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Third Kentucky
Infantry
The
3d Ky. Infantry was one of the regiments organized at Camp Dick Robinson in
the
summer of 1861. There was at that time an urgent necessity for military
organization
on the part of the Union men of Kentucky. The idea of their
remaining
quiescent, when all along the southern border, in the state of
Tennessee,
Confederate troops were collecting in camp, was preposterous. They
could
neither maintain neutrality nor oppose being dragged forcibly into the
Confederacy
without arming. The dictates of common sense caused them to
organize.
The state had voted against Secession and the Union people would have
been
foolish, beyond expression, if they had folded their hands and sat down to
inactivity,
under all the circumstances. Just across the line in Tennessee,
Confederate
troops were arming and in camps, and the gaps in the mountains on
the
state line were occupied by them.
The
official records show that in July, 1861, Thomas E. Bramlette was selected
by
Gen. Wm. Nelson to be colonel of the 3d Ky. Infantry, as will be seen by the
following
extract from Nelson's letter to the adjutant-general of the U. S.
Army,
dated July 16, 1861.
"On
Sunday, 14th, I met the principal gentlemen of Southeast Kentucky at
Lancaster
and Crab Orchard, Ky., and, after examining the whole question, I
appointed
Speed S. Fry, of Danville, to be colonel of the 1st Regiment of
infantry;
Theophilus T. Garrard, colonel of the 2d; Thos. E. Bramlette, of
Adair,
colonel of the 3d, and Frank L. Wolford, of Casey, lieutenant-colonel of
the
cavalry regiment."
These
regiments were soon formed, and their services were soon needed. The State
Guard
companies, which were in sympathy with the South, were going south with
the
state arms, and the Unionists applied to the United States government for
muskets.
These were brought to Lexington, and there was danger that the
Secessionists
would seize them. For their protection, a portion of Col.
Bramlette's
regiment moved to that place, with a detachment of the 1st Ky.
Cavalry,
in August, 1861.
The
regiment marched again to Lexington, September 18th, and October 1st marched
back to Camp Dick Robinson, where it was mustered into service October 8th.
During the remainder of the fall it marched from place to place, including
Round
Stone creek,
Crab
Orchard, into Wayne county,
Somerset,
Columbia.
November 30th, it was in the 11th Brigade, Gen. Boyle.
January
7th, it was sent to the mouth of Renwick's creek, near Burksville, and
on
the 16th to the mouth of Greasy creek, in Russell county, Ky.
On
the 18th day of March, 1862, it proceeded by steamer down the Cumberland to
Nashvil1e.
It was then a fine full regiment, nine hundred strong. >From Nashville
it
marched by way of Franklin, Columbia, Waynesboro and Savannah, with Buell's
army
to the field of Shiloh, where it arrived on the night of April 7th. It was
engaged
in the movement upon Corinth, and when that place was evacuated, it
marched
June 2d, by way of Iuka, Miss., to Tuscumbia, Ala.; and from thence by
way
of Courtland, Decatur, Mooresville and Huntsville, Ala., Fayetteville,
Shelbyville
and Winchester, Tenn., to Decherd's Station, where it arrived July
22d.
During that time it was in command of Col. Thos. E. Bramlette, in Hascall's
brigade
of Gen. Thos. J. Wood's division of Buell's army. It remained in Decherd
until
August 14th, when it marched by way of Manchester to Vervilla, Tenn.;
August
24th it marched to Altamont and returned to Vervilla the 26th. On the
27th,
marched to McMinnville; September 3d, it marched through Murfreesboro to
Nashville.
The
movement of Bragg into Kentucky was then commencing and the 3d
marched
with Buell's forces through Gallatin and Franklin to Bowling Green,
arriving
September 11th. On the 16th it marched by way of Bell's Tavern,
Munfordville,
Elizabethtown and West Point to Louisville, where it arrived
September
20th. It was then commanded by Lieut. Col. Wm. T. Scott, Col.
Bramlette
being on duty in the section of Kentucky about Somerset. October 1st
the
3d advanced with Buell's army against Bragg, marching through Mt.
Washington,
Bardstown, Springfield, Perryville, Danville, Crab Orchard and Mt.
Vernon,
as far as Round Stone creek. October 22d it marched back from the
pursuit
of Bragg, and passing through Crab Orchard, Stanford Huntsville and
Liberty,
reached Columbia, October 25th. Remaining there until the 30th, it
again
marched by way of Edmonton and Scottsville, Ky., and Gallatin, Tenn., to
Silver
Springs, where it arrived November 10th.
