Fifth Kentucky Cavalry
Typed by 5th
Kentucky Cavalry veteran descendant Reg
Palmore
In a communication from Gen.
Sherman to Gen. Thomas, of date October 31, 1861, he says; "Col.
Haggard
is at Columbia with a regiment." November 12th: "Col. Haggard
resuming his camp at Burkesville, November 14th." Gen. Sherman says:
"Cols. Grider and Haggard are at Columbia, and are acquainted with all
the
country as far as Bowling Green." All through December and January,
1861,
Col. Haggard's cavalry was scouting the country south of Columbia. In
February,
after the Confederates fell back from Bowling Green, the 5th Cavalry
went to
Gallatin, Tenn. It was there mustered into the United States service at
Camp
Sandige March 31, 1862. It then numbered 943, and its subsequent career
proved
it to be one of the most valuable regiments in the service. The names
of the
officers by whom it was led are very striking. Col. Haggard had been
for years
a prominent man in his part of the state and a state official. Col. Wm. P.
Sanders, soon made a brigadier general, was a brilliant officer,
educated at
West Point. He was killed at Knoxville,
November, 1863, and the celebrated fort
there was named in his honor. There were no more gallant officers than
Cols.
Haggard, Sanders, Baldwin and Hoblitzell, and Majs. Owsley, Cheek,
Glore, and
Wharton; Capts. Fleming, Faris, John W. Forrester, Charles Gill; Surgs.
Wm.
Forrester and Hugh Mulholland were faithful and excellent officers.
May 14, 1862, Gen. Negley, at
Rogersville, Ala, reports a battalion of the 5th, under Maj. Owsley,
making a
forced march from Pulaski against the enemy on the Lamb's Ferry Road,
where a
lively fight occurred, and endurance and soldierly conduct by Maj.
Owsley and
his men is especially mentioned. In June the regiment, under Col.
Haggard, with
other troops, crossed the Cumberland Mountain and reconnoitered toward
Chattanooga. July 7th it was at Columbia, and on the 8th between Duck
River and
Wartrace; July 14th at Tantalon.
August 11th the 5th, with
other regiments under Gen. Richard W. Johnson, left McMinnville, Tenn.,
and
engaged Morgan's Command at Gallatin, but were defeated. Gen. Johnson
especially commends the conduct of Capt. Carter and Lieuts. Campbell
and Cheek
in this fight. Maj. Winfrey was taken prisoner.
September 1862, Col. John
Kennett took command of the 1st and 2d Cavalry brigades, the 5th being
in the
2d. Maj. Owsley then commanded the regiment. The 5th participated in
the march
of Buell's Army in pursuit of Bragg, and is reported as being at
Louisville in
September.
On the 14th of November,
1862, Col. Kennett reports the 5th as detached from him and on duty at
Nashville. It was at Nashville in December, and on December 17th two
companies
were sent to Brentwood. December 19th and in January, 1863, the 5th was
in
Mitchell's Division, under Maj. Owsley. It remained on duty at
Nashville until
the spring of 1863. In the organization of the Army of the Cumberland,
June 30,
1863, the 5th Mitchell's Division, Gen. Ed McCook's brigade, and
command of
Lieut. Col. Hoblitzell. In June and July, 1863, the 5th was engaged in
very
severe service in Middle Tennessee. July 3d the brigade, in which were
the 3d
Ky. Cavalry, 5th Ky. Cavalry and 6th Ky
Cavalry, was led by Col. Watkins, of
the 6th. Gen. Sheridan's report of this campaign says the troops moved
from
Murfreesboro toward Shelbyville, fought at Christiana,
camped at Millersburg,
then moved to Winchester. There, hearing that Confederate Gen. Wharton
was
seven miles away, he ordered Watkins to move against him with the 5th
and 6th
Ky. Cavalry. He says: "This reconnoissance was handsomely executed by
Col.
Watkins, who drove the enemy about three miles, inflicting a severe
loss."
Col. Watkins says, in his
report of the movements of the 5th and 6th Cavalry under his command,
June
23d, marched from Franklin to Triune; June 25th, marched to
Murfreesboro; June
28th, from Murfreesboro back to Christiana; 29th, within 5 miles of
Shelbyville; 30th, at Shelbyville, and made a reconnoissance on the
road to
Tullahoma; July 2d, to Tullahoma; July 3d, to Cowan and reported to
Gen.
Sheridan; July 4th, made a reconnoissance toward University, met the
enemy and
engaged in a sharp fight; 5th, camped at Cowan; 7th, reported to Gen.
