The Army of Kentucky was the name of two

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

army formations. Both were small and short-lived, serving in

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

in 1862 and 1863.

Army of August 1862

On August 25, 1862 Major General

William "Bull" Nelson William "Bull" Nelson (September 27, 1824 – September 29, 1862) was a United States naval officer who became a Union general during the American Civil War. As a Kentuckian, Nelson could have sympathized with the Confederates but, like his st ...

assumed command of the forces stationed around

Richmond, Kentucky Richmond is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It is named after Richmond, Virginia, and is home to Eastern Kentucky University. In 2019, the population was 36,157. Richmond is the fourth-la ...

. Although the whole force was no more than two brigades, Nelson dubbed the force "Army of Kentucky". The two brigades were commanded by brigadier generals

Mahlon D. Manson Mahlon Dickerson Manson (February 20, 1820 – February 4, 1895) was a druggist, Indiana politician, and a Union general in the American Civil War. Biography Manson was born in Piqua, Ohio, to David Manson, Jr., and Sarah Cornwall. He was a ...

and Charles Cruft respectively. Merely five days after its creation, the army of mostly green soldiers went into action 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 ...

and was soundly defeated. The army lost over 800 killed and 4,000 prisoners. Because of the large number of prisoners (including Manson) and the wounding of Nelson, the Army of Kentucky virtually ceased to exist. Cruft officially remained in command of the 2nd Brigade until September but the majority of his brigade had been captured while the rest simply marched back to New Albany, Indiana. Captain Charles C. Gilbert was appointed acting major general and placed in command of the remnants of the Army. In September 1862 General Don Carlos Buell absorbed the remnants into the III Corps of the Army of the Ohio.

Army of October 1862

On October 7, 1862 Major General

Gordon Granger Gordon Granger (November 6, 1821 – January 10, 1876) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War, where he distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga. Granger is best remembered for his part in the ...

revived the name "Army of Kentucky". It was originally composed of three divisions commanded respectively by generals Andrew J. Smith, Quincy A. Gilmore, and

Absalom Baird Absalom Baird (August 20, 1824 – June 14, 1905) was a career United States Army officer who distinguished himself as a Union Army general in the American Civil War. Baird received the Medal of Honor for his military actions. Early life Baird was ...

. This form of the army was unusual in the fact that on January 20, it was attached to the larger

Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creation ...

. Baird's division fought at the

Battle of Thompson's Station The Battle of Thompson's Station was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on March 5, 1863 in Williamson County, Tennessee. In a period of relative inactivity following the Battle of Stones River, a reinforced Union infantry brigade, ...

in March 1863 and nearly one entire brigade was captured there. In April, 1863 the army was composed of two divisions of infantry under Charles C. Gilbert and

with a brigade of cavalry under

Green Clay Smith Green Clay Smith (July 4, 1826 – June 29, 1895) was a United States soldier and politician. Elected to the Kentucky state house before the American Civil War, he was commissioned as a Union officer when he volunteered, advancing to the rank of ...

.Granger's Official Report
/ref> A division of cavalry under David S. Stanley was attached as well as the garrison of

Franklin, TN Franklin is a city in and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020, its population was 83,454. ...

. In this formation the army fought at the Battle of the Harpeth River (or First Franklin) on April 10. On June 8, 1863 the Army of Kentucky essentially became the Reserve Corps of the Army of the Cumberland still under the command of Granger.

Commanders

(August 25–30, 1862) * Charles C. Gilbert (September 1–27, 1862) *

(October 7, 1862-8 June 1863)

Major battles

(Nelson)

First Battle of Franklin The First Battle of Franklin was fought April 10, 1863, in Williamson County, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was a minor engagement in about the same location as that of the more famous Battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864), whi ...

(Granger)

References

*Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, . {{Union Army Formations Kentucky, Army of Kentucky in the American Civil War 1862 establishments in Kentucky Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1863

Army of August 1862

Army of October 1862

Commanders

Major battles

See also

References