker, Sam McKee; Surgeons S. B. Littlepage, Geo. W. Griffith, J. F. Kimbley.
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Union, Regiments of Kentucky.
THE UNION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION.
On the 5th of March, 1864, a movement was started at Louisville to erect a monument to the Union soldiers of Kentucky. A call was published, signed by the fol- lowing well-known citizens: Wm. Kaye, T. S. Bell, W. B. Belknap, J. B. Flint, R. C. Hewitt, P. D. Henderson, J. H. Heywood, A. V. Dupont, J. C. Coleman, James Speed, S. G. Hemy, J. Von Borries, A. P. Cochran, J. F. Speed, Christian Stege, Bland Ballard, George D. Pren- tice, John Tompkins, Isaac Everett, Edgar Needham, S. F. Miller, Isaac Caldwell, John H. Harney, W. E. Hughes, M. Kean, Phil. Doern, A. B. Semple.
Pursuant to this call, and under the efforts then made, a fund was raised sufficient to lay the foundation of a monument. This work was done, and it was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in the year 1864. The foun- dation was laid in Cave Hill Cemetery upon the hill where the soldiers are buried. Upon it now stands a cannon. The monument was not built. Efforts to that end were suspended when the United States government took charge of the grounds and made them a National Cemetery.
But the propriety of a monument, and the desire to have one erected, has been in the minds of the Union sol- diers and their friends continuously. With the view of ac- complishing this object, the Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association was organized at Louisville in the year 1895, under the following articles of incorpora- tion:
Articles of Incorporation.
The following named persons do hereby form themselves, their as- sociates, and successors into a body corporate, and adopt the following articles of incorporation :
Saml. L. Avery, Jas. F. Buckner, Jr., J. S. Bockee, St. John Boyle, C. Bremaker, I. W. Bernheim, Albert Cowan, Henry S. Cohn, R. T. Cole- man. Saml. Castleman. J. L. Chilton, Andrew Cowan, Robt. Cochran, W. P. Davis, Edw. Dietzman, Geo. Durelle, John Fowler, J. J. Fischer, C. W. Forrester. D. W. Fairleigh, B. Whitney Herr. E. T .. Halsey, H. - S. Irwin, R. T. Jacob, John Kubaugh, R. M. Kelly, Jr .. R. M. Kelly, John F. Lewis, H. V. Loving, Louis Leib, J. P. N. Landrum, Logan C. Murray, Henry Miller, W. H. Munday, W. A. Meriwether, I. B. Nall. W. R. Noble, Jas. O'Donnel, Alfred Pirtle, Adolph Reutlinger, Chas. Speed, Thos. Speed, Philip Speed, D. B. Sperry, C. Stege. Geo. D. Todd, W. G. Wetterer, .A. E. Willson, Americus Wheedon. John H. Ward. .
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Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association.
ARTICLE I.
The name of the corporation shall be "The Union Soldiers & Sailors Monument Association." and its location and place of business shall be Louisville, Ky.
ARTICLE II.
The purpose of the association shall be to build a monument in the state of Kentucky to the Union soldiers and sailors of the Civil War-to be built at Louisville-and provide for the care of the same.
ARTICLE III.
The sum to be raised shall be one hundred thousand ($100.000) dollars and shall be raised by popular subscription or otherwise.
ARTICLE IV.
The persons named in Article I shall elect a board of managers con- sisting of fifteen persons. Said board shall consist of three classes; five to serve one year, five two years, five three years and the election of one class shall occur annually on the first Monday of August.
ARTICLE V.
When any vacancy shall occur in the number of incorporators named in Article I, the place shall be filled by election at the annual meeting, and such newly elected persons shall take the place of the original incor- porators without any amendment to these Articles, and the said incor- porators and their successors as aforesaid shall be members of this as- sociation.
ARTICLE VI.
Said association shall have the power to make all necessary by-laws for the management of the association, including such provisions as may he advisable for honorary membership.
ARTICLE VII.
