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 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 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 revived the name "Army of Kentucky". It was originally composed of three divisions commanded respectively by generals

Andrew J. Smith Andrew Jackson Smith (April 28, 1815January 30, 1897) was a United States Army general during the American Civil War, rising to the command of a corps. He was most noted for his victory over Confederate General Stephen D. Lee at the Battle of Tu ...

Quincy A. Gilmore Quincy Adams Gillmore (February 28, 1825 – April 7, 1888) was an American civil engineer, author, and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was noted for his actions in the Union victory at Fort Pulaski, where his mod ...

, 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. Baird's division fought at the Battle of Thompson's Station 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.Granger's Official Report
/ref> A division of cavalry under

David S. Stanley David Sloane Stanley (June 1, 1828 – March 13, 1902) was a Union Army general during the American Civil War. Stanley took part in the Second Battle of Corinth and the Battle of Stones River as a division commander. He was later made a corps co ...

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) * Gordon Granger (October 7, 1862-8 June 1863)

Major battles

Battle of Richmond (Nelson)
First Battle of Franklin (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