53rd Regiment, Kentucky Infantry (Union)

Brief History
The 53rd Kentucky Infantry was organized at Paris, Kentucky in the winter of 1864 and spring 1865. It participated in many skirmishes and in the battles of Clinch River, Marion and Saltville, Virginia, in all of which it performed its duty to the entire satisfaction of the commanding General. It was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, September 15th 1865.

Organized at Covington, Ky., September, 1864. Mustered out September 17, 1865.

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


 * The Wikipedia article, 53rd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry, (accessed 5 July 2012).
 * The Civil War Archive section, 53rd Regiment Mounted Infantry, (accessed 29 November 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 Covington, Kenton County. Company B - Many men mustered in from Covington, Kenton County. Company C - Many men mustered in from Covington, Kenton County. Company D - Many men mustered in from Covington, Kenton County. Company E - Many men mustered in from Covington, Kenton County. Company F - Many men mustered in from Newport, Campbell County and Covington, Kenton County. Company G - Many men mustered in from Lexington, Fayette County. Company H - Many men mustered in from Lexington, Fayette County and Covington, Kenton County. Company I - Many men mustered in from Greenupsburg, Greenup County and Covington, Kenton County. Company K - Many men mustered in from Greenupsburg, Greenup County and Covington, Kenton County.

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 1,563 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.