Fighting for Old Glory: The Stories of Eastern Kentucky's Union Soldiers

By Wayne Taylor

History of Eastern Kentucky's Union Regiments during the Civil War

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257196890

Wayne Taylor

Wayne Taylor is a retired computer programmer analyst, with a lifelong interest in Astrophysics and Cosmology. He has a M.A. in Mathematics with a minor in Physics.

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Fighting for Old Glory

Written by Wayne Taylor

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This book is dedicated to those men who sacrificed all for the preservation of the United States of America-yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I would like to thank my friends and fellow historians for their inputs, my daughter Christina for helping me translate some of the rosters, the Lord for allowing me to be born in this great country, and of course my wife Melissa for being there for me when I needed her. I love you all.

Peace Ends

...but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.

In November of 1860, Abraham Lincoln, who had declared Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free... is elected president, the first Republican, receiving 180 of 303 possible electoral votes and 40 percent of the popular vote. He received only about 1400 votes in Kentucky. The Republican platform opposed slavery in the territories but upheld the right for the slave states to keep their slaves. The Southern States wanted slavery to be able to expand to new areas. They worried if new states admitted to the Union were to be free only, then the slave states would gradually lose their power in the Government. This in turn would be the end of Slavery. Lincoln warned the South in his Inaugural Address: In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you.... You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it.

The seven deep-south states of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the Union and form the Confederate States of America. On February 9, 1861, Jefferson Davis is sworn in as the President of this newly formed nation. Lincoln thought secession illegal, and was willing to use force to defend Federal law and the Union. When Confederate batteries fired on Fort Sumter and forced its surrender, he called on all the states for 75,000 volunteers to put down this rebellion. This call for volunteers caused Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina to join the Confederacy, accusing Lincoln of ignoring the Constitution and using tyrannical powers against the Country.

Kentucky was in a tight spot. Her Government was Pro-Southern, but many of the citizens were torn in their allegiance. Kentucky was a major slave holding state but had little in common with the Deep South. In the spring of 1861, recruiting and training camps were established on Kentucky’s northern and southern borders. Thousands of men joined both sides, but it wasn’t until the Kentucky elections of August, when the Unionists won a majority of the seats in the Government, did the Federal Government set up recruiting camps within the state’s borders. This infuriated the Confederates. Even though Kentucky declared itself neutral, the United States flag was hoisted over the Capitol, in Frankfort, on September 7.

The Kentucky State Guard, commanded by pro-Confederate Simon Buckner, left the state and headed south for Tennessee. They were officially disbanded by the Legislature and counties were asked to furnish Home Guards for the defense of Kentucky. Camp Andy Johnson was set up in Barbourville, Ky, as a station for men coming from Eastern Tennessee. This camp was also the home for the Barbourville Home Guard and the site of the first engagement of the War in the state.

September 7 also saw General Grant send troops into Kentucky and occupy Paducah. With this action, the Confederate War Dept decided it was time for their own action. Confederate General LeonidasPolk moved his troops on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River at Columbus and General Felix Zollicoffer took control of the mountains near Cumberland Gap. Now all that remained was for General Albert Sidney Johnston, the new Confederate commander in the West, to advance the Confederate lines into Kentucky between these two anchor points. He placed Simon Bolivar Buckner in charge of this sector, and Buckner swiftly occupied both Bowling Green and Russellville, and by October the Confederate line in the mid-sector of southern Kentucky followed the course of the Green River. Confederate advance detachments made forays and raids as far north as Elizabethtown, and the Federal headquarters in Louisville breathed rather uneasily for a time. In Eastern Ky, Confederate General Humphrey Marshall had established a foothold near Pikeville. All these actions thrilled the pro-southern citizens, however, most of Kentucky’s people wanted to stay clear of the War’s fighting and its soldiers. When Confederate soldiers went on foraging expeditions they quickly determined who were friend, foe, or neutral. The common practice for Southern soldiers was to take what was needed from the local populace and pay with Confederate currency. The only problem with that was southern money was worthless in Kentucky. Many of the citizens of Kentucky became angry with what they considered a Confederate invasion of their homeland. Here is where the argument arises. Kentucky declared itself neutral, however it was still a state in the United States. Federal forces believed this gave them the right to move thru the state at will. Confederates disagreed, believing neutrality meant for both sides to stay clear.

