The trains traveled very slowly all the time. We stopped a few hours at Welden, on the Roanoke River, just at night. Here a Johnnie exchanged hats and shoes with me, the Johnnie getting the best end of the bargain.

A little incident occurred at this place which I shall never forget. Just after dark, the Johnnies who were not on duty, made for themselves a good fire. A young soldier of the Forty-Fifth Ohio and I went to the fire to warm. Some of the Rebels commenced throwing up "negro equality" to us, and abused the United States government for enlisting negro soldiers. Because we defended our side, they became enraged and drew their guns, threatening to shoot us. We stopped argument, and the young Ohioan opened his bosom and told them to shoot if they wanted to do so. He told them that nobody but a set of cowards would raise a subject and then get angry, and try to murder unarmed prisoners for defending their side of the question. The Confederates who had taken no part in the affair shamed their comrades for their conduct, and they put away their guns.

We started sometime that night, passed through Petersburg in the morning, and arrived at Richmond the same day, being the twelfth day on the road.

We were badly worn out with our trip, and suffering with hunger, the guards assuring us that we would get plenty to eat on arriving at Richmond. We were marched down the street to Libby Prison, where Maj. Owens and Capt. Burton of the First Kentucky, and other commissioned officers were separated from us, and put into that prison; then we were taken to the Pemberton building, or Castle Thunder, and were again searched for valuables, but the "picking" was now very meager.

We were then marched across the bridge to the south side of James River and put into the prison stockade on Belle Isle. