1861–1864
During the American Civil War, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry consisted of enlistees from several states, with a majority of the men coming from Ohio. The regiment was organized at Camp Clay in Pendleton, Ohio and formally mustered into the United States military on June 13, 1861.
During the American Civil War, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry consisted of enlistees from several states, with a majority of the men coming from Ohio. The regiment was organized at Camp Clay in Pendleton, Ohio and formally mustered into the United States military on June 13, 1861. The regiment's members were to serve for three years.
During 1861, the regiment primarily served in western Virginia (modern-day West Virginia). The 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry fought engagements at Barboursville on July 12, 1861,Scarytown on July 17, 1861, and Gauley Bridge on November 10, 1861. All of these battles took place in western Virginia. At the Battle of Scarytown, Confederate forces captured the regiment's commanding officer, Colonel William E. Woodruff.
In January 1862, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry transferred to the Department of the Cumberland, arriving at Bairdstown, Kentucky on February 5, 1862. On April 6 and 7, 1862, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry participated in the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee. Following this confrontation, the regiment briefly participated in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi before moving to Athens, Alabama and then to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where the men were assigned to protect the railroad to Nashville, Tennessee. On July 21, 1862, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry battled Nathan Bedford Forrest's Confederate cavalry near Nashville, Tennessee. In this encounter, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry had Companies E and G captured. In September 1862, the regiment chased Braxton Bragg's Confederate army through Kentucky, before returning to Corinth, Mississippi, where on October 3 and 4, the regiment fought in the Battle of Corinth. The organization also participated in the Battle of Stone River in Tennessee on December 31, 1862.
During 1863, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry patrolled Tennessee, primarily in the vicinity of Murfreesboro,and eventually advanced into Georgia, fighting in the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia on September 19 and 20. In 1864, the regiment spent the first one-half of the year in Tennessee, near Ottawa Station, and then, in May, advanced to Resaca, Georgia, where the men performed garrison duty. On June 3, officials ordered the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry to Covington, Kentucky. The 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry mustered out of duty on June 19, 1864, having fulfilled its three years of service.
During the course of the American Civil War, the 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry had 124 men die. Forty-eight soldiers died in battle, twenty-seven succumbed to wounds received in battle, and forty-nine men perished from disease.
