When the Civil War ended in 1865, the Quartermaster Department began the enormous task of locating the burial places of the dead, exhuming bodies from distant or isolated graves and concentrating them into national cemeteries, in realization of the intent expressed by the Act of July 17, 1862, that those who gave their lives in defense of the Republic should rest forever within the guarded confines of a national cemetery.

Thousands of scattered burial places marking the sites of great battles and innumerable actions of lesser consequence appeared to impose an all but insuperable obstacle. The difficulties encountered were enormous, especially in making identifications. The military of the day apparently failed to realize not only the importance of some type of permanent identification for combat soldiers, but also the obvious need for specially trained units and personnel who could properly care for the war dead. Thus only 58% of the disinterred and reburied soldiers were identified.

The Civil War saw the QM Corps clearly established as the responsible agent for caring for the Army's dead. A joint resolution, approved April 13, 1866, authorized and required the Secretary of War to take immediate measures to preserve from desecration the graves of the soldiers of the United States who fell during the Civil War.

Despite the difficulties encountered the work went forward so rapidly between 1866 and 1870, that the Cemeterial Division had disinterred the remains of nearly 300,000 war dead and laid them to rest in 73 newly created national cemeteries. By 1873, seventy-five national cemeteries had been established, containing the graves of 170,162 known and 147,800 unknown Union soldiers.

Among the unknown dead at New Albany National Cemetery, 209 men were disinterred throughout the Big Sandy Valley who had served in Kentucky units. Potentially, 43 men may have belonged to the 14th KY Infantry:

96 soldiers buried near Ashland, KY

14th KY soldiers who died at Ashland

The majority of the men listed above died at the US General Hospital which had been established in the Aldine Hotel in Ashland in 1862.

Considering that this was a US General Hospital and that a number of forms had to be filled out upon the death of an individual it is inexplicable why no better records of interments were kept by Quartermaster officers that would have aided in identifying the dead disinterred in Ashland.

46 soldiers buried in City Cemetery, Louisa, KY

7 soldier buried near Louisa, KY

14th KY soldiers who died at Louisa

Louisa was the location of yet another military hospital in the Big Sandy Valley, which was housed in the First United Methodist Church in town. Although it appears that most of the dead were buried in the Louisa City Cemetery, additional burials may still be located near the church that have not been removed. A local historian indicated to me that years ago human remains were discovered during a road construction project in Louisa. The location suggests a possible connection to the former military hospital.

21 soldiers buried at Paintsville, KY

14th KY soldiers who died at Paintsville

It is suspected that the original burial location at Paintsville may have been the Old City Cemetery, located on top of a fairly steep hill behind the Mayo Mansion property in town.

Unknown KY soldiers removed to New Albany National Cemetery from various other locations in the Big Sandy Valley:

3 soldier buried near Prestonsburg

11 soldiers died Dec. 18, 1864 and buried six miles from Paintsville

20 soldiers near Piketon [Pikeville], KY

5 soldiers buried on Mrs. Davidson's Farm, 16 miles from Piketon, KY on State Road

Only four 14th KY soldiers who were removed to New Albany National Cemetery were positively identified:
William Caven, Pvt. Co. C; died ? (*); originally buried 20 miles from Louisa, on river.
Now: New Albany National Cemetery, Sec. B, grave # 990
(*) Date of death can not be established in AGR or CSR.
He is listed in AGR as mustered out with his company Jan. 31, 1865 at Louisa, KY.

Daniel Gullet, Pvt. Co. I; d. Feb. 24, 1863; originally buried City Cemetery, Louisa, KY.
Roll of Honor Record: New Albany National Cemetery, Sec. B, grave # 1332

Hiram Jude, Pvt. Co. C; d. June 24, 1865; originally buried City Cemetery, Louisa, KY;
Now: New Albany National Cemetery, Sec. B grave # 964
U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs Database: Jude, Heram, d. 06/24/1865, PVT C 14 HY INF, Plot: 1217

Lewis Swekett (*), Pvt. Co. E; d. Oct. 18, 1864; originally buried in the Soldiers' Cemetery, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Roll of Honor Record: New Albany National Cemetery, Sec. B, grave # 91
(*) Possibly Lewis Tackett, recruit, enrolled May 26, 1863 and mustered in Oct. 29, 1863, later transf. to 14th KY VVI. Not to be confused with Lewis Tackett, enr. Oct. 15, 1861 - Jan. 31, 1865, same Co.

It may be noted that of these four 14th KY soldiers, only Hiram Jude [listed as Heram Jude] appears in the current U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs Database.

One additional man, Richard Williams, listed in the above named database and on the Roll of Honor, was identified as Pvt. Co. C, 14th KY Infantry but so far no records have surfaced that would prove his service with the unit. His date of death is unknown and he was originally buried in the Soldiers' Cemetery, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Roll of Honor Record: New Albany National Cemetery, Sec. B, grave # 1148
U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs Database: Williams, Richard, PVT C 14 KY INF, Plot: 1401

Any information pertaining to Richard Williams and/or his service in the 14th Kentucky Infantry, would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me at Marlitta H. Perkins

The New Albany National Cemetery, established in 1862, is located about one and one-half miles north-east of the town.

New Albany National Cemetery
1943 Ekin Avenue
New Albany, Indiana 47150

Information for this article obtained from:

Adjutant General's Report of the State of Kentucky [AGR]

Roll of Honor

14th KY Compiled Service Records [CSR]

New Albany National Cemetery website [incl. map] with records of burials provided by U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs Database [searchable]:

Website: http://www.interment.net/data/us/in/floyd/newalbnat/

Article provided by:
Marlitta H. Perkins [email protected]