On May 16, 1861, the state legislature of Kentucky officially declared her neutrality. As was to be expected, this facade of impartialness could not, and would not be maintained. Thousands of Kentuckians, dissatisfied with their state's indecision, flocked to the banners of both North and South. But one group would leave an indelible mark in the course of the coming conflict and will forever be known as the Orphan Brigade (note 1).
Among the Kentuckians that joined the Confederacy, there were many that had formerly belonged to the State Guard, under the command of Simon Boliver Buckner. The training gained there would prove helpful in the years ahead. As all these men drifted into Tennessee, camps were set up to organize them. Most of the Kentucky units were formed in the summer and fall of 1861. In October, they were placed in a brigade that would come under the command of Brigadier General John C. Breckinridge, and were attached to Buckner's Division. The formations comprising the brigade at this time were: the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th/Sth (note 2), and the 6th Kentucky infantry regiments, Cobb's and Graves' Kentucky batteries, Byrne's Mississippi/Kentucky battery, the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, and a squadron of troopers under John Hunt Morgan. These latter two units usually acted independently. Moving to Bowling Green, Kentucky, the brigade became a part of Albert Sidney Johnston's Central Army of Kentucky. Little activity was seen, however, until the following year.
In February, 1862, Buckner's Division was sent to Ft. Donelson. The Kentucky Brigade remained behind except for the 2nd Regiment and Grave's Battery, which later joined Buckner. After putting up a good fight with the poor weapons they were equipped with, these units were surrendered with the rest of the troops there. Because of this defeat and an earlier one in January at Logan's Cross Roads, General Johnston was compelled to abandon his forward defensive line and retire through Tennessee. His army eventually reached Corinth, Miss. in March and made a junction with the troops assembled there by Beauregard. Under Johnston's command, the combined force was named the Army of the Mississippi. As part of this reorganization, Breckinridge was promoted to command a division—sized unit entitled the Reserve Corps. The Kentuckians formed the 1st Brigade of this unit, hence the origins of the title, 1st Kentucky Brigade. They remained under the nominal command of Breckinridge.
On April 6, 1862, Johnston launched his massive surprise attack on Grant's forces at Shiloh. The Kentucky Brigade was heavily engaged during both days of the battle, but in the confused fighting, the units comprising it were scattered all over and fought more as individuals than as a combined force. Nevertheless, they all fought well and the brigade earned the praise of those who saw them in combat. Below is the brigade's order of battle, total strength and regimental strengths on April 6th (where found; note 3), and casualties suffered per unit.
FIRST KENTUCKY BRIGADE SHILOH
- 3rd Kentucky — 174 killed and wounded
4th Kentucky (483) — 213 killed and wounded
6th Kentucky (411) — 108 killed and wounded
9th/5th KY (338) — 134 killed and wounded
4th Ala. Bttn. (Clifton's) — 30 killed and wounded
31st Alabama — 79 killed and wounded
Crew's Tenn. Bttn. — 55 killed and wounded
Morgan's KY Cav.
Byrne's Battery — 14 killed and wounded
Cobb's Battery — 37 (six 6 pdr. smooth. & two 12 pdr. How.)
The total strength, not including Morgan's unit, which operated independently, amounted to 2400 men.
During the battle, the brigade came under the effective command of Col. R.P. Trabue of the 4th Kentucky. Total brigade losses amounted to 844 men, or just over 35%.
When the Confederates retreated to Corinth after the battle, Breckinridge's "corps" formed the rearguard, collecting the supplies, prisoners, and wounded left behind. The 1st Kentucky Brigade was called upon to do a large portion of this work because they were one of the few units that had retained its organization.
