52nd Kentucky Mounted Infantry

(The Union Regiments of Kentucky, Vol 3, by Capt. Thos. Speed, Courier-Journal Job Printing, 1897, pg650-656 )

"The 52nd Kentucky Mounted Infantry was organized under the authority of the Act of Congress dated February 7, 1863, authorizing the Government to raise 20,000 troops for the better defense of Kentucky. Company's A, B, C, and E were mustered in at Scottsville, KY on September 10, 1863 and Company D on October 17, 1863. Company F was mustered in on November 12, 1863, and Company G December 21, 1863 at Franklin, KY. Company H, I, and K were mustered in on March 3, 1864 at Franklin, KY."

"This regiment was raised for 12 months service and under the provisions of the Act, were to be employed within the limits of the State of Kentucky in repelling invasion, suppressing insurrections, and guarding and protecting the the public property. For the purpose of enabling it to cope more readily with the guerrillas that infested the State, it was mounted and stationed in the lower and central protion of KY and rendered efficient aid to the Government in protecting the line of communications with the Army at the front."

"Being raised in a section of the country were life of the Union man was constantly in jeopardy from the heartless guerrillas, many of the members of this organization had private grievances to correct that may have led them to commit excesses upon those receant Kentuckians who fostered the guerrillas and pointed out their homes for destruction. Still their services were efficient and appreciated by the Government they had sworn to defend."

"In the many fights and skirmishes in which it engaged, the bearing of both officers and men sustained the gallant record so bravely won by all Kentucky troops during the Rebellion."

"..March 23d, (1864) the 52nd was ordered by Gen. Hobson....to move from Scottsville to Bowling Green....April 19th it proceeded to Irvine, KY; April 30th, in the organization of the Dept. of the Ohio, the 52nd was in Col. Chas. S. Hansom's brigade, in Hobson's division. June 6th Col. Grider was sent with part of the 52nd...to Pound Gap to obstruct the passes. Another portion of the regiment fought Morgan at Mt. Sterling, June 10th and at Cynthiana, June 12th... Immediately afterward, the Federal forces...including the 52d, pursued the enemy as far as the Cumberland river, moving a distance of 470 miles in 11 days...

" In July (1864) the 52d had returned from the eastern part of KY and was in the western part July 18th....In August the regiment was ordered to Uniontown....August 21st a portion of the 52d was in Hopkinsville....August 26th the 52d was ordered to Lexington. August 30th the 52d was ordered to Bowling Green....It proceeded into Tennessee through Nashville. October 1st it was in Tullahoma, ... operating against Forrest and Wheeler. In October it proceeded to Athens and Huntsville, Ala..... December 5th it was again in Bowling Green and went into Western Kentucky to aide in resisting the invasion of the Confederates under Gen. Lyon. "

"After the destruction of Gen. Hood's army at Nashville, in December, 1864, the 52d was not so actively engaged and was mustered out of service in January and March, 1865, having made a splendid record as a useful and gallant regiment."

ROSTER

Field and Staff
Colonel: John H. Grider
Lieut Col: Samuel F. Johnson
Major: John B. Tyler
Adjt.: Wm. H. Murrell
Q.Masters: Wm. H. Johnson, James H. Lile
Surgeon: George W. Wyer
Asst. Surgeons: Robert D. Hawthorn, Henry H. Alter
Chaplain: George Mitchell
Sergt. Major: Wm C. Garrison
Q.M. Sergt: Virgil A. Jones
Com. Sergt: Zachariah A.M. Allen
Hospital Steward: Thos. J. Buchanan