5TH KENTUCKY

HISTORY

A Brief Historical Account
of Company C

The men of the 5th Kentucky Co. C were predominately from Morgan and Bath counties. From 1861-1863 they served under Gen. Humphrey Marshall in the Army of Eastern Kentucky. This period found the 5th Kentucky in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, fighting at Ivy Mt., Ky, Middle Creek, Ky, and Princeton, Va, while always trying to liberate their state from Federal forces.

In May 1863 Gen. William Preston succeeded Gen. Marshall in command of the Army of Eastern Kentucky. Around this time Preston's command was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee to form a division in gen. Simon B. Buckner's Corps of the Army of Tennessee. On Sept 19th & 20th, 1863 the 5th Kentucky took part in the Battle of Chickamauga, assaulting U.S. Gen. George Thomas' forces and reaching the crest of the famed Snodgrass Hill. During the Siege of Chattanooga, following Chickamauga, the 5th was transferred to the 1st Kentucky Brigade better known as the Orphan Brigade. The 5th Ky operated with the Orphan's for the remainder of the war.

The Orphans marched with the Army of Tennessee throughout the Atlanta Campaign, fighting at such famous places as Ringold Gap, Resaca, Kennessaw Mt., Entrenchment Creek (Atlanta), Peachtree Creek, Jonesboro, and many more. The Orphans were a gallant group of men, receiving more casualties than they had men, and suffering few desertions during the campaign.

With the fall of Atlanta, in September of 1864, the 5th Ky and the rest of the Orphans were finally granted their wish and became mounted infantry for the rest of the war. Their mounted service consisted of harassing Sherman's Army on its infamous "March to the Sea" as well as fighting in delaying actions through the Carolinas. The 5th Ky surrendered on May 6, 1865 in Washington, Georgia. Of the near 100 men who had enlisted in Co. C, only 27 were present to surrender.