The remainder of the month of April was spent reorganizing the army and preparing the defense of Corinth. Breckinridge was promoted to major general and assigned to the permanent command of the division. The Kentucky Brigade was divided to form two commands, although, as will be seen, this would last only through the summer. The 1st Brigade was given to Brig. Gen. J.M. Hawes (soon taken over by B.H. Helm). It would eventually consist of the following: 4th and 9th (5th) KY, 4th Ala. Battn., 31st Ala., 31st Miss., and the Hudson Battery. This latter unit replaced Byrne's Battery, which had broken up on the resignation of its officers. The other brigade was placed under Brig. Gen. William Preston and consisted of: the 3rd, 6th, and 7th KY, 35th Ala., and Cobb's Battery. The 7th KY had fought in another command at Shiloh.
On the last day of May the army abandoned Corinth and moved southward, forming a defensive line at Tupelo. There it would remain throughout June and the beginning of July, also receiving a new commander in the form of Braxton Bragg. As for the Kentucky troops, they left the main army around the end of June, along with the rest of Breckinridge's command, in order to assist Van Dorn at Vicksburg. This city was under siege by two Union fleets, which had combined for the operation. Although no landings were made, the Kentuckians were kept busy by the appalling living conditions and the nerve—wracking shell f ire of the gunboats. Here they remained for most of July.
At the end of that month, Van Dorn ordered Breckinridge to seize Baton Rouge, which had been recently occupied by 3000 — 4000 Union troops. Ordered to take only picked units of his command, these included the five Kentucky regiments and Cobb's Battery. In the ensuing Battle of Baton Rouge, the Confederates pushed the Union garrison out of its encampments and back against the Mississippi River. But the garrison was supported by gunboats and the Confederates had to be content with destroying the Union camps and retiring eastwards, leaving behind a small force to observe the city. Several days later, the Southerners occupied Port Hudson, further down the Mississippi, which caused the Federals to abandon Baton Rouge. Breckinridge remained here until mid—August, at which time he moved with most of his force to Jackson, Miss.
Preparations were now made to join the main army in its advance into Kentucky. Several weeks after arriving, the command moved into northwestern Miss., where another reorganization of the Kentucky units took place. The 3rd and 7th regiments were detached in order to go by way of Jackson, Tenn. and thence to Louisville, KY, which the main army was now threatening. Since these regiments were mostly recruited in the southern part of Kentucky, it was hoped this movement would allow them to replenish their ranks. As it turned out, they would never again be connected with the Kentucky Brigade and would later become mounted, joining Forrest in his campaigns. The rest of the Kentucky units were thrown together in a temporary brigade under Col. Trabue (note 4).
After a tedious railway trip through Atlanta and Chattanooga, they arrived at Knoxville on October 3, 1862. At this point, the brigade was joined by the 2nd KY and the members of Grave s Battery, both captured at Ft. Donelson and recently exchanged. The whole was placed under Col. Hanson of the 2nd, who was senior to Trabue. From this place they expected to march into Kentucky, and the men's minds raced wildly with expectations of seeing their loved ones again. But it was not to be. At the end of October they headed back to Chattanooga and from there to Murfreesboro in central Tennessee, where they were later joined by Bragg's army, his invasion of Kentucky having failed.
The opposing armies now squared off, with the Federals based at Nashville and the Confederates at Murfreesboro. An uneasy calm developed, broken only by sporadic cavalry raids and foraging expeditions. Breckinridge had a new division formed for him in December, consisting of four brigades. The Kentucky Brigade was again in his command and now consisted of the: 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th KY regiments, the 41st Alabama, and Cobb's Battery. A cavalry company was loosely connected with it until January 1863. Hanson was promoted to Brigadier General on December 13th and retained command. Meanwhile, on the 7th, Cobb's Battery and the 2nd and 9th regiments had joined Morgan's cavalry in a successful raid on the Union detachment at Hartsville, netting some 2000 prisoners.
In late December the Federal army moved on Murfreesboro. After both sides had drawn their battle lines, a pause of several days followed. Breckinridge's Division, with the addition of one more brigade, was placed on the right flank of the Confederate army, east of Stone's River. The Kentucky Brigade formed the left of his line, with its left nearly resting on the river. After occupying an important eminence, later called Whayne's Hill, on December 29th (see scenario), the Kentuckians stayed out of the fight that began on Dec. 31st.