It seems clear to me, although Kentucky stated it was neutral, this state was very much pro-Union. The numbers of Kentuckians to join the Confederacy was about 40,000. The numbers who joined the Union was about 80,000. There were also about 25,000 colored troops who joined the Union Army within the state, but they were from all parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio. Eastern Kentucky was very pro-Union as well as the Louisville area. The Bluegrass was torn in its support and the far western part of the state seemed to be very pro-Confederate. Slavery had little to do with what side you chose as many of Kentucky’s most loyal of Union men owned slaves. A number of Federal soldiers deserted the Union Army after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. Kentuckians were no different, and many went home in protest. They were given pardons if they would come back, and so, in the latter parts of January and February they came back. John A. Joyce puts it best: In the fall of 62 and winter of 63 the proclamation of President Lincoln freeing all the slaves was talked up and promulgated. Many of the men of my regiment were directly or indirectly interested in slave property; and thus, while they had arms in their hands, fighting for the integrity of the Union, one scratch of the President's pen took away forever their property, placing them in the same category with the men who rebelled against the Government. This fact made many of the people of Kentucky lukewarm in their support of the Union, and was the cause of bitter abuse against Northern politicians who could be so cruel as to take, without any compensation, the property of loyal men who were bleeding on the field of battle for the perpetuity of the old flag.

There were many reasons these men joined the Army. Some for the money, some for the glory, some to free others, but mostly they did it for the adventure. No matter what their reasons, they suffered, bled, sacrificed, and died to keep these United States together.

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A Soldier’s Life

If there is any place on God's fair earth where wickedness'stalketh abroad in daylight' it is in the army, wrote a soldier in a letter to his family back home. Indeed, life in the army camps of the Civil War was fraught with boredom, mischief, fear, disease, and death.

Army regulations called for the camps to be laid out in a fixed grid pattern, with officers' quarters at the front end of each street and enlisted men's quarters aligned to the rear. The camp was set up roughly along the lines the unit would draw up in a line of battle and each company displayed its colors on the outside of its tents. Regulations also defined where the mess tents, medical cabins, and baggage trains should be located. Often, however, lack of time or a particularly hilly or narrow terrain made it impossible to meet army regulations. The campgrounds themselves were often abysmal, especially in the South where wet weather produced thick mud for extended periods in the spring and summer; in the winter and fall, the mud turned to dust.

In summer, troops slept in canvas tents. At the beginning of the war, both sides used the Sibley tent, named for its inventor, Henry H. Sibley, who later became a Confederate brigadier general. A large cone of canvas, 18 feet in diameter, 12 feet tall, and supported by a center pole, the tent had a circular opening at the top for ventilation, and a coneshaped stove for heat. Although designed to fit a dozen men comfortably, army regulations assigned about 20 men to each tent, leading to cramped, uncomfortable quarters. When ventilation flaps were closed on cold or rainy days, the air inside the tent became fetid with the odors of men who had scarce access to clean water in which to bathe.

As the war dragged on, the Sibley was replaced with smaller tents. The Federal As the war dragged on, the Sibley was replaced with smaller tents. The Federal armies favored the wedge tent, a six-foot length of canvas draped over a horizontal ridgepole and staked to the ground at the sides with flaps that closed off one end. In autumn and winter, those units that were able to find wood built crude huts, laying split logs on the earth floor and fashioning bunks with mattresses of pine needles.

