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The First Kentucky Cavalry
In the summer of 1861 the Civil War had fairly begun. The battle of the Bull Run
was fought July 21st. In that summer the idea prevailed, with some, that
although the country was aflame, and although Confederate companies had been
organized in Kentucky and had gone south with flying colors, and although the
state of Tennessee was full of Confederate troops, all along the state line, it
was in some way wrong for the Union men of Kentucky to enter into any military
organization. Kentucky had voted overwhelmingly against secession. It had
refused to join the Southern movement as emphatically as South Carolina chose to
secede. As it adhered to the Union when other states seceded, her Union citizens
saw fit, under all the circumstances, to organize troops. As early as July 1st,
1861, Confederate soldiers from Knoxville, Tennessee, had occupied Cumberland
Gap and Wheeler's Gap. The citizens of the eastern and central parts of Kentucky
were under great excitement, and felt the urgent necessity of preparations for
defense. Naturally, therefore, the movement occurred which led to the
establishment of Camp Dick Robinson, in Garrard County, Kentucky, and the
formation there of four Kentucky regiments, one battery and two regiments of
East Tennessee Unionists.
The history of the first Kentucky Cavalry has been well written by Sergeant E.
Tarrant, a member of that regiment. From that volume, and from the official
records of the war, the account here following is made up:
Tarrant says: "Lieut. William Nelson, of the navy, himself a Kentuckian, had
been commissioned brigadier general, and had been given authority to organize
troops for the national defense in Kentucky. He arrived at Lancaster, in Garrard
County, July 15, 1861. He immediately made the following appointments: W. J.
Landrum, Col., and Frank Wolford, Lt. Col., of the ----- Cavalry Regiment; S. S.
Fry and Honorable T. T. Garrard, colonels of infantry regiments."
Landrum and Wolford commenced to recruit at once, in Garrard, Casey and
adjoining counties. Their men were to go into Camp Dick Robinson immediately
after the August election. Col. Wolford was aided in recruiting by his younger
brother, F. M. Wolford, John W. Letcher, George W. Sweeney, Francis M. Helveti,
Silas Adams, J. W. Jenkins, William Rains, George W. Drye, S. H. Coppage, John
A. Brents, J. A. Morrison, J. P. Miller, William A. Coffey and others, who
became officers in the regiment. The men were enlisted from the counties of
Casey, Marion, Madison, Garrard, Wayne, Washington, Cumberland, Pulaski. The
names of the officers and men appear in the roster following this account [not
included on this website].
The first movement of the regiment was in August, when several companies went,
under command of Lt. Col. John W. Letcher, to Lexington, to protect the passage
of arms through that place. They guarded the wagons to Nicholasville, and on to
Camp Dick Robinson. Other duty of similar character was also performed.
In September, General George H. Thomas took command of the forces organized at
the camp, and it was soon learned that Confederate General Zollicoffer was in
Kentucky. The first battle fought by Wolford's men was at Camp Wildcat, on
Rockcastle Hills, Oct. 21st. The Federals were commanded by Col. Garrard, of the
7th Kentucky Infantry, and he had sent Wolford's cavalry forward to reconnoiter.
Zollicoffer appeared with a force of 7,000, drove back the cavalry and attacked
Garrard in his camp. General Schoepff, who was under Gen. Thomas, hastened to
Garrard's relief, and the battle resulted disastrously to the Confederates. The
conduct of Wolford's regiment was highly praised by General Schoepff and others.
After this date, to wit, on Oct. 28, 1861, the First Kentucky Cavalry was
mustered into the United States service by Gen. Thomas. From that time it served
with the utmost activity throughout the war. Nov. 2nd, it went on a
reconnaissance to Burksville. In the summer, it was at Somerset, from whence it
operated by detachments in every direction. Nov. 30th, it was placed in the 11th
Brigade, commanded by Gen. J. T. Boyle. December 10th, five companies were sent
to Prestonsburg, Kentucky, by way of Danville, Lexington and Mount Sterling.
They united with Garfield's force in that part of Kentucky, and Garfield
reported constant fighting against the Confederates under Gen. Humphrey
Marshall. December 14th, Col. Wolford reported that Major Helveti was wounded
and captured at Logan's Cross Roads. Jan. 21, 1862, General Thomas reports the
First as in front, toward Logan's Cross Roads. Jan. 19th, it participated in the
battle of Mill Springs, where the Confederates, under Gen.'s Crittenden and
Zollicoffer, were signally defeated. In this battle, Wolford's cavalry
encountered the enemy first and fought dismounted. Wolford reported three
killed, eight mortally wounded and eleven others wounded. General Crittenden
reported a loss of 125 killed and 309 wounded. After the battle of Mill Springs
the First was on hard duty in Kentucky all winter. In April, 1862, it moved to
the vicinity of Nashville, and was used for various expeditions in that section.