When the battle resumed on January 2nd, 1863, Breckinridge was ordered to attack the Union troops that were deployed on his side of the river, an order which both he and Hanson objected to. Bragg apparently did not realize that almost 60 Union guns had been massed on the opposite shore to cover the area. Nevertheless, the men of Breckinridge's Division charged forward bravely and broke the initial Union line. A few troops of the Kentucky Brigade actually crossed the river and fought on the other side, but the massed Union guns were taking their toll, and infantry reinforcements slammed into the Confederates. Forced to withdraw, the southerners fell back to their starting positions. Hanson was mortally wounded while leading the brigade in this charge. It was reported that when General Breckinridge saw the decimated remnants of the Kentucky Brigade, without its leader, he cried out, "My poor orphans! My poor orphan brigade! They have cut it to pieces."
Below is listed the brigade's order of battle, regimental strengths (in parenthesis), and losses at Stone's River.
KENTUCKY BRIGADE STONE'S RIVER
Total Brigade Loss = 431 men
- 2nd KY (approx. 400) — 108 killed,wounded, & missing
9th KY* (314) — 29 killed,wounded, & missing
4th KY (373) — 70 killed,wounded, & missing
41st Ala. (approx. 360) — 142 killed,wounded, & missing
6th KY (266) — 76 killed,wounded, & missing
Cobb's Battery* — 6 killed,wounded, & missing
* These units, along with 6 other companies of the brigade, did not take part in the attack of January 2nd.
Several days after the fateful charge, the Confederate army withdrew to Manchester and Tullahoma. Here it would remain until the spring. The Orphan Brigade (as we will now refer to them) received Brig. Gen. B.H. Helm as their new brigade commander, since he had recovered from the wounds he acquired at Baton Rouge. Little of excitement happened in the many months they remained in the area.
At the beginning of June, Breckinridge's Division arrived at Jackson, Miss, to reinforce General Joseph Johnston, who was attempting to succor Vicksburg. Though the attempt failed, the division took part in the fighting around Jackson, after Vicksburg fell, and remained in the area the entire summer. In September it rejoined the main army deployed along the Chickamauga. In the two days of fighting that constituted the Battle of Chickamauga, on September 19 and 20, 1863, Breckinridge's Division was moved from one flank of the army to the other. Early on the 19th, it formed the left flank of the infantry forces and was preparing to attack a Union division opposing it (note 5) when orders arrived from Bragg to move to the right flank. This march effectively kept them out of the fight on the first day.
On the 20th, now positioned on the right flank, the division made repeated assaults against the Union defenses on Horseshoe Ridge. Though the division took some of the Union works and captured many prisoners and guns, the Confederate attacks were uncoordinated, allowing the Federals to reform. The Orphan Brigade entered the fight with about 1300 men, including Cobb's Battery, and suffered 471 casualties, most of them within an hour. Among these was Brigadier General Helm, who was mortally wounded.
Command of the brigade now passed to Col. Joseph Lewis of the 6th KY [see cover photo], who was promoted to brigadier general. When the army moved into its positions on Missionary Ridge overlooking Chattanooga, Breckinridge was given command of a corps. His division passed into the hands of Major General William Bate, and consisted of three brigades, as at Chickamauga. In early November, the 5th KY replaced the 41st Alabama in the Orphan Brigade, which was now all—Kentucky. It consisted of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th Kentucky, while Cobb's Battery became a part of the division's artillery battalion. No further changes were made in the brigade's organization for the remainder of the war. At the end of November, the brigade took part in the fighting on Missionary Ridge in support of Cleburne's Division.
Though this part of the line held, the Federals pierced the Confederate defenses elsewhere. Cobb's Battery, which was supported by a different brigade on another point of the line, lost its guns. The Orphans were upset by this and blamed the other brigade for not fighting hard enough. While the rest of the army retreated to Dalton, Georgia, the Orphan Brigade formed the rearguard, along with the rest of Cleburne's Division, to which it was temporarily attached.
