"Kirby Smith's force in Kentucky" Topic

Hi folks I'm looking for the makeup of this army. It was part of Braggs invasion of Kentucky, but this force seems a bit ephemeral. the books I've read all mention it was in the basic vicinity, but not a one gives any Idea as to the make up. Divs brigades, regt etc, who was leading them. Anybody out there able to help me out. Cheers.

I remember they entered the capitol in Frankfort,and got into Lexington,and possibly somewhere between,like near Midway. Possibly recruiting at the time too. I think one of the cavalry units would later be part of John Hunt Morgan's command.

I'm on a business trip but look up order of battle for the Battle of Richmond KY for some of it

but look up order of battle for the Battle of Richmond KY for some of it

Here you go: link

And for the Union opponents: link

Amazing what you can find on the Internet with a simple search.

Jim

Thanks for that half sorted, can your internet thingy supply info for Heth's and Stevenson's divisions ta?

We also walk dogs.

If you can get access to the Official Records I recall that it covered Smith's command fairly well.

Hey PJ, I need an engineer who can design a portable habitat for a variety of alien lifeforms. Any idea who could do that for me?

You can access the Official Records here.

link

Kirby' Smith's army is indeed a hard on to get a handle on. According to the Official Records (Vol. 16, Part II, p. 719) as of 3 July Stevenson's and Heth's Divisions were organized as follows:

Stevenson's Division – BG Carter Stevenson

Second Brigade – Col James Rains
4th Tenn
11th Tenn
42nd Ga
3rd Ga Bn
29th NC
Yeiser's (Ga) Btty

Third Brigade – BG Seth Barton
30th Ala
31st Ala
40th Ga
52nd Ga
9th Ga Bn
Anderson's (Va) Btty

Fourth Brigade – Col Alexander Reynolds
20th Ala
36th Ga
39th Ga
43rd Ga
39th NC
3rd Md Btty

Fifth Brigade – Col Thomas Taylor
23rd Ala
46th Ala
3rd Tenn
31st Tenn
59th Tenn
Rhett (Tenn) Artillery

Heth's Division – BG Henry Heth

First Brigade – BG Daniel Leadbetter
43rd Ala
34th Ga
56th Ga
43rd Tenn
Jackson (Ga) Artillery

Second Brigade – Col William Davis
6th Fla
7th Fla
1st Fla Cav (Dismtd)
Marion (Fla) Artillery

Note that later in July 1862 an additional brigade was added:

Third Brigade – Col Archibald Gracie
43rd Ala
1st Fla Cav (dismtd)
12th Ga
55th Ga
1st Ga Artillery

By mid-August 1862 the 4 infantry battalions of Hilliard's Alabama Legion were attached to Heth's Division to provide it with a Fourth Brigade under Col Henry Hilliard.

Do you also want the OoB for the cavalry?

Ryan T You Sir are a gent, that is brilliant everything I could have wished for. Those of us not familiar with the official records they can be a little daunting.

thanks again.

Hello Smog,

Not a problem, I needed to write up the list for my own files. I went on and also worked out the cavalry in Kirby Smith's command:

On 3 July 1862 the Army's two cavalry brigades were listed as part of Heth's Division.

First Cavalry Brigade – Col Benjamin Allston
1st Tenn Cav
2ndTenn Cav
3rd Tenn Cav
1st Ga Cav
Huwald's (Tenn) Howitzer Btty

Second Cavalry Brigade – Col Bedford Forrest
1st Ky Cav
1st La Cav
8th Tex Cav

When Kirby Smith finally moved north towards Kentucky in mid-August his cavalry consisted of the following:

Allston's Cavalry Brigade – Col Benjamin Allston
1st Tenn Cav
2nd Tenn Cav

Scott's Cavalry Brigade – Col John Scott
1st La Cav
1st Ga Cav
3rd Tenn Cav
Buckner Guards Cav Co.
Holmes' (La) Mtn How Btty

Morgan's Cavalry Brigade – Col John Morgan
2nd Ky Cav
Gano's Tex Cav Bn

This organization remained the same until mid-September. At that time the 3rd Tenn Cav was detached from Scott's Brigade to act independently. More significant was the recruitment of Kentucky volunteers to enlarge Morgan's command and create a new cavalry brigade under Buford:

Morgan's Cavalry Brigade – Col John Morgan
2nd Ky Cav
7th Ky Cav (incorporating Gano's Tex Cav Bn)
8th Ky Cav
9th Ky Cav
11th Ky Cav

Buford's Cavalry Brigade – BG Abraham Buford
3rd Ky Cav
5th Ky Cav
6th Ky Cav

As well, throughout this period, Footman's Fla Cav Sqn was attached to Davis' Brigade and the 14th Tenn Bn was assigned to Stevenson's Division.

All of the above is taken from Kenneth Hafendorfer, They Died by Twos and Tens: The Confederate Cavalry in the Kentucky Campaign of 1862 (1995).

Hi Ryan T

Most enlightening and very useful, thanks for taking the time to research and type all that info up cheers.