Said board of managers when chosen shall elect from their number a. president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, whose terms of office shall be one year and until their successors are chosen: to be elected on the second Monday of August, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and who shall have direct control of the affairs of the association, subject to the approval of the board of managers.
ARTICLE VIII.
Private property of members of the Association shall not be liable for its debts, and the indebtedness or liability of the association shall not exceed $50.000.
ARTICLE IX.
This corporation may sue and be sued by its corporate name, and shall have power to make contracts, acquire and transfer property, possessing the same power in such respects as private individuals now enjoy.
ARTICLE X.
This corporation shall begin on the first day of August. 1895, and shall terminate when its object is accomplished.
The above incorporators met and organized by the Flection of the following officers: Capt. Thos. Speed, president; George D. Todd, vice-president; R. M. Kelly, Jr., secretary; James F. Buckner, Jr., treasurer.
Board of Managers: Thos. Speed, George D. Todd, R. M. Kelly, Jr., J. L. Chilton, J. S. Bockce, Andrew
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Union Regiments of Kentucky.
Cowan, R. M. Kelly, R. T. Jacob, James F. Buckner, Christian Stege, Robert Cochran, John Fowler, Alfred Pirtle, I. W. Bernheim, Edward Dietzman.
Consideration of the proposed work of erecting a mon- ument brought forcibly to view the fact that there is no record of the services of the Union soldiers of Kentucky in such form as to enable these services to be known and understood; and, therefore, under the auspices of this association, the preparation of this volume was under- taken. It has been done in the hope that the volume itself will prove a monument to the soldiers, and that it will be a means of assistance in the further work of building a stately shaft of granite as a further memorial. .Col. Andrew Cowan and Col. J. S. Bockee, whose names appear in the list of incorporators of the Monu- ment Association, while not Kentucky officers, have been so identified with Kentucky, and especially Louisville, ever since the war, it is proper to make special mention of them in this place.
Col. Cowan served from the beginning to the end of the war as captain of a New York battery, aud com- mander of artillery in the Army of the Potomac. He fought his guns, in all the campaigns of that army, under Mcclellan, Hooker, Burnside, Pope, Meade and Grant. He was engaged in the greatest. battles, and notably at Gettysburg, where his position was in the center of the line which received the great assault.
After the war he located in Louisville, where he has taken a leading place among her citizens. Being a man of great intelligence and energy, he has not only pros- pered in his own business, but has promoted the best in- terests of the city. His high character and splendid business qualifications have caused him to be connected with every worthy enterprise. He has done very much for the commercial, social and benevolent interests of the city. In the work of the Monument Association, and in every effort to do honor to the soldiers who served in the Union cause from Kentucky, he is identified in every way with the Kentucky soldiers themselves.
Col. Jacob Smith Bockee is a native of Norwich, N. Y., where he was born July 9, 1840. He assisted in raising the 114th N. Y. Volunteers in the summer of 1862, and was commissioned captain of Company B in the month of August. Was mustered into service September 3, 1862, at Norwich. His first service was in the Teche campaign; he then participated in the siege of Port Hud- son, as well as the Red River expedition. The regiment came north in July, 1864, in time to assist in driving
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Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association.
Early from Maryland. Capt. Bockee then served under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley till April, 1865. For services in the field he was brevetted major on March 13, 1865, to date from September 19, 1864, and brevetted lieutenant-colonel the same day. He was detached from his regiment on staff duty, at the headquarters of 19th A. C. from January, 1864, in various responsible positions, until his muster out with the regiment at Washington, June 8, 1865. From the list of engagements he was in it will be seen that he had well earned his brevets. Bis- land, Port Hudson, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Cane River and Mansura, all in Louisiana, and finally at Winchester, Va., where he was wounded September 19, 1864. He has for many years been prominently con- nected with the tobacco trade in Louisville, and bank- ing, and feels the deepest interest in the welfare of the city and in every effort made in the interests of the sol- diers.
The publication of this history of the Union regi- ments of Kentucky has been undertaken by the Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association.
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