When not in battle, which was at least three quarters of the time, the average When not in battle, which was at least three quarters of the time, the average soldier's day began at 5 A.M. in the summer and 6 A.M. in the winter, when he was awakened by reveille. After the first sergeant took the roll call, the men ate breakfast then prepared for their first of as many as five drill sessions during the day. Here the men would learn how to shoot their weapons and perform various maneuvers. Drill sessions lasted approximately two hours each and, for most men, were exceptional exercises in tedium. One soldier described his days in the army like this: The first thing in the morning is drill. Then drill, Then drill again. Then drill, drill, a little more drill. Then drill, and lastly drill.

There were many drill manuals in use by the Army, which led to some confusion on the battlefield. Before the War, William Hardee had written the most popular tactics manual in the country. It was being used by most State Militias and US Army troops. But when the War came, Hardee joined the Confederacy, causing many loyal soldiers to find a new manual (although Hardee’s was still the most popular). In 1862, Union General Silas Casey rewrote the manual U.S. Infantry Tactics and many Union regiments adopted this.

One of the most common questions asked about Civil War combat is Why did they stand together in line like that? The Civil War was the first war of the modern era. The weapons were more accurate and devastating then at any time up to then. During the Napoleonic Wars, troops massed in line of battle would advance almost to within a hundred yards of the enemy with considerably few casualties. This happened because the smoothbore muskets were very inaccurate. By massing together and shooting at the same time you created a wall of lead being shot at the enemy. Also, the bayonet was the infantryman's most effective weapon in those times. Consequently, generals would order massed bayonet charges against enemy positions with a high degree of success. These charges were also ordered during the Civil War, but with very different results. The .58 caliber Enfields and Springfields that most soldiers carried were rifled and were quite effective up to three hundred yards. They were also percussion loading rather than flintlock and could be reloaded more rapidly. The common soldier was required to load and fire 3 rounds per minute. As one could imagine, a charging infantry line would start taking casualties much sooner, and would inevitably be forced to return fire before they were close enough to use the bayonet. Most soldiers of both sides weathered the fear and horror of combat. To be sure, many ran out to the rear when the fighting started, but the majority held their lines and fought courageously. When a Company was formed it was usually formed in a confined area. Most of the men would know each other, either by kinsmen ship or just by growing up together. Noone wanted to run and show cowardice in front of their kin. They were too afraid someone would write back home announcing to the community their actions. Also, lifelong friendships and common bonds of family kept these men fighting in line of battle to protect one another.

In the few intervals between drill, soldiers cleaned the camp, built roads, dug trenches for latrines, and gathered wood for cooking and heating. Finding clean water was a constant goal: the lack of potable water was a problem that led to widespread disease in both armies. At the outset of the war, the soldiers on both sides were relatively well-fed: the mandated daily ration for a Federal soldier in 1861 included at least 20 ounces of fresh or salt beef, or 12 ounces of salt pork; more than a pound of flour, and a vegetable, usually beans. Coffee, salt, vinegar, and sugar were provided as well. Supplies became limited when armies were moving fast and supply trains could not reach them in the field.

When in the field, soldiers saw little beef and few vegetables; they subsisted for the most part on salt pork, dried beans, corn bread, and hardtack-a flour-and-water biscuit often infested with maggots and weevils after storage. Outbreaks of scurvy were common due to a frequent lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

By far, the most important staple in the minds of the soldiers was coffee. Men pounded the beans between rocks or crushed them with the butts of their rifles to obtain grounds with which to brew the strong drink.

Most armies were forced at some point to live off the land. Attached to most armies was the sutler, a purveyor of all goods not issued by the army, including tobacco, candy, tinned meats, shoelaces, patent medicines, fried pies, and newspapers. Sutlers were known for their steep prices and shoddy goods, but soldiers desperate for cigarettes, sweets, and news from home were willing to use their pay for these treats. Soldiers also practiced, and perfected, the art of foraging. Foraging was a military term for living off the land, civilians called it stealing. During the Georgia Campaign General Sherman’s men ravaged the farms of Southerners and became known as Sherman’s Bummers.

