7th Kentucky Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 7th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
.
, under the command of Colonel
Charles Wickliffe.
Early in the war, the regiment performed provost guard duty at Paducah, Kentucky
. In February 1862, the regiment was assigned to a brigade and moved south to Corinth, Mississippi
. At the Battle of Shiloh
, the regiment was brigaded with a battalion of the 1st Tennessee Infantry, 6th Tennessee Infantry, 9th Tennessee Infantry, and Smith's Battery (Mississippi). On the second day of the battle, Colonel Wickliffe was mortally wounded when the regiment was ordered to reinforce the left flank of their brigade. Brigade commander Brigadier General George Maney
stated, "I directed Colonel Wickliffe, of the Seventh Kentucky, who rendered me most efficient service by his activity and gallantry, the re-enforce[ment of] our left. He did as directed and received his fatal wound at the head of a charge, doing his whole duty as a devoted patriot and gallant soldier." Wickliffe died ten days later near Jackson, Tennessee
. (Wickliffe was a nephew and namesake of Kentucky's 14th governor, Charles A. Wickliffe
, a staunch Unionist.)
Following Shiloh, the 7th Kentucky Infantry moved south and participated in the Corinth Campaign and the Battle of Baton Rouge
. The regiment then remained at Port Hudson, Louisiana
until August 20, 1862, when it and the 3rd Kentucky Infantry
and 8th Kentucky Infantry became part of the Army of Tennessee
. The 7th Kentucky Infantry were en route to Bragg at Tullahoma, Tennessee
when they were ordered to reinforce Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton
in the defenses of Vicksburg, Mississippi
.
By early 1864, the regiment's strength was severely depleted. The 7th Kentucky Infantry was ordered to report to General Nathan Bedford Forrest
. Horses were unavailable, so the men followed Forrest on foot. The Kentucky troops that accompanied Forrest were divided into four brigades. The 7th Kentucky Infantry was in the third brigade with the 3rd Kentucky Infantry, 8th Kentucky Infantry, and 12th Kentucky Infantry, commanded by Colonel A. P. Thompson. On March 15, 1864 Forrest moved north toward Paducah, Kentucky. Three miles from Paducah they encountered Union
pickets and pushed them back to their camp on the outskirts of town. Under fire from a nearby fort, the Kentuckians moved through the streets of Paducah. The fort was discovered to be impenetrable, and a retreat was ordered. Colonel Thompson was killed by cannon fire while leading his troops. Forrest soon returned to Mississippi
where the regiment was engaged at the Battle of Brice's Crossroads
. At some point in the campaign to Kentucky, the regiment was mounted, becoming the 7th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
The regiment surrendered on May 4, 1865 at Columbus, Mississippi
.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 7th Kentucky Infantry was organized in September 1861, at Camp Burnett near Clinton, KentuckyClinton, Kentucky
Clinton is a city in Hickman County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hickman County, and the site of a Federal Courthouse for the Western District of Kentucky....
, under the command of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Charles Wickliffe.
Early in the war, the regiment performed provost guard duty at Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
. In February 1862, the regiment was assigned to a brigade and moved south to Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,054 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alcorn County. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835.- History :...
. At the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, the regiment was brigaded with a battalion of the 1st Tennessee Infantry, 6th Tennessee Infantry, 9th Tennessee Infantry, and Smith's Battery (Mississippi). On the second day of the battle, Colonel Wickliffe was mortally wounded when the regiment was ordered to reinforce the left flank of their brigade. Brigade commander Brigadier General George Maney
George Maney
George Earl Maney was an American soldier, politician, railroad executive and diplomat. He was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and a postbellum U.S...
stated, "I directed Colonel Wickliffe, of the Seventh Kentucky, who rendered me most efficient service by his activity and gallantry, the re-enforce[ment of] our left. He did as directed and received his fatal wound at the head of a charge, doing his whole duty as a devoted patriot and gallant soldier." Wickliffe died ten days later near Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
. (Wickliffe was a nephew and namesake of Kentucky's 14th governor, Charles A. Wickliffe
Charles A. Wickliffe
Charles Anderson Wickliffe was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky. He also served as Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, the 14th Governor of Kentucky, and was appointed Postmaster General by President John Tyler...
, a staunch Unionist.)
Following Shiloh, the 7th Kentucky Infantry moved south and participated in the Corinth Campaign and the Battle of Baton Rouge
Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)
The Battle of Baton Rouge was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on August 5, 1862. The Union victory halted Confederate attempts to recapture the capital city of Louisiana.-Background:...
. The regiment then remained at Port Hudson, Louisiana
Port Hudson, Louisiana
Port Hudson is a small unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Located about northwest of Baton Rouge, it is most famous for an American Civil War battle known as the Siege of Port Hudson.-Geography:...
until August 20, 1862, when it and the 3rd Kentucky Infantry
3rd Kentucky Infantry
The 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It was part of the First Kentucky Brigade through August 1862.-Service:...
and 8th Kentucky Infantry became part of the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
. The 7th Kentucky Infantry were en route to Bragg at Tullahoma, Tennessee
Tullahoma, Tennessee
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 18,655 people, 7,717 households, and 5,161 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% White, 7.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races...
when they were ordered to reinforce Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton
John C. Pemberton
John Clifford Pemberton , was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole Wars and with distinction during the Mexican–American War. He also served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, noted for his defeat and surrender in the critical Siege of Vicksburg in...
in the defenses of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
.
By early 1864, the regiment's strength was severely depleted. The 7th Kentucky Infantry was ordered to report to General Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
. Horses were unavailable, so the men followed Forrest on foot. The Kentucky troops that accompanied Forrest were divided into four brigades. The 7th Kentucky Infantry was in the third brigade with the 3rd Kentucky Infantry, 8th Kentucky Infantry, and 12th Kentucky Infantry, commanded by Colonel A. P. Thompson. On March 15, 1864 Forrest moved north toward Paducah, Kentucky. Three miles from Paducah they encountered Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
pickets and pushed them back to their camp on the outskirts of town. Under fire from a nearby fort, the Kentuckians moved through the streets of Paducah. The fort was discovered to be impenetrable, and a retreat was ordered. Colonel Thompson was killed by cannon fire while leading his troops. Forrest soon returned to Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
where the regiment was engaged at the Battle of Brice's Crossroads
Battle of Brice's Crossroads
The Battle of Brice's Crossroads was fought on June 10, 1864, near Baldwyn in Lee County, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. It pitted a 4,787-man contingent led by Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest against an 8,100-strong Union force led by Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis...
. At some point in the campaign to Kentucky, the regiment was mounted, becoming the 7th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
The regiment surrendered on May 4, 1865 at Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
.
Commanders
- Colonel Charles Wickliffe - mortally wounded at the battle of Shiloh
- Colonel Edward CrosslandEdward CrosslandEdward Crossland was a Confederate army officer in the American Civil War and later a United States Representative from Kentucky. He commanded a brigade of cavalry in the Western Theater and served in several battles....
See also
- List of Kentucky Civil War Confederate units
- Kentucky in the Civil WarKentucky in the Civil WarKentucky was a border state of key importance in the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln recognized the importance of the Commonwealth when he declared "I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky." In a September 1861 letter to Orville Browning, Lincoln wrote "I think to lose...