3rd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

United States   U.S. Military   Kentucky     Kentucky Military    Kentucky in the Civil War    3rd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

Brief History
The 3rd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry organized in Calhoun and McLean Counties, Kentucky, December 13, 1861. Surrender of Johnston and his army. The regiment had duty at Lexington, North Carolina, and in the Department of North Carolina until July. The regiment mustered out July 15, 1865.

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 Calhoon, McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County , and Hopkinsville, Christian County.
 * Company B - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County, Hopkinsville, Christian County and Louisville, Jefferson County.
 * Company C - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County and Hopkinsville, Christian County.
 * Company D - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County.
 * Company E - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County.
 * Company F - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County.
 * Company G - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County and Russellville, Logan County.
 * Company H - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County.
 * Company I - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County, Bowling Green, Warren County and Hopkinsville, Christian County.
 * Company K - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County, Hopkinsville, Christian County and Louisville, Jefferson County
 * Company L – Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County.
 * Company M - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, McLean County; Hopkinsville, Christian Countyand Louisville, Jefferson County.

The First Kentucky Cavalry, commonly known as "Wolford's" Cavalry, was organized at Camp Dick Robinson, under Colonel Frank Wolford, and mustered into the United States service on the 28th day of October, 1861, by General George H. Thomas.

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. Printed by authority of the Legislature of Kentucky. (FHL US/ CAN 976.9 M2r)

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.