Boredom stalked both armies almost as often as did hunger. When not faced with the sheer terror of battle, the days in camp tended to drag endlessly. The sheer tedium of camp life led the men to find recreational outlets. There is some of the orneriest men here that I ever saw, wrote a new recruit, and the most swearing and card playing and fitin [fighting] and drunkenness that I ever saw at any place.

When not drilling or standing guard, the troops read, wrote letters to their loved ones, and played any game they could devise, including baseball, cards, boxing matches, and cockfights. One competition involved racing lice or cockroaches across a strip of canvas. As hard as most commanders attempted to control vice in camp, both gambling and drinking were rampant, especially after payday.

Army regulations prohibited the purchase of alcohol by enlisted men, and soldiers who violated the rule were punished, but men on both sides found ways around it. If they could not buy liquor, they made it. One Union recipe called for bark juice, tar-water, turpentine, brown sugar, lamp oil, and alcohol.

When not drinking or gambling, some men escaped the tedium of daily army life by enjoying horizontal refreshments, as visiting prostitutes became known. Thousands of prostitutes thronged the cities in the war zones and clustered about the camps. By 1862, for instance, Washington, D.C., had 450 bordellos and at least 7,500 full-time prostitutes; Venereal disease among soldiers was prevalent and largely uncontrolled. About eight percent of the soldiers in the Union army were treated for venereal disease during the war and a great many cases were unreported. With the invention of penicillin more than 70 years away, treating venereal disease with herbs and minerals such as pokeweed, elderberries, mercury, and zinc sulfate may have eased symptoms but did nothing to cure the disease.

Even more pervasive than boredom, gambling, or venereal disease was homesickness. Men spent more time writing letters and hoping to receive them than any other leisure activity. Furloughs were rarely granted, and most soldiers had few opportunities to spend extended periods of time away from the army. Federal troops were often stationed too far from home to have time to get home. For better or worse, Civil War soldiers were forced to call camp home for the duration of their terms of service.

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Seventh Kentucky Infantry

From Thomas Speed’s Union Regiments of Kentucky

Col. Theophilus T. Garrard was one of the men selected by Gen. Nelson, in the summer of 1861, to raise regiments at Camp Dick Robinson, and his regiment, the Seventh Kentucky Infantry, was one of the first recruited in the state. It was organized at Camp Dick Robinson by Col. Garrard and mustered in the United States service by Gen. George H. Thomas, September 22, 1861. It was at once ordered to Wild Cat, Kentucky, beyond Mount Vernon, to resist the advance of General Zollicoffer. Col. Garrard took position upon a mountain, covering the road, and on the 21st of October was attacked in his camp, which he had fortified, by a large Confederate force. Wolford's cavalry had encountered the advancing enemy out upon the road, and fell back to Col. Garrard's position. The battle was a very severe one. Col. Garrard defended himself against repeated assaults, and during the fighting reinforcements came up under Gen. Schoepff. The Confederates were defeated with a loss of thirty killed and one hundred wounded, the Federal loss being four killed and eighteen wounded. This was the first general battle fought in Kentucky. From Wild Cat, the 7th returned to Camp Dick Robinson, and then advanced again on the road leading to Cumberland Gap, as far as Mount Vernon. It remained in this section of the state during the winter, and in the organization made in the spring of 1862, it was placed in general S. P. Carter's brigade of general George W. Morgan's division. This division in that spring made an expedition to Cumberland Gap, capturing the place June 18, 1862. General Morgan, in his report says of this expedition, that he reached Cumberland Ford, April 11th, and had the brigades of General Carter and Col. DeCourcey make a reconnaissance, on which they were attacked, but which was repulsed. He then crossed the mountains below the Gap, and descended into Powell's Valley, and proceeded on two roads to the Gap, capturing it on June 18th. The Seventh Kentucky, and also the 19th Kentucky under Col. Landram, were with General Carter's brigade in this expedition, and the reports show their valuable service.

