12th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

Brief History
The 12th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry was organized in the winter of 1862-3. One portion was mustered into the U.S. service on the 17th day of November, 1862, at Owensboro, Kentucky, the remainder was mustered in at Munfordsville, Kentucky, February 12th, 1863. After much hardship and loss the 12th was discharged August 23rd, 1865, having received the very highest praise from all of the officers with whom it had served, for valor, daring, prompt and efficient discharge of duties and high soldierly bearing.

The 12th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry was organized at Caseyville and Owensboro, Kentucky, November 17, 1862. It returned to East Tennessee and duty at Sweetwater until August. The regiment was mustered out August 23, 1865.


 * The Civil War Archive section, 12th Regiment Cavalry, (accessed 29 June 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 12th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, (accessed 29 June 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County and Munfordville, Hart County, Kentucky.
 * Company B - Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County; Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County and Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky.
 * Company C - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County; Louisville, Jefferson County and Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky.
 * Company D - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County; Louisville, Jefferson County; Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County and Lebanon, Marion County, Kentucky.
 * Company E - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County; Louisville, Jefferson County; Munfordville, Hart County and Lebanon, Marion County, Kentucky..
 * Company F - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County; Munfordville, Hart County and Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky.
 * Company G - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County; Munfordville, Hart County and Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky.
 * Company H - Many men mustered in from Owensboro, Daviess County; Munfordville, Hart County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentcky.
 * Company I - Many men mustered in from Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky.
 * Company K - Many men mustered in from Paducah, McCracken County; Louisville, Jefferson County; Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County and Owensboro, Daviess County, kentucky.
 * Company L - Many men mustered in from Paducah, McCracken County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 * Company M - Many men mustered in from Paducah, McCracken County; Louisville, Jefferson County and Lebanon, Marion County, Kentucky.

The records for this Regiment's Companies are from the book, Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, Vol. 1-1861-1866.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,680 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Kentucky in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Kentucky in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Kentucky, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Hamilton, A. G. (Andrew G.). Story of the famous tunnel escape from Libby Prison. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990),