At that time it was assigned to Dumont's division of Buell's army. May 5th, in a
fight at Lebanon, Tennessee, in which the Federals successfully defended the
place against an attack by Morgan and others, Col. Wolford was severely wounded.
May 24, 1862, General Mitchell reports the First Kentucky Cavalry at
Shelbyville, Tennessee, "men and horses absolutely worn out," yet a few days
later portions of the regiment are reported doing duty as usual.
In June, it was at Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Lawrenceburg, and Pulaski,
returning by way of Columbia to Murfreesboro. June 14th, it went on an
expedition to Sequatchie Valley, in the command of General Dumont, returning to
Columbia. In August, the regiment moved to Murfreesboro, and then to Nashville;
thence northward with Buell's army on its march to Kentucky, passing through
Munfordville, Elizabethtown, and Hodgenville. At New Haven it took part in the
capture of the Georgia regiment of Col. Crawford. When Buell left Louisville,
Oct. 1st, to move against Bragg, the First Cavalry moved from Elizabethtown and
joined Buell's forces at Bardstown. It took part in the battle of Perryville,
Oct. 8. Then joined in the pursuit of Bragg, passing through Danville and Crab
Orchard to London. From London it returned and moved to Nashville. There various
changes were made among the officers. Among others, Capt. Silas Adams was made
Lt. Col. At this time Buell was superseded by Rosecrans, and the First Cavalry
was sent into Kentucky to protect the country against the efforts of the
Confederate cavalry to destroy railroads. Jan. 16, 1863, General Rosecrans
reports the First Cavalry, with other troops, operating against John Morgan.
During the spring and summer it was in Kentucky, being under Gen. Q. A. Gilmore.
In March, it aided in resisting the raid of Confederate General Pegram into the
state, and, on the 30th, fought a severe battle at Dutton's Hill, near Crab
Orchard. In this campaign Col. Adams was captured but he escaped.
August, 1863, the Army of the Ohio was organized with Gen. Burnside as
commander. In this organization was the cavalry brigade, consisting of the First
Kentucky Cavalry, 11th Kentucky Cavalry (Major Graham); Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry
(Col. Crittenden), and a light battery. Col. Wolford commanded the brigade and
Col. Adams the First Cavalry. Toward the latter part of August, 1863, the East
Tennessee expedition, under Gen. Burnside, started, and the First Cavalry
accompanied Hascall's division, moving to Kingston, Tennessee, by way of
Somerset and Montgomery. The East Tennessee campaign, with all its incidents,
can not be here detailed; it is enough to say that the First Cavalry was
constantly active, moving from place to place, fighting at Kingston,
Philadelphia, Maryville, and many other places. Nov. 3rd Burnside's cavalry was
put under Gen. James M. Shackleford, and Wolford commanded a division. In the
siege of Knoxville the cavalry was placed on the south side of the river, and
the men, being dismounted and placed in defenses on the hills, successfully
resisted all assaults. The battle at Fort Sanders was followed by a furious
charge on the south side, which also failed. The loss of the First Cavalry
during the siege was 13 men. The siege being over, the cavalry followed
Longstreet up the Tennessee Valley, and at Beans Station a severe and bloody
fight occurred, in which Col. Wolford and his men bore a most conspicuous part.
The First Cavalry remained in East Tennessee until February, 1864, when it was
sent to Mount Sterling, Kentucky, where in refitted and reorganized for the
great campaign in Georgia, under General Sherman. In March, 1864, the citizens
of Kentucky presented Col. Wolford a fine sword; this was at Lexington. In that
month he severed his connection with his regiment, and from that time it was
commanded by Col. Silas Adams.
In April, 1864, the regiment moved to join Sherman's army in Georgia; passing
through Danville and Point Burnside, it reached Kingston, Tennessee, May 7th.
Leaving there on the ninth, it reached Varnell's Station the 11th. It was then
in the cavalry command of the 23rd Army Corps, under Gen. Stoneman. The hard and
exciting service of the Atlanta campaign began at once. The First Cavalry
engaged in many encounters, in which it suffered losses before Atlanta was
reached, but these can not to be detailed here. The most notable event was the
Stoneman raid to Macon, Georgia, in which Stoneman was captured, but the First
Cavalry fared better. It should be stated here that the 11th Kentucky Cavalry,
Major W. O. Boyle, was with Col. Adams and to the First Cavalry. The official
report states that "great credit is due to Col. Adams for the energy and
management displayed by him and bringing his command out as safely as he has,"
his loss in killed, wounded and captured being only 20. Another report to
General Sherman, dated August 4, 1864, says: "Col. Adams, commanding brigade of
Stoneman's cavalry, is here about 900 strong.
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