18th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry (Union)

Brief History
The 18th Regiment of the Kentucky Volunteer Infantry was recruited during the winter of 1861-2, and was mustered into the United States service on the 8th day of February, 1862. On the 4th of April, 1865, in North Carolina, the non-veterans, 72 in number, were mustered out and the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 18th Kentucky Veteran Volunteer Infantry.

The 18th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry was organized at large and mustered in February 8, 1862. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Kentucky in June. It was mustered out July 18, 1865

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 18th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 29 June 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 18th 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 Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Company B - Many men mustered in from Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Company C - Many men mustered in from Culbertson's Station, Kenton County, Kentucky. Company D - Many men mustered in from Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Company E - Many men mustered in from Townsend Valley, Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Company F - Many men mustered in from Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky. Company G - Many men mustered in from Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky. Company H - Many men mustered in from Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky. Company I - Many men mustered in from Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky. Company K - Many men mustered in from Falmouth, Pendleton County and Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.

The records for this Regiment's Companies are from the book, Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, Vol. 2-1861-1866.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,966 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.