On
the 15th, it marched to Lebanon, Tenn., against Gen. John Morgan, but returned
to Silver Springs the next day. From Nashville it advanced toward Murfreesboro
with Buell's army, being in, Hascall's brigade, Wood's division, Crittenden's
corps. December 27th,
it
had an engagement with the enemy, near Lavergne at Stewart's creek; a report
of
this was made by Col. Sam McKee, commanding the regiment. He says:
'Approaching
Stewart's creek, the skirmishers discovered that the retreating
rebels
had some moments before fired the bridge; the flames were already
reaching
high in the air. Our battery and one of the enemy, both posted on the
pike,
on opposite sides of the bridge, were shelling each other, many of the
missiles
from both falling on and near the bridge. Within rifle shot, on the
east
of the creek, stood a company of rebel cavalry. The moment was critical.
Capt.
Ralston called for volunteers to extinguish the flames. Without the least
hesitation
Maj. Collins' entire line, with a number of time 26th Ohio, rushed
forward,
and extinguished the flames and saved the bridge." Col. McKee then
posted
his regiment to guard the place.
Gen.
Rosecrans, in his official report of the Stone river campaign, mentioned
this
affair in these words:
"Gen.
Crittenden began his advance about 11 a.m., driving before him a brigade
of
cavalry, supported by Mancy's brigade of infantry. Reaching Stewart's creek
the
3d Ky. gallantly charged the rear guard of the enemy, saving the bridge,
which
had been set on fire." Gen. Crittenden also mentioned this brave dash of
the
3d.
In
the battle of Stone river, the 3d bore its part in the most heroic manner.
Maj.
Dan B. Collier, who made the official report, says:
"The
regiment went into the fight with Col. McKee commanding; Maj. Dan R.
Collier,
acting lieutenant-colonel, and Adjt. W. A. Bullitt, acting major. Col.
McKee
fell at 11 o'clock, after we had been engaged half an hour, and when the
contest
was at its height. A minnie ball striking him over the right eye, he
fell
from his horse and expired almost immediately; a truer patriot, a braver
man,
or better Christian never fell fighting in defense of truth and liberty.
Worshiped
by his men, respected and loved by his officers, our colonel would
have
desired no fitter mausoleum than that in the midst of lead and dying
comrades."
Gen.
Haskall makes a similar report concerning Col. McKee.
In
the course of the battle Maj. Collins was twice wounded, but did not leave
the
field. Adjt. W. A. Bullitt's horse was killed. Maj. Collins says: "Out of
thirteen
officers of the line nine were disabled. Of the men there were killed
twelve,
wounded seventy-seven."
After
the battle of Stone liver, the 3d remained on duty at Murfreesboro until
July
24, 1863, when it marched to Manchester and Hillsboro. It remained at the
latter
place until August 16th, when it marched across the Cumberland mountains,
by
way of Pelham and Tracy City to Thurman, in Sequatchie valley. September lst,
it
marched by way of Jasper and Shellmound to Chattanooga, which place was
occupied
by Gen. Crittenden's corps. September 9th, from Chattanooga, it marched
out
to Lee and Gordon's Mills, and the battlefield of Chickamauga.
In
the organization of Rosecrans' army at this time, the 3d was in Crittenden's
corps,
Wood's division, 3d Brigade (Col. Chas. G. Harker). The regiment was led
by
Col. Henry C. Dunlap, who had been made colonel, August 9, 1863. Lieut. Col.
W.
A. Bullitt was also present, he having been made lieutenant colonel, April
19,
1863.
Col.
Dunlap, in his report of the regiment, in the battle and immediately
preceding,
mentions the crossing of the Tennessee river at Shellmound, and that
as
Chattanooga was approached, Lieut. Col. Bullitt and Maj. Brennan led the
skirmishing
lines; occupied Chattanooga September 9th; marched next day toward
Ringgold,
on the 11th at Rossville, speaks of bold skirmishing, led by the
"gallant
Bullitt." On the 12th, Lieut. Col. Bullitt, with a detachment made a
reconnaissance
across the Chickamauga; on the 19th engaged in the battle, losing
heavily
in killed and wounded, but captured one hundred and eighteen prisoners;
slept
on arms that night; fought again on the 20th. After describing the
fighting
more particularly than can be mentioned in this place, he says: "We
rallied
at the Key point. Here we resolved to do or die and buoyed by the
presence
of Gens. Thomas and Wood, and Col. Harker, we did stay, occupy and hold
and
then and there expended the last of one hundred and thirty rounds of
ammunition,
fixed bayonets, and awaited the test whether flesh will stand to
take
the steel. At this point for four hours in the afternoon our firing was by
volley;
marching to the crest of the hill and at command, more than fifty deadly
volleys
we directed at short range upon the enemy. The effect was evidenced by
the
check upon the massive columns."