General Morgan held Cumberland Gap until the invasion of Kentucky in September, 1862, by Generals Bragg and Kirby Smith.

The occupation of Cumberland Gap by Gen. George Morgan was an interesting event, but its evacuation by him, and his conducting his force in safety to the Ohio River, in September, 1862, was one of the most romantic and picturesque events of the war. In that month the Confederates were invading Kentucky in great force from three directions. General Bragg, on his celebrated move by way of Glasgow; Kirby Smith through the mountains by way of Barbourville, directed upon Richmond and Lexington, and Humphrey Marshall out of Virginia, toward Mount Sterling. In such conditions General George Morgan's escape seemed impossible. Kirby Smith sent a demand for his surrender, and Gen. Stevenson went against him with a force of four brigades. General Morgan described his situation thus: Stevenson in rear, Bragg to the left and Humphrey Marshall to the right. The only thing to do was to abandon the Gap and strike for the Ohio at the nearest point. September 16th, the march commenced. The retreat was across Kentucky, by way of Manchester, Booneville and West Liberty to Greenupsburg, on the Ohio.

A singular and striking fact is that this route was the old Warrior's Path--an old forgotten track of travel used by the Indians--it is thus mentioned in the Wilderness Road. The'Warrior's Path' was a trace along which the Indians traveled back and forth from their towns on the Miami and Scioto. It ran in an almost direct north course from Cumberland Gap across the eastern end of Kentucky to the mouth of the Scioto.

The season was dry and water scarce. The country was full of Confederate forces. General John Morgan was active on the roads which Gen. George Morgan had to travel. He blockaded them, and fought the retreating Morgan. General George Morgan says: Frequent skirmishes took place, and it several times happened that while one Morgan was clearing out obstructions at the entrance of a defile, the other Morgan was blockading the exit. In one instance, says he, a road had to be cut for four miles. For this work, he had one thousand men under the supervision of Capt. William F. Patterson, of whose company of engineers account is given in this volume.

Safely crossing Kentucky River at Proctor, eluding Marshall at West Liberty, feigning toward Maysville, and pushing for Greenupsburg, Gen. George Morgan reached the Ohio without the loss of a gun or a wagon, and with the loss of but eighty men as he states himself.

The force he had is noticeable: Seventh Kentucky, Garrard; 14th Kentucky, Cochran; 19th Kentucky, Landram; 22nd Kentucky, Lindsey; Mundy's battalion of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry; Patterson's Kentucky engineers. This was one-third of his force. He also had six Tennessee regiments, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.

Just one year later Cumberland Gap was retaken by the Kentucky general, J. M. Shackleford, in connection with Burnside's East Tennessee expedition of 1863.

Upon arriving at the Ohio River, the troops of General Morgan, including the Seventh Kentucky, rested a short time, having crossed to the Ohio side at Oak Hill. They were then ordered to West Virginia, to General J.D. Cox, in the Kanawha Valley. Remaining there a short time, they were ordered south to join the forces under General Sherman, then advancing upon Vicksburg. In the late fall of 1862, they proceeded by river transport by way of Memphis, and reached their destination. With this expedition of General Sherman were three Kentucky regiments, 7th, 19th and 22nd. Three Kentucky officers commanded brigades; General S. G. Burbridge, Col. W. J. Landram, Col. D. W. Lindsey. All these participated in the celebrated assault at Chickasaw Bluffs, December 29, 1862, which was a failure, and great loss was incurred.

These regiments remained with the forces under Gen. Sherman, and also when Gen. Grant took charge of the Vicksburg expedition, and participated in all the movements, labors and service incident thereto--moving down the river below the city, crossing to the east side, and marching out to Jackson, Mississippi, then turning and fighting the various battles preceding the siege, and in the siege until the surrender July 4, 1863.

