3rd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union)

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Brief History
The 3rd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry organized in Calhoun and McLean Counties, Kentucky, under Colonel James S. Jackson, December 13, 1861. These men participated in the battle of Shilo as they marched througn Tennessee, to Pittsburg Landing.

Veteranization: After three years service the veterans of this unit formed the 3rd Kentucky Veteran Volunteer Cavalry at Nashville, Tennessee in March 1864. They mustered out on July 15, 1865, at Lexington, North Carolina after the surrender of the Confederate forces.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 3rd Regiment Cavalry, (accessed 28 June 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 3rd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, (accessed 28 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 Calhoon,[ sic.], McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County , and Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky.
 * Company B - Many men mustered in from Calhoon,[ sic.], McLean County, Hopkinsville, Christian County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 * Company C - Many men mustered in from Calhoon,[ sic.], McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County and Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky.
 * Company D - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, [ sic.], McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Included men from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
 * Company E - Many men mustered in from Calhoon,[ sic.], McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky..
 * Company F - Many men mustered in from Calhoon,[ sic.], McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Included men from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
 * Company G - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, [ sic.], McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County and Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.
 * Company H - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, [ sic.], McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 * Company I - Many men mustered in from Calhoon,[ sic.], McLean County, Louisville, Jefferson County, Bowling Green, Warren County and Hopkinsville, [ sic.], Christian County, Kentucky.
 * Company K - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, [ sic.], McLean County, Hopkinsville, Christian County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 * Company L – Many men mustered in from Calhoon, [ sic.], McLean County and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 * Company M - Many men mustered in from Calhoon, [ sic.], McLean County; Hopkinsville, Christian Countyand 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 2,089 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.