The
losses were one officer killed, eight officers wounded, twelve men killed,
seventy
wounded. Gen. Wood and Col. Harker mention the services of the 3d in the
most
complimentary terms.
In
the organization after the battle of Chickamauga, the 3d remained in Harker's
brigade,
and was in Sheridan's division of the 4th Army Corps (Granger), in the
Army
of the Cumberland, under Gen. Thomas. Col. Harker, in his report of the
charge
on Mission Ridge, November 25th, describes the great charge in which the
3d
participated, especially complimenting Lieut. Col. W. A. Bullitt (who in that
battle
commanded the 65th Ind.). Col. Dunlap, in his report, says: "My loss was
four
enlisted men killed, seven officers wounded, fifty-four enlisted men
wounded."
He says his color sergeant fell, and Corp. Hayes seized and bore it
forward
till he fell, then he (Col. Dunlap) seized it himself and carried it to
the
crest. He says: "The point at which the center of my regiment reached the
crest
was at the stable to the left of the house, said to be Bragg's
headquarters."
After
the great charge, the 3d pursued the retreating enemy more than a mile,
and
rested near midnight, then was ordered forward and marched four miles to
Bird's
mill, where it remained until 3 p. m. the next day, and then returned to
camp
at Chattanooga. But it was not for repose in camp, for the 3d was to
accompany
the force sent to Knoxville to the relief of Burnside. Marching
rapidly
it reached that place, and went up to Strawberry Plains, and then moved
back
to London, where it spent the winter.
April
18, 1864, it marched by way of Sweetwater, Athens, Charleston and Calhoun
to
Cleveland. May 3d it commenced the movements of the Atlanta campaign. It was
then
commanded by Col. Dunlap, in Harker's brigade, Newton's division, 4th Army
Corps,
in the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Gen. Thomas.
The
3d moved with Harker's brigade, by way of Blue Springs, Red Clay, and
Catoosa
Springs to Rocky Face, and engaged in the battle there. In this battle
Lieut.
Col. W. A. Bullitt received several desperate wounds, and was supposed to
be
killed. His fall is mentioned in Gen. Newton's report, and by others. While
he
never fully recovered, after time war he became a distinguished lawyer at
Louisville,
Ky., and for a series of years was Assistant District Attorney for
the
United States. Not only was he held in the highest esteem by every one, but
the
officers of the 3d yet speak of him as the bravest and most gallant officer
they
ever knew.
Throughout
the Atlanta campaign the 3d continued fighting all the way to
Atlanta,
being engaged at Resaca, May 14th; Pumpkin Pine Creek, Cedar Mountain,
Muddy
Branch, Kennesaw Mountain, June 20th and 27th; Nancy's Creek, July 18th;
Peach
Tree Creek, July 20th; Atlanta, Utoy Creek, Jonesboro, and other places.
At
midnight of August 25th, it commenced the movement around to the right of
Atlanta,
crossed the railroad between Atlanta and the Chattahouchee, and marched
toward
Jonesboro; reached the Atlanta & Montgomery Railroad fourteen miles below
Atlanta
and destroyed the track for several miles; struck the Atlanta & Macon
Railroad
near Rough and Ready, and marched down the same destroying it for eight
miles.
From Jonesboro it marched back to Atlanta September 4th.
On
the 9th of September the 3d started by railroad for Nashville, arriving
September
12th. It remained there on duty until October 6th, when it proceeded
by
railroad to Louisville, where it was mustered out of service October 18,
1864.
A
portion of the regiment had re-enlisted as veterans in March, 1864; they
remained
with the regiment until September 15, 1864, when the survivors were
transferred
to the 1st Ky. Battery, at Nashville.
