8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

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Brief History
The 8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry was organized at Russellsville, Logan County, Kentucky, and mustered in August 13, 1862, under Colonel Leonidas Metcalfe. In a long and fatiguing march, the regiment helped track down and were present when the notorious Morgan’s raiders were taken. They mustered out September 23, 1863.

The 8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry was organized at Russellsville, Logan County, Kentucky, and mustered in August 13, 1862. The regiment moved to Buffington's Island, Ohio, July 19. It mustered out September 23, 1863.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 8th Regiment Cavalry, (accessed 29 June 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 8th 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.

The 8th Regiment Kentucky Cavalry:


 * Company A - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company B - Many men mustered in from Henderson, Henderson County, Kentucky.
 * Company C - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company D - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company E - Many men mustered in from Henderson, Henderson County
 * Company F - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company G - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 * Company H - Many men mustered in from Henderson, Henderson County and Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company I - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County and Bowling Green, Warren County.
 * Company K - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company L - Many men mustered in from Henderson, Henderson County and Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company M - Many men mustered in from Russellville, Logan 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 1,851 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.