The 1st Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, CSA was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

that served in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the Military forces of the Confederate States, military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) duri ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. It was the only Kentucky regiment in the Confederate service to serve in the

Army of Northern Virginia The Army of Northern Virginia was a field army of the Confederate States Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed agains ...

Service

The 1st Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, CSA was organized in August 1861, by consolidation of three battalions of Kentucky infantry, two stationed at

Harper's Ferry Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 269 at the 2020 United States census. Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers in the lower Shenandoah Valley, where ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

(now in

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

). One battalion, the 1st Kentucky Battalion (Duncan's) was under the command of Major Henry Blanton Duncan (b. 1827) and the 2nd Battalion of Kentucky Sharpshooters was under the command of Major John D. Pope. The 3rd Kentucky Battalion commanded by Major Benjamin M. Anderson had been stationed at

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

. All three battalions were consolidated into the 1st Regiment Kentucky Volunteers at

Manassas Junction, Virginia Manassas (), formerly Manassas Junction, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The population was 42,772 at the 2020 Census. It is the county seat of Prince William County, although the two are separate jurisdi ...

. Majors Pope and Anderson were returned to their companies as captains. Duncan had resigned at Winchester in June 1861. Col. Thomas Claiborne, of Tennessee, had assumed command of the 1st battalion until the formation of the regiment. The regiment had ten companies. The two battalions arrived in Virginia at Harper's Ferry, later moving to Winchester. The two battalions moved with Joe Johnston's Army of the Shenandoah to join Beauregard's

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the primary field army of the Union army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the Battle of ...

at Manassas Junction, but arrived the day following the

First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run, called the Battle of First Manassas
. by Confederate States ...

under the command of Major Thomas Claiborne. With Duncan, who submitted his resignation on August 13, gone, the two battalions merged. In August a third battalion of three companies, then around

Newport News, Virginia Newport News () is an Independent city (United States), independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the List of c ...

, and augmented by a company of Kentuckians from the 1st Louisiana, were ordered by Richmond to join with the six companies then at Manassas Junction. Lt. Col. Thomas Hart Taylor was assigned command of the regiment on August 7, 1861. Taylor was later promoted to full colonel and remained in command until the unit was mustered out. The regiment was assigned to a brigade under the command of J.E.B. Stuart and participated in the Battle of Dranesville at

Dranesville, Virginia Dranesville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Dranesville is located on the Leesburg Pike ( State Route 7) at its intersection with Georgetown Pike ( State Route 193). The U.S. Census Bureau defines ...

. In mid-1862, the regiment was ordered to Richmond and later participated in the

Battle of Yorktown The siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown and the surrender at Yorktown, was the final battle of the American Revolutionary War. It was won decisively by the Continental Army, led by George Washington, with support from the Mar ...

Yorktown, Virginia Yorktown is a town in York County, Virginia, United States. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in Colony of Virginia, colonial Virginia in 1682. Yorktown's population was 195 as of the 2010 census, while ...

. Following the battle, the 1st Kentucky Infantry was ordered back to Richmond where it remained until its twelve-month enlistment expired. The men were mustered out of service on May 13 and 14, 1862.

Commanders

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Thomas H. Taylor

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment (Confederate) Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1862 Units and formations of the Confederate States Army from Kentucky 1861 establishments in Kentucky

Service

Commanders

See also

References