Mitchell.
At that time the 5th Cavalry, under Hoblitzell, made an expedition to
the
mountains and returned. Horses reported worn down.
In the organization of
Rosecrans' army, August 31, 1863, the 5th was in Watkins Brigade, in
Stanley's
Division. The brigade consisted of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Ky Cavalry
Regiments. When the battle of Chickamauga took place, September 19th
and 20th,
the cavalry corps was under Gen. Mitchell and the 5th was still in
Watkins brigade,
of Gen Ed McCook's Division. It fought in the battle of
Chickamauga, at
Crawfish Springs, and was very much cut up. On September 23d it was at
Williams' house, 12 miles above Kelly's Ferry, under Col. Hoblitzell;
September
27, between Williams' Island and Jasper, October 4th, Gen. Tillson
reports the
5th going toward McMinnville, with other troops, in pursuit of Wheeler.
December 20th, 1863, the 5th
went with a cavalry force under Gen. W. S. Smith on an expedition
against Gen.
Forrest across the Tennessee River. In Gen. Smith's report, he says he
ordered
the 5th to move from Columbia to the mouth of the Duck river, clearing
the
country, and to watch the river from the mouth of Duck to Savannah; at
Savannah
it crossed the Tennessee and marched to Corinth, which was reached
January 8,
1864; thence to Colliersville, which was reached February 8th; crossed
the
Tallahatchie and moved toward Pontotoc and Houston; thence to Okolona;
fought
at Prairie Station. The expedition returned to Memphis, having
destroyed a
great amount of army supplies and railroads and bridges. The reports
say the
5th Cavalry acted with coolness, courage and discipline not excelled by
any
other troops.
The 5th was ordered back to
Nashville, and, April 2d, was brigaded with the 3d
Ky. Cavalry and the 20th
Illinois Mounted Infantry. Col. E. H. Murray, of the 3d, commanded
the Brigade.
May 3, 1864, Col. Baldwin was in command of the regiment, and it
entered upon
the Atlanta campaign. May 13th, Col. Murray took command of the
division. Near
Adairville
the 5th was sent forward in advance of Gen. Logan, encountered the
enemy and drove him all day. "May 19th, moved to Kingston by a road
parallel to that occupied by the columns of the armies of the
Cumberland and
Tennessee." During June and July the 5th was constantly employed, and
almost daily engaged with the enemy, acting with the other cavalry of
Sherman's
army. In August it had crossed the Chattahoochee and made its way to Jonesboro,
where a severe fight took place; moved on the McDonough road toward
Lovejoy. A
battle took place at Fosterville, where the cavalry made a magnificent
charge,
then "moved to McDonough; thence to Cotton Indian creek, where it
camped
that night. In the morning, by Lithonia; thence to Decatur and to our
old camp
at Sandtown, arriving on the 23d having made a complete circuit of
Atlanta and
the rebel army." (E. H. Murray's Report)
August 26, the 5th, with
other cavalry, moved from Sandtown, on the road to Fair Oaks; struck
the West
Point and Atlanta railroad the 28th. There a portion of the regiment
under Maj.
Cheek sustained a very severe attack. On the 30th advanced on the
Jonesboro
road to Flint river; near this river the cavalry, including the 5th,
engaged in
a battle, which, the report of Col. Baldwin says, was the "most
brilliant
cavalry fight in the South." September 8th the 5th encamped on the
Rough
and Ready road. Col. Baldwin especially compliments Maj. Cheek and
Capt. Glore,
the battalion commanders of his regiment; also Lieut. Griffin.
The Atlanta campaign being
over, the 5th moved with Sherman's army northward, through Northern
Georgia,
during the month of October, 1864. Then it was chosen to accompany
Sherman's
cavalry in the march to the sea (See 3d Ky. Cavalry, Murray's Report.)
It
shared all the dangers of that campaign in the cavalry command under
Gen.
Kilpatrick. After leaving Savannah it marched through the Carolinas,
having
many encounters. At Monroe's
Crossroads, February 8, 1865, Adjt. Mitchell was
killed in an engagement. It was also engaged in the battle of
Bentonville. The
end of the war being at hand, and the term of service of the 5th having
expired, it was ordered to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out
of
service May 3, 1865. The men who re-enlisted as veterans were
transferred to
the 3d Ky. Cavalry. The foregoing is an inadequate account of this
splendid and
faithful regiment, but enough is given to show the long, hard service
it
performed and its great value in the tremendous task of preventing the
dismemberment of our national Union.