The following are extracts from the official reports of General John A. McClernand:

Battle of Champion Hill

... In front of my center, as well as my right, the enemy appeared in great numbers. Garrard's brigade was hard pressed, and Gen. Osterhaus requested that it should be supported. All of Lawler's brigade, of Carr's division, except a reserve of one regiment, also advanced to support Lindsey's, who had pushed a charge near the mouth of the battery. Lawler's brigade here cast the trembling balance in our favor, himself narrowly escaping the effect of a shell. His men joined Lindsey and both dashed forward, shooting down the enemy's battery horses, driving away his gunners and capturing two pieces of cannon.

... The enemy, thus beaten at all points, fled in confusion, the main body along the road leading to Vicksburg, a fragment to the left of that road. General Carr's division taking the advance, hotly pressed the former, and Lindsey's and Burbridge's brigades the latter, until night closed in, each taking many prisoners.

Battle of Big Black River

... Osterhaus' division was ordered to form to the right of the road, Lindsey's brigade in front and the remaining two regiments of Garrard's brigade obliquely on the left and rear of Lindsey's, to counteract any movement in that direction. My right center and left engaged the enemy with increasing effect, and dashing forward under a heavy fire, across a narrow field, and with fixed bayonets, carried the enemy's works, capturing many prisoners and routing him. The defeat was eminently brilliant, and reflects the highest credit upon the gallant officers and men of General Lawler's and Osterhaus' commands, who achieved it. It was determinate of the success of the day. Most of the enemy escaped to the commanding bluff on the opposite side of the river, while others, hotly pressed by Benton's brigade and the right of Lindsey's, cut off from that escape and driven to the left and down the river, upon the left of Lindsey's and the front of Burbridge's brigade, fell into their hands.

Siege of Vicksburg--Storming on 22nd of May

Five minutes before 10 o'clock the bugle sounded the charge, and at 10 o'clock my columns of attack moved forward, and within fifteen minutes Lawler's and Landram's brigades had carried the ditch, slope and bastion of the fort, finding a piece of artillery and in time to see the men who had been serving and supporting it escape behind another defense commanding the interior of the former... Within fifteen minutes after Lawler's and Landram's success Benton's and Burbridge's brigades, fired by the example, rushed forward and carried the ditch and slope of a heavy earth work, and planted their colors on the latter... Men never fought more gallantly; nay, more desperately. For more than eight long hours they maintained their ground with deathlike tenacity; neither the blazing sun nor the deadly fire of the enemy shook them. Their constancy and valor filled me with admiration. The spectacle was one never to be forgotten.

Meantime, Osterhaus' and Hovey's forces, forming the column of assault on the left, pushed forward, under a severe fire, upon a more extended line, until an enfilading fire from a strong redoubt on their left front, and physical exhaustion, compelled them to take shelter behind a ridge. Here they could distinctly hear the words of hostile command. Their skirmishers, however, kept up the conflict...

While referring to the reports of division, brigade and regimental commanders, for particular notice of the officers of their commands most distinguishing themselves, it is proper, as commander of the corps, but I should recommend Brig. Gen.'s Hovey, Carr and Osterhaus for promotion; also Colonels Slack, Stone, Keigwin, Landram, Lindsey and Mudd. The skill, valor and signal services of those officers entitle them to it.

General McClernand also addressed the following letter to the governor of Kentucky:

I am most happy, sir, to congratulate you, and, through you, your noble state, for the victories won by the common effort of her brave sons with those of her sister states, and to bear testimony to the gallantry, bravery and good conduct of her officers and men in all these bloody struggles. They bore themselves with the unflinching steadiness of veterans, both under galling fires of artillery and musketry, and in making charges upon fortified lines. They have shown themselves compeers and fit companions in arms with brave men of sister states in a series of battles in which it has become impossible to make particular mention of those who distinguished themselves, without mentioning individually both officers and men.

Your most obedient servant, John A. McClernand, Maj. Gen., Commanding 13th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee.

