Infantry Regt.
COs. A, D, E, F
&
Artillery batteries C.S.A.
The Eastern 5th
"Sangdiggers"
5th KY. Vol. Inf & The 5th KY. Artillery Batteries
The 5th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry is an reenactment group of men and their families from Kentucky primarily formed by members of The Sons of Confederate Veterans with direct bloodline to these Confederate heros. The 5th Kentucky reenactment unit wish to honor the Confederate soldier in both action and deed. We have members who are both "Mainstream" and "Progressive Campaign" style reenactors but most importantly we try to Honor the Kentucky Confederate who fought and died during the war between the states.The 5th Kentucky is a Confederate unit although we do have members who are willing to galvanise and sometimes wear the blue. We are dedicated to preserving the historic deeds and legacy of the brave, ill equipped Kentucky Confederate so future generations will know the sacrifices that they made in defense of the Southern Cause.
"THE BOYS OF COMPANY B"
A Sketch of Company B, 5th Kentucky Infantry, CSA
by Vince Barker
When the Civil War came to Kentucky, the state was torn apart. The state joined the Confederacy in January 1862. Being a "border state" there were strong allegiances to both North and South. Although the eastern portion of the state was generally pro-Union, there were pockets of hard core pro-Confederates. These people were mainly mountaineers from the counties of Carter, Morgan, Breathitt, Johnson, Floyd, Perry, and divided loyalties during the war. Breathitt County was known as "Bloody Breathitt" well into the 20th Pike. For generations after the war, feuds and killings were commonplace, all rising from the Century.
The largest group of Confederates to come from Breathitt County became Companies B and D of the 5th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, which was re-organized in September 1862, after its initial one year enlistments had chosen to join cavalry units or simply go home.
For its first year in the field, the 5th Kentucky spent the majority of its time guarding the salt works and mountain passes along the Kentucky & Virginia border. Although their only fighting consisted of a few small skirmishes, the duty was very arduous, consisting of many marches and counter marches, and as in most other units in the Civil War, sickness was rampamt.
Then in August, 1863, the 5th Kentucky, along with several other mountain units, were ordered to join Kentuckian Gen. Buckner’s Corps in Knoxville, as he was about to join Gen. Bragg and the Army of Tennessee. The units arrived just in time to take part in the battle of Chickamauga. Held in reserve until late in the day on Sept. 20th, the 5th Kentucky and the other regiments of their brigade were called up to help drive off the last remaining Union forces from Snodgrass Hill. During this, their first real battle, the 5th Kentucky helped capture two entire Union regiments, and half of another. An officer present stated that the 5th performed "like men of a hundred fights".
As the Army of Tennessee held the heights overlooking Chattanooga for the two months following Chickamauga, the 5th Kentucky was permanently assigned to the legendary Kentucky "Orphan Brigade". Over the next 18 months, they would add considerably to the brigade’s already legendary reputation as hard fighters. During the disastrous retreat from Missionary Ridge on November 25-26, 1863, the 5th Kentucky was temporarily assigned to Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s Division to help cover the retreat. Their actions helped save the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
After spending the winter of 1863-64 at winter quarters in Dalton, Georgia, the 5th Kentucky would participate in almost every battle and skirmish of the 100 days Atlanta Campaign, starting on May 7, 1864 at Resaca. This three months of constant fighting would end the existence of the Kentucky Brigade as an effective infantry force, and would cost them over half their numbers, including many of the boys of Company B.
One of the worst engagements would come at Dallas on May 28th. Because of a series of miscommunications, the Kentucky Brigade attacked almost the entire Union XV Corps, alone. The 5th Kentucky was leading the way. Although the brigade was finally given the order to withdraw, the 5th refused. They had gone too far, only yards from the Yankee breastworks to turn back now. Finally the regimental commander, Col. Hiram Hawkins, rode to the front of the regiment, grabbed the colors and ordered his men to withdraw. When the men had returned to their lines and the smoke cleared, the boys of Company B could see their First Sergeant, Richard South, lying dead at the very head of where they had charged. He was only twenty yards from the Yankee breastworks.
On about June 20th, while the Kentuckians were on the Kennesaw Line, another of these four boys of Company B would give the ultimate sacrifice. Pvt. John P. Gum was killed while the brigade was involved in heavy skirmishing the entire week leading up the main battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27th.
The worst for the 5th Kentucky came on July 22, 1864, during the battle of Atlanta. They were again involved in a poorly planned attack near Intrenchment Creek. Many of their men were lost, along with their colors.
For the remainder of the war, the 5th Kentucky and the rest of the Orphan Brigade were designated as "mounted" infantry, their numbers too few to act as an effective foot infantry force. Their time was spent harassing Gen. Sherman’s massive army as it moved through Georgia and into the Carolinas. The end came on April 26, 1865, when Gen. Johnston, Commander of the Army of Tennessee, officially surrendered to Sherman. The Kentucky Brigade would not officially lay down their arms until May 6th.
This unit was of course a proud part of the heroic"Orphan Brigade" who fought from the start of the war until after General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
Being separated from their native state for almost the entire war, these Kentuckians never lost site in what they believed. They are certainly deserving of our admiration.
Kentucky General John Hunt Morgan