The
list of battles given in the adjutant-general's report in which the 3d was
engaged,
is as follows:
Waynesboro,
Shiloh, Tenn., Corinth, Miss., May 24, 1862; McMinnville, Tenn.,
Munfordville,
Ky., September 21, 1862; Bardstown and Perryville, Ky., Stewart's
Creek,
Tenn., December 29, 1862: Stone's River, December 31, 1862, and January 1
and
2, 1863; Chickamauga, September 20, 1863; Mission Ridge, November 23, 24 and
25,
1863; Rocky Face Ridge, May 9, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864; Pumpkin Vine
Creek,
May and June, 1864; Cedar Mountain, June 15, 1864; Muddy Branch, June
18th;
Kennesaw Mountain, June 20, 21 and 27, 1864; Nancy's Creek, July 18, 1864;
Peach
Tree Creek, July 20th; Atlanta, July and August of 1864.
The
officers of the 3d Infantry were unusually noted men. Col. Thos. E.
Bramlette,
who became governor of Kentucky, in 1863; Col. Win. T. Scott, of
Lexington;
Col. Sam McKee, who fell at Stone's River; Col. Wm. H. Spencer; Col.
Henry
C. Dunlap: Lieut. Col. Daniel R. Collier, who held the office of Surveyor
of
Customs at Louisville, under President Harrison, and who is at present
Adjutant-general
of Kentucky; Lieut. Col. Wm. A. Bullitt; Maj. Chas. H. Buford,
of
the noted Kentucky family of that name; Maj. John Brennan; Adjt. Garvin D.
Hunt,
who died of wounds received at Mission Ridge; he belonged to the
distinguished
Hunt family of Kentucky. Others might be mentioned, but space
forbids.
Enough has been stated to show that the 3d was one of the most noted
and
efficient of the Kentucky Union regiments.
From
Dyer's Compendium:
3rd
Regiment Infantry
Organized
at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., October 8, 1861. Attached to Thomas'
Command
to November, 1861. 11th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December, 1861.
Unattached,
Loudon, Ky., Army of the Ohio, to March, 1862. 15th Brigade, 4th
Division,
Army of the Ohio, March, 1862. 20th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the
Ohio,
March, 1862. 15th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio, to September,
1862.
15th Brigade, 6th Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November,
1862.
1st Brigade, 1st Division, Left Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the
Cumberland,
to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps, Army
of
the Cumberland, to April, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps,
to
October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, to January, 1865.
SERVICE.--Moved
to Lexington, Ky., September, 1861, and duty there until October
1.
Moved to Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., October 1. Duty there, at Round Stone
Creek,
Crab Orchard, Somerset and Columbia until January, 1862. Moved to
Renick's
Creek, near Burkesville, January 7, and to mouth of Greasy Creek
January
17. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., March 18-25; thence march to Savannah,
Tenn.,
and to Shiloh March 29-April 7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss.,
April
29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 30-June 6. Buell's Campaign in North
Alabama
and Middle Tennessee June to August. March to Nashville, Tenn., and
Louisville,
Ky., in pursuit of Bragg, August 19-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg
into
Kentucky October 1-18. Battle of Perryville October 8. Nelson's Cross
Roads,
Ky., October 18. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 18-November 7, and
duty
there until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Stewart's
Creek
December 29. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January
1-3,
1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Reconnaissance to Nolensville and
Versailles
January 13-15. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July
7.
Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of Cumberland
Mountains
and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September
22.
Reconnaissance toward Chattanooga September 7. Lookout Valley September 7-8.
Occupation
of Chattanooga September 9. Lee and Gordon's Mills September 11-13.
Near
Lafayette September 14. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of
Chattanooga
September 24-October 26 Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29.
Chattanooga-Ringgold
Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24.
Mission
Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief
of
Knoxville November 28-December 8. Campaign in East Tennessee until April,
1864.
March to Charleston April 18-26. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September.
Demonstrations
on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 5-13. Tunnel Hill May 6-7.
Buzzard's
Roost Gap May 8-9. Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May
14-15.
Near Calhoun May 16. Adairsville May 17. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near
Cassville
May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin
Vine
Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May
25-June
5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July
2.
Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27.
Ruff's
Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17.
Buckhead,
Nancy's Creek, July 18. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta
July
22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro
August
31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Moved to Nashville, Tenn.,
September
9-12; thence to Louisville, Ky., October 6. Mustered out by Companies
October
13, 1864, to January 10, 1865.
Regiment
lost during service 6 Officers and 103 Enlisted men killed and mortally
wounded
and 192 Enlisted men by disease. Total 301.
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