From Dyer's Compendium:
5th Regiment Cavalry
Organized at Columbus, Ky., December, 1861,
to
February, 1862, and mustered in at Gallatin, Tenn., March 31, 1862.
Served with
Unattached Cavalry, Army Ohio, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry
Division, Army Ohio, to November, 1862. 4th Division, Center 14th Army
Corps,
Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division,
Cavalry
Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to July, 1863. (District Central
Kentucky, Dept.
of the Ohio, April to June, 1863; 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army
Corps,
to July, 1863; 4 Cos.) 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army
of the
Cumberland, to January, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th
Army
Corps, Army Tennessee, to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division,
Cavalry
Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd
Division,
Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to November, 1864. 1st
Brigade,
3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to January,
1865.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division
Mississippi, to
May, 1865.
SERVICE.--Duty at and near
Columbia scouting and operating against guerrillas on border until
February,
1862. Gradysville, Ky., December 12, 1861. Moved to Gallatin, Tenn.,
February,
1862, and duty there and in Tennessee until September. Lebanon, Tenn.,
May 5.
Lamb's Ferry May 10. Expedition to Rodgersville, Ala., 13-14. Lamb's
Ferry May
14. Sweeden's Cove June 4. Chattanooga June 7. Raid on Louisville &
Nashville Railroad August 12-21 (Detachment). Hartsville Road near
Gallatin
August 21 (Detachment). March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg,
August
22-September 26. Glasgow, Ky., September 18. Pursuit of Bragg into
Kentucky
October 1-22. Burksville November 8. Kimbrough's Mills, Mill Creek,
December 6.
Operations against Cluke's forces in Central Kentucky February 18-March
5,
1863. Duty at Franklin and in Middle Tennessee until June. Near
Nashville May
4. University Depot and Cowan July 4. Expedition to Huntsville July
13-22.
Expedition to Athens, Ala., August 2-8, Passage of Cumberland Mountains
and
Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22.
Reconnaissance from Alpine to Summerville and skirmish September 10.
Battle of
Chickamauga September 19-21. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy
September
30-October 17. Smith's Expedition from Nashville to Corinth, Miss.,
December
28, 1863, to January 8, 1864. Smith's Expedition to Okolona, Miss.,
February
11-26. Okolona, Ivey's Hill, February 22. New Albany February 23.
Atlanta (Ga.)
Campaign May to September. Scout from Alpine to Summerville May, --.
Near
Nickajack Gap May 7. Near Resaca May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15.
Adairsville May 17. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and
battles about
Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 4. Operations
about
Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. On line of the
Nickajack
July 2-5. On line of the Chattahoochie July 5-17. Summerville July 7.
Sandtown
and Fairburn August 15. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25.
Kilpatrick's Raid
around Atlanta July 18-22. Lovejoy Station August 20. Flank movement on
Jonesboro August 25-30. Flint River Station August 30. Battle of
Jonesboro
August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations
against Hood
in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. Camp Creek
September
30. Sweetwater and Noyes Creek near Powder Springs October 1-3. Van
Wert
October 9-10. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Jonesboro
November 15.
Towallaga Bridge November 16. East Macon November 20. Griswoldsville
November
22. Sylvan Grove and near Waynesboro November 27. Waynesboro November
27-28.
Near Waynesboro November 28. Near Louisville November 30. Millen Grove
and
Louisville December 1. Rocky Creek Church December 2. Waynesboro
December 4.
Siege of Savanhah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to
April,
1865. Blackville, S.C., February 7. Near White Post February 8.
Williston
February 8. Johnson's Station, February 11. About Columbia February
15-17.
Lancaster February 27. Phillips' Cross Roads, N. C., March 4.
Rockingham March
7. Monroe's Cross Roads March 10. Averysboro, Taylor's Hole Creek,
March 16.
Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.
Advance on
Raleigh April 8-13. Morrisville and occupation of Raleigh April 13.
Chapel Hill
April 15. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army.
Mustered out May 3, 1865.
Regiment lost during service
4 Officers and 32 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5
Officers and
172 Enlisted men by disease. Total 213.
Additional Resources:
5th
Kentucky Cavalry (Rosters)
Riding With Sherman:
The Civil War Travels of the
Fifth Kentucky Cavalry, USA,
by John
S. Palmore, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kentucky.
Copyright
2000. Published by John Palmore, Frankfort, Ky.