6th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry (Union)

United States   U.S. Military   Kentucky     Kentucky Military    Kentucky in the Civil War   6th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry (Union)

Brief History
6th Kentucky Infantry was organized at Camp Sigel, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in December, 1861, under Colonel Walter C. Whitaker, and was mustered into the United States service on the 24th December, 1861. After Whitaker’s promotion to General, Colonel George T. Shackelford took command. The Regiment fought at Shiloh, Stone River, and Chickamauga and suffered over 10% of the number enlisted killed in battle. They have been the recipients of praise for undaunted gallantry, soldierly conduct and discipline. They mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee on the 2nd day of November, 1864.

The 6th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry was organized at Sigel, Muldraugh's Hill and Shepherdsville, Kentucky, September 9 to December 24, 1861. The regiment was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky. It mustered out September 23, 1864, to January 2, 1865.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 6th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 29 June 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 6th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, (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 Camp Joe Holt, Clark County, Indiana. Company B - Many men mustered in from Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky. Company C - Many men mustered in from Camp Joe Holt, Clark County, Indiana. Company D - Many men mustered in from Shepherdsville, Bullitt County and Camp Sigel in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Company E - Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Company F - Many men mustered in from Camp Sigel in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Company G - Many men mustered in from Camp Sigel in Louisville, Jefferson County, Ketucky. Company H - Many men mustered in from Camp Sigel in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Company I - Many men mustered in from Camp Sigel in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Company K - Many men mustered in from Camp Sigel in Louisville, Jefferson 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 1,363 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.


 * Johnston, I.N. Four Months in Libby and the Campaign Against Atlanta. Cincinnati, Ohio: Printed at the Methodist Book Concern, c1864. Digital version at Internet Archive;.


 * Bush, W. C. The Civil War diary of First Sergeant Squire Helm of Company B. of the Sixth Kentucky Mounted Infantry Regiment, Volunteers, Confederate States of America. ([Huntsville, Alabama: s.m.], 1975),


 * Reinhart, Joseph R. A History of the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry U.S.: The Boys Who Feared No Noise. Louisville, Ky.: Beargrass Press, 2000..