8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

Kentucky

Kentucky Military

Kentucky in the Civil War

8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

Brief History

Formation of the 8th Kentucky Cavalry was authorized July 23, 1862, by the authority of Edwin M. Stanton, U.S. Secretary of War.

Colonel James Murell Shackelford was chosen commander, after which time, camps of recruiting & instruction were established at Henderson, Russellville and Lebanon, Kentucky. The whole regiment numbering 1,248 was organized within the space of three weeks comprised of union men from the surrounding counties.

On September 6, 1862, the 2nd Battalion (Co's A, D, G, K) was mustered in at Russellville, Kentucky by Captain T. E. Noell. On September 8th, 1862, the 3rd Battalion (Co's C, F, I, M) was also muster at Russellville, Kentucky by Captain T. E. Noell. Lastly, On September 13, 1862, the 1st Battalion (Co's B, E, H, L) was mustered in at Henderson, Kentucky by Captain V. N. Smith, U.S. Mustering Officer.

On September 12, 1862, General Orders #5 from Colonel Shackelford directed that the regiment would have on its colors the moniker "Finnell Guard" and "that the regiment shall be called by the name". Such was done in honor to General John W. Finnell.

The 3rd Battalion alongside Company B were mustered out of service September 17, 1863, at Lebanon, Kentucky. The 1st & 2nd Battalions, excepting Company B, were mustered out of service September 23, 1863, at Russellville, Kentucky.

Organization

Commanding Officers

• Colonel James Murell Shackelford
• Lt. Colonel Benjamin H. Bristow

Command Structure

• 1st Battalion, Maj. James H. Holloway

1. Co B. Capt. Issac Singleton
2. Co E. Capt. John A. Arthur
3. Co H. Capt. Samuel Allen
4. Co L. Capt. Elishia Owens

• 2nd Battalion, Maj. Joseph M. Kennedy

1. Co A. Capt. George W. Mccullough
2. Co D. Capt. Samuel F. Johnson
3. Co G. Capt. James M. Morrow
4. Co K. Capt. James H. Hudspeth

• 3rd Battalion, Maj James W. Weatherford

1. Co C. Capt. Charles M Whipp
2. Co F. Capt. James B. Carson
3. Co I. Capt. John Dever
4. Co M. Capt. Daniel S. Parker

Command Changes

Colonel James Murell Shackelford, promoted to Brigadier General, January 2, 1863; Replaced by Lt. Colonel Benjamin H. Bristow

Lt. Colonel Benjamin H. Bristow, promoted to Colonel, April 1, 1863, Replaced by Major James H. Holloway

Maj. James H. Holloway, promoted to Lt. Col, May 1, 1863; Replaced by Capt. Samuel M. Starling, Co. M

Capt. James B. Carson, Co. F resigned January 19, 1863; Replaced by Captain William F. Hunter

Capt. Elishia Owens, Co. L, killed February 28, 1862. Replaced by Captain Robert V. Gunter

Capt. Daniel S. Parker, Co. M, resigned December 6, 1862, Capt. Samuel M. Starling promoted to Major June 1, 1863, Replaced by Capt. John D. Belden

Enrollment Statistics

Company	Location of Enrollment	Company	Location of Enrollment
A	Russellville 80% Bowling Green 20%	G	Logan Co 50 % Simpson Co 25 % Edmonson Co 5% Breckenridge Co 15% Perry Co 5%
B	Lincoln Co 75% Davis Co 25%	H	Henderson 80% Morgan Co 10% Madisonville 5% Webster Co 5%
C	Casey Co 100%	I	Casey Co 90% Lincoln Co 10 %
D	Russellville 80% Hopkinsville 20%	K	Russellville 100%
E	Henderson 65% Newport 35%	L	Trigg Co 50% Milburn/Ballard Co 35% Crittenden Co 5% Hickman/Fancy Fawn 5% Hopkinsville 5%
F	Casey Co 100%	M	Casey Co 60% Adair Co 15% Russellville 15% Marion Co 10%

Operations

August-October 1862

1st Battalion

August 3rd- Skirmish near Morganfield

August 26th- Skirmish at Madisonville

• Having received orders to depart Henderson for Madisonville, attacked forces there under Brigadier General Adam R. "Stovepipe" Johnson killing 6, capturing 17 & dispersing the remainder. Following these events, the battalion remained at Madisonville through the 30th after which departing for Ashbyburg.

August 31st- Action at Morganfield

• Colonel Shackelford and his battalion surprise a rebel force at this place, killing some and taking several prisoners. Following these events, they then began heading back towards Henderson skirmishing with the forces of Johnson the whole march.

September 3rd- Actions at Geiger's Lake

• Attacked camp of Brigadier General Adam R. Johnson and routed his force. During a counterattack, Colonel Shackelford was struck in the foot by a small cannon ball which killed his horse. This attack sidelined Colonel Shackelford for several weeks

September 20th- Ordered to Ashbyburg where they confronted a force of 400 rebels, routing the whole and afterwards returning headquarters at Henderson.

2nd & 3rd Battalion

August 2nd- (Russellville Murders)

• Capt. James M. Morrow of Company G, while at Russellville discussing the regiment with counterpart William Burgher of the 24th Kentucky is ambushed and shot five times. His companion is killed in the attack at the livery on 3rd Street while the brood attempts to secure a contraband horse.

September 9th- Skirmish at Allensville, Todd County with Woodwards Guerillas

September 16th-27th- Rear Guard, Buell's Wagon Train; Marched from Bowling Green to Brownsville escorting wagon train to the Green River

September 30th- Following their return from Brownsville, Colonel Sanders D. Bruce, commander at Bowling Green, dispatched the battalion in company with the 70th Indiana to confront bridge burners near Auburn. While here, they came upon a rebel force at Russellville, killing or wounding 50, imprisoning 15, and capturing 40 horses with equipage. Later the same day they routed a complementary force at Glasgow capturing 10 persons. It is worth noting here that the commander of the 70th Indiana was future U.S. President, Benjamin Harrison.

November 1862

1st Battalion

November 4th- 1st Battalion ordered to leave Henderson for Bowling Green

December 1862

3rd Battalion

December 24th- Following several weeks of inquiry by General Rosecrans as to designating a force to occupy Clarksville, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Kentucky Cavalry along with others in the command of Colonel Sanders D. Bruce leave Russellville. While artillery is delayed by want of a crossing on account of local bridge burners, a majority of the force including the cavalry enter the city late on Christmas Day.

The Third Battalion would remain at Clarksville through the completion of its term of service, scouting the area and dispersing bushwhackers, guerillas and any who would threaten the union. As such it played no part in the pursuit of Morgan at Buffington Island later the following year.

Pursuit of Morgan (June-July 1863)

On June 27, 1863, James M. Shackelford, former commander of the 8th Kentucky, took his brigade including the 1st & 2nd Battalions of his former command in pursuit of John Hunt Morgan and his men. They first left Russellville marching to Glasgow and remaining some two days. On the 30th, they arrived in Marrowbone where they would spend the early days of July. On July 5th, they reached Columbia after which marching via Lebanon, Springfield and Bardstown arriving at Brandenburg on the 6th. Over the next two weeks they continued their pursuit crossing into Indiana and arriving at Harrison, Ohio on 18th. The following day, they provided support in the Battle of Buffington Island blocking Morgan's escape. (Work in Progress)

Other Sources

• Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Kentucky in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).
  

• National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.
  

• Kentucky in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Kentucky, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.
  

• United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.