In December, 1863, the 7th re-enlisted in the veteran organization, and it received the veterans of the 19th and 22nd Kentucky Infantry. It remained on duty in the Department of the Gulf, as the following account copied from the adjutant-general's report shows:

The 7th Kentucky Veteran Volunteer Infantry, composed of veterans and recruits of the 7th, 19th and 22nd Regiments of Kentucky infantry, was organized on the 24th day of December, 1864, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in compliance with Special Order No. 334, Department of the Gulf, Series of 1864, Gen. E. R. S. Canby, Commanding.

A portion of each of the regiments, which were consolidated to form the 7th Veteran, veteranized as early as December, 1863, and January, 1864; but, owing to the fact that many of them had not been in-service the two years required by law and the orders of the War Department, they were not mustered as veterans until March, 1864, and for some time even after that period were refused the thirty days' furlough promised them upon re-enlistment. In May, they were ordered to join the Red river expedition, under command of Gen. Banks, in which campaign they suffered severely in killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 1st of June, 1864, the expedition returned to Morganza, Louisiana, and about the 1st of September the veterans received their furlough, at the expiration of which they rejoined their commands. The consolidation not having been made at the time of veteranizing, the history of the veterans and recruits constituting the 7th Veteran is identical with that of the non-veteran organizations from which they were transferred, viz: 7th, 19th and 22nd Kentucky Infantry regiments up to the date of their consolidation to form the 7th Veteran, which was commanded by Col. George W. Monroe, who had succeeded Col. D. W. Lindsey, in command of the 22nd, and who, having the larger number of veterans, was thus entitled to the position of colonel in the consolidated veteran organizations.

The regiment remained at Baton Rouge doing garrison duty until May 1, 1865, when it was ordered to Clinton, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. It remained at Clinton until ordered to Baton Rouge, where was mustered out on the 11th of May, 1866, and embarked, destined for Louisville, Kentucky, at which place it received final payment and discharge.

During the War, the 7th received several issues of weapons. In 1861, the regiment was issued .577 caliber British Enfield rifles. In the spring of ’62 they traded these in for 1842 model Springfield Rifles. In 1863, they were re-issued Enfields again. By 1864 the regiment was using Springfields, but the model is not known to this author at this time.

From Dyer's Compendium and Supplement to the Ors, Record of Events, vol. 22, pgs. 249-252

7th Regiment Infantry

One of the first Recruited in the State. Old 3rd, Organized at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., September 22, 1861. Attached to Thomas' Command, Army of the Ohio, to January, 1862. 12th Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Ohio, to March, 1862. 24th Brigade, 7th Division, Army of the Ohio, to October, 1862. 3rd Brigade, District of West Virginia, Dept. of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 9th Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Sherman's Yazoo Expedition, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 9th Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 9th Division, 13th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to August, 1863; and Dept. of the Gulf to November, 1863. Plaquemine, District of Baton Rouge, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to March, 1864, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 13th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, to December, 1864. District of Baton Rouge, La., to April, 1865. Provisional Brigade, District of Baton Rouge, Dept. of the Gulf, to March, 1866.

SERVICE.

Moved to Mt. Vernon, Ky., then to Rockcastle Hills, October, 1861.

Action at Camp Wild Cat, or Rockcastle Hills, October 21, 1861.

Stationed at Camp Calvert, near London, October-December, 1861.

Stationed at Camp Carter, January, 1862.

Jan. 3-8, Company A marched to Slate Hill Meeting House. Remained as picket guard until Jan. 8, returning to Camp. Jan. 25, marched in the morning, nine miles southeast, to Methodist campgrounds now called Camp Carter.

Stationed at Camp Cumberland Ford, except Company E at London, Feb. 1862.

Reconnaissance toward Cumberland Gap and skirmishes March 21-23, 1862.

Cumberland Gap Campaign March 28-June 18.

May 22, the regiment received orders to march with three days’ rations in haversacks and 6 days rations’ in the wagons. We marched about 8 miles on the Boston Rd, where we halted and have remained since for orders.

