Chapter 1 - Off to "Jine" the Cavalry |
Pg
1
Due to the threat of invasion of Kentucky by Confederate forces in July of 1862, The Military Board of Kentucky was frantically trying to raise more regiments for the defense of the State. During this month, Confederate raider, John Hunt Morgan had already raided into the state. J. B. Temple, President of the Military Board, sent a letter to President Lincoln, asking him to permit Kentucky to raise 8,000 troops, one half cavalry. Kentucky had attempted to remain neutral at the beginning of the war, however, Rebel forces had occupied Columbus and Federal invasion came soon after. Most of the citizens were loyal to the Union cause, but there were many whose loyalties lay with the South. John Morgan was one of the latter, being from Lexington, Kentucky. In August, 1862, General Halleck, General in Chief of the U.S. Armies, sent a message to the Military Board of Kentucky, stating that "all regiments Kentucky can raise for three years would be accepted." This was the basis for the formation of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. Men from Mercer, Garrard, Madison and Washington Counties came to Harrodsburg, where Captain Milton Graham was recruiting for the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, and began enrolling in the unit. Three of these men were Eli Mitchell Hurt, William Hurt, and Joshua Hurt. Eli Hurt is the author's Great-Grandfather and the other two Hurt boys were his brothers. Harrodsburg was known as being largely sympathetic with the Confederacy, and indeed only a few days before, had given Morgan a friendly reception upon his traverse through the town on his way to Lexington. They would soon be moving the camp because of the rebel invasion and the increasing hostility from the Harrodsburg citizens, making it extremely difficult to arm and equip the recruits in this camp. By this time Kentucky had 5,000 cavalry ready for arming and mounting, but they had no weapons. The U.S. Government had given orders that no regiment would be equipped with arms until they were mustered into service. The Governor of Kentucky protested this order, as many of the recruiting camps were in hostile territory with no means to defend themselves. Some arms were given to the new regiments and even though not mustered yet into the U.S. Service, were seeing some action against the Confederate forces. On the night of August 20th, 1862, General Boyle ordered out 150 recruits of the 11th Kentucky to go to Henry County in pursuit of Rebel recruits. They pursued the rebels through Shelbyville on their personal horses and returned to camp later in the evening of August 25th, having traveled at least 70 miles. Lt. Colonel Holeman commanded the detachment. The 11th Kentucky moved their camp to Frankfort where enrollment continued during August. By August 30th, Confederate General Kirby Smith had reached Richmond, Kentucky where he defeated Union General Nelson in a fierce battle. Pg 2 After filling the ranks of Company B, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry began their march to Louisville on Sept. 1st. Only two days before they had drawn and collected 400 horses but they had no saddles or bridles. The recruits had not been mounted except for a few who had their own horses. The balance walked and rode in wagons. The first day they marched to Libertyville, 22 miles, having had during the day and night a good deal of trouble with the horses, several of which were lost. On this day a portion of the 9th Kentucky Cavalry, retreating from the Confederates at Lexington, also fell in with the 11th Kentucky Cavalry's column and in the process mixed up some loose horses with that of the 11th Kentucky's. Other regiments came up with horses, wagons, and mules, making it impossible to keep the stock separated and to identify that which belonged to the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. On the 2nd of September, they marched to Louisville and encamped on the fairgrounds. Recruiting for Companies E, G, and H commenced immediately. Company "A" had 107 men enrolled. The Regimental Commander was Lieutenant Colonel W. E. Riley, and the Company A Commander was Captain John G. Pond. Other Officers in that Company were 1st lieutenant Reuben F. Scott, 2nd Lieutenant John M. Cotton, and 2nd Lieutenant Howard Warren. Lieutenant Warren had enlisted as a Corporal, but was given the rank of 2nd Lieutenant for his vigorous recruiting efforts. Robert Anderson was appointed First Sergeant. The three Hurt Brothers were in this Company. Here at Louisville, the men were given regular picket duty under orders of Generals Boyle and Nelson. On their way from Louisville they lost, from desertions, several recruits. As many as 30 were from Company C. Two other Companies of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry came up to Frankfort the day after the regiment had left for Louisville. Being unable to catch up with the regiment, and seeing the danger of being captured, disbanded and sought safety by individual flight. A number of men had been captured and paroled by the Confederate invaders. Some were entirely cut off by the enemy in Madison County and never reported to the regiment. As of this date, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and other regiments had not yet been mustered into the service of the U.S. due to the lack of mustering officers. Governor Robinson wrote the Secretary of War, E. M. Stanton, on September 15th, stating that "Three battalions, composing parts of regiments-the Sixth, Tenth, and Eleventh Cavalry, being recruited, were full, having each the requisite number of men. They were not mustered because of the want of mustering officers. Meantime, they were ordered into service by U.S. Officers, and have each lost in killed and wounded and prisoners several men, reducing them below the standard. The Mustering officer now fears to muster them in because of the deficiency, through no fault of their own." Pg 3 Orders were soon given to muster in the new regiments, and on the 22nd of September, 1862, 6 Companies and a small detachment under Lt. Layton of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry were mustered into service. At this time the 11th Kentucky Cavalry was under the command of Major Milton Graham with 400 effective men. They were undrilled and raw recruits. Their weapons were sabers and the Savage pistol, and some had no weapons at all. They were given uniforms consisting of a wide-brimmed hat and a cap, called a "kepi". In addition they received a blouse, jacket, overcoat, trousers, shirts, drawers, socks, boots and a woolen and rubber blanket. The trousers were reinforced with an extra thickness of cloth extending from the upper part of the seat down the inside of both legs for greater durability in the saddle. Infantrymen did not have this reinforcement. The Government issued these items free, but when they needed replaced, each man was expected to pay for them himself. Fifteen men originally enrolled in Company "A" never reported for muster. They were reported to be within enemy lines at the time they were to report for muster, and were unable to join the regiment at Louisville. William Hurt was one of these men. He would rejoin the regiment in April, 1863. The Regiment remained in Louisville until the 3rd of October, 1862, doing constant picket duty. At one point they skirmished with the enemy's pickets near Mt. Washington; another time in Taylorville and again near Taylorville. They took 16 prisoners in these actions. In early September, General Bragg and his Confederate Army had invaded Kentucky and Rebel Colonel Scott, with a brigade of Rebel Cavalry had penetrated as far North as the outskirts of Covington, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The people of Louisville were in a panic, fearing the rebels would soon take the city. When the horses arrived, their training began in earnest, taking on a sense of urgency. Union General Buell was on his way to Louisville with the Infantry Divisions of Generals McCook, Crittenden, Ammen, Wood, Rousseau and Mitchell. On their way also was a Cavalry Division under General Kennett. General Buell hoped to beat Bragg's forces to Louisville. |