The 9th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

The 9th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment was organized at

Eminence, Kentucky Eminence is a home rule class city in Henry County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 2,498 at the 2010 census, up from 2,231 at the 2000 census. Eminence is the largest city in Henry County. Eminence is home to the loudspeake ...

, mustered in on August 22, 1862, under the command of

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military 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 colonel was typically in charge of ...

Richard Taylor Jacob Richard Taylor Jacob (March 13, 1825 – September 13, 1903) was an American attorney and politician, elected as 17th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1863–64). Although a slaveholder, he was loyal to the Union during the American Civil War, r ...

. The regiment was recruited, organized, and mustered into the service with 1,244 officers and men in less than three weeks. The regiment's greatest service came at the

Battle of Richmond The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, fought August 29–30, 1862, was one of the most complete Confederate victories in the war by Major General Edmund Kirby Smith against Union major general William "Bull" Nelson's forces, which were defending th ...

where along with the

9th Pennsylvania Cavalry The 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment was a Union Army cavalry regiment that participated in the American Civil War. It was one of the most respected Union volunteer cavalry units in the war. History The regiment was organized August 29, 1861, ...

, they covered the retreat of the Union

Army of Kentucky The Army of Kentucky was the name of two Union army formations. Both were small and short-lived, serving in Kentucky in 1862 and 1863. Army of August 1862 On August 25, 1862 Major General William "Bull" Nelson assumed command of the forces statio ...

. The regiment was attached to 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division,

Army of the Ohio The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863. History 1st Army of the Ohio General Orders No. 97 appointed Maj. Gen. Do ...

, to November 1862. District of Western Kentucky,

Department of the Ohio The Department of the Ohio was an administrative military district created by the United States War Department early in the American Civil War to administer the troops in the Northern states near the Ohio River. 1st Department 1861–1862 Genera ...

to June 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XXIII Corps, Army of the Ohio, to August 1863. Eminence, Kentucky, 1st Division, XXIII Corps, to September 1863. The 9th Kentucky Cavalry mustered out on September 11, 1863.

Detailed service

Advance toward Richmond, Kentucky, August, 1862. Retreat to Shelbyville August 30-September 1. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1–22. Near Clay Village October 4. Near Perryville October 6–7. Battle of Perryville October 8. Lawrenceburg October 8. Dog Walk, Chesser's Store, October 9. Capture of Harrodsburg October 11. Moved to Cumberland River and operating against

Champ Ferguson Samuel "Champ" Ferguson (November 29, 1821 – October 20, 1865) was a notorious Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War. He claimed to have killed over 100 Union soldiers and pro-Union civilians. He was arrested, tried, and executed ...

until December. Operations against Morgan's Raid in Kentucky December 22, 1862 to January 2, 1863. Springfield, Kentucky, December 30 (detachment). Operations against Pegram March 22-April 1. Danville March 22 and 28. Expedition to Monticello and operations in southeastern Kentucky April 26-May 12. Cumberland River May 9. Pursuit of Morgan July 2–26. Marrowbone-Burkesville July 2. New Lisbon, Ohio, July 26. Duty at Eminence until September.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 107 men during service; 5 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 101 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

* Colonel Richard Taylor Jacob *

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

John Boyle

References

* Dyer, Frederick H. ''A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion'' (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908. ;Attribution *

External links