Camp Cotterell, June 1862, We received orders and started to march with 2 days’ rations in haversacks; marched about 6 miles and encamped for the night. June 8, Resumed the march and marched to Lambdin’s at the junction of Wilson’s Gap and Big Creek Gap roads in Whitley County. June 10, struck tents and marched to Clear Fork of the Cumberland River and encamped for the night in Tennessee. June 11, Resumed the march; proceeded 7 miles on the Wilson’s Gap Rd and returned to camp, making a march of 14 miles. June 12, continued the retrograde march to Lambdin’s. June 13, struck tents again and marched 12 miles to Boston, Ky. June 14, resumed the march; proceeded about 15 miles and encamped. June 15, marched to Big Creek Gap; thence up Powell Valley to Fincastle and returned to Big Creek Gap, marching about 17 miles inclusive. June 16, marched up the valley road to near Wilson’s Gap and there camped for the night. June 18, at 1:30 am started again on the march, proceeded up the valley a distance of 22 miles, within 3 miles of Cumberland Gap and encamped on David Cotterell’s farm with our Brigade. We subsequently became the 7th Regiment Kentucky Infantry.

Stationed at Camp Garrard, July 1862.

July 9, in the morning we received orders to prepare 2 days’ rations in the haversacks and be ready by 4pm for a march. We marched across Cumberland Gap and to the Widow Moore’s thence down Yellow Creek to its mouth. Thence across and up the Cumberland River, across the mouth of the Poor Fork of said river, by way of Mt.Pleasant to Crank’s Gap; thence across the mountain to Powell Valley in Lee County, Va. Reached Jonesville early in the morning. Had a small skirmish with the enemy some 20 or 75 strong taking all their camp equipage, guns, horses and some 16 prisoners.From thence we marched down the valley to Camp Cotterell having marched a distance of about 114 miles.

In August, Company D, along with one Lt., 5 sgts, and 42 privates from Company E, 73 men from Company A, and some hand picked men from a few other companies, were sent on detached service with Col. Garrard to Lexington for supplies. It was during this time the Confederate Army, under the command of General Kirby Smith, invaded Kentucky by way of Whitley County. Col. Garrard’s men were attacked at Big Hill by Colonel J. Scott’s Confederate Cavalry. On August 30, they rode by chance into one of the major battles of the Kentucky campaign. Just outside Richmond, Kentucky, Gen. Smith's Confederate troops were in the process of putting to rout General Bull Nelson's Union command. The men of the 7th dismounted, hitched their horses, and did excellent service. But they and the rest of the Federal Army who were not killed, wounded or captured, were scattered and forced to flee to Lexington and then withdraw to Louisville.

Colonel Garrard’s detachment at the Battle of Perryville:

In Louisville, the Union Army reorganized to push the Confederates out of Kentucky. Colonel Garrard received command of a composite detachment of men from the Seventh Kentucky, 32nd Kentucky, and Third Tennessee. The 194 man command was in William Terrill's 3rd Brigade of James Jackson's 10th Division, Alexander McCook's Corps.

By about 3:00 PM on October 8, 1862, Garrard's Detachment was in position near the left of the Union army's line outside Perryville. Fighting alongside inexperienced Ohio and Illinois regiments, Garrard's men could only help slow the attacking Confederate veterans of Maney's Brigade in the early phases of what would be the biggest battle ever fought in Kentucky.

General Terrill's brigade fell back in disorder. Both Terrill and division commander Jackson soon fell to enemy bullets, the Confederates quickly overran Parson's artillery battery nearby, and the left wing of the Union army collapsed. Garrard's Detachment was later commended for having behaved well, while the conduct of units around them was reported as disgraceful. In the day's combat the detachment lost six men wounded and 33 captured. The Union line eventually held, however, and the Confederates began a retreat out of Kentucky during the following night.

Evacuation of Cumberland Gap and retreat to Greenupsburg, in the