At Dalton, the army rested and reorganized as Bragg was replaced by Joseph E. Johnston as head of the Army of Tennessee. Life was relatively peaceful until the spring, when Sherman's Atlanta campaign began. During the fighting that ensued during the summer of 1864, the Orphan Brigade took part in most of the major (and minor) engagements. Their list of actions include Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Calhoun, Dallas, Altoona, New Hope Church, Cassville, Marietta, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Ezra Church, Decatur, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. At the latter engagement, the brigade's position was enveloped and several hundred of its men taken prisoner. During the campaign the Orphans accumulated a remarkable set of statistics. From May 7, 1864, when the brigade left Dalton 1140 men strong, to September 3rd, after Jonesboro, it compiled 1860 deaths and wounds requiring hospitalization, multiple wounds received on the same day counting only once. Only 50 men came through this terrible ordeal unscathed, and yet on Sept. 3rd, 240 men still reported for duty. Amazingly, fewer than ten deserted.
After Jonesboro, the remnants of the Orphan Brigade were mounted on horseback and served in this capacity for the remainder of the war. They resisted Sherman's march through Georgia and South Carolina as much as could be expected, surrendering at Washington, Georgia on May 6, 1865.
The views of friend and foe alike attest to the fighting qualities of the Orphan Brigade. In 1864, when Breckinridge was sent to Virginia, he asked Genl. Johnston if he could take the brigade with him, under the promise that President Davis would furnish him a replacement brigade. Johnston replied, "The president has no equivalent for it. It is the best brigade in the Confederate army." Braxton Bragg, who disliked Kentuckians and was hated by them in return, is said to have called the Orphans "our best troops". Even a Federal officer wrote that the Kentuckians were "confessedly among the best of the rebel army". Along with their high casualty rate, the Orphans had no better tribute.
NOTES
1. The term "Orphan Brigade" came into use after the war. During the conflict is was referred to as the 1st Kentucky Brigade. The origin of the nickname is not quite clear, but it seems to have been taken from the remark made by Breckinridge about their ordeal at Stone's River. As the years after the war passed, the veterans began to realize the peculiar position they had been in during the war. They were exiled from their state and loved ones by the Union occupation, and were deprived of their commanders time after time by death or transfer. So the term "orphans" took on a particular meaning for them and was adopted (no pun intended).
2. There were two 5th KY regiments at this time. The 5th referred to here was "temporarily" organized first and was given the unit number by the War Department. However, the other regiment "perfected" its organization first (i.e. had its full complement of men and officers), so the War Dept. decided to give this regiment the title of 5th Kentucky. An order was sent to the first regiment, renaming it the 9th KY, but it was not received until October 1862. Thus, records of this period refer to it as the 5th Kentucky. For the purposes of this article, the format of 9th (5th) KY will be used until October 1862.
3. Give or take a few men, these figures are fairly accurate. The problem lies in the fact that many regimental reports list only the number of enlisted men, officers not being included. By going through the unit rosters company by company, and looking at each man s war record, the strength at each battle was calculated.
4. Brigadier Gen. Helm had been wounded at Baton Rouge and Brig. Gen. Preston had left his brigade upon his own request.
5. For those who own JOHNNY REB, this proposed attack is recreated in the scenario.
BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR ARTICLE AND SCENARIO
Atlas of the Official Records, Plate XXXII, 1, Washington, 1891—95.
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 3, New York, 1956.
Boatner, Mark M., The Civil War Dictionary, New York, 1959.
Connelly, Thomas L., Army of the Heartland, Baton Rouge, 1967.
Connelly, Thomas L., Autumn of Glory, Baton Rouge, 1971
Madaus, Howard M. and Robert D. Needham, The Battle Flags of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, Milwaukee, 1976.
McDonough, James L., Chattanooga — A Death Grip On the Confederacy, Knoxville, 1864.
McDonough, James L., Stone's River — Bloody Winter In Tennessee, Knoxville, 1980.
Sword, Wiley. Shiloh: Bloody April. New York, 1974.
Thompson, Ed Porter. History of the Orphan Brigade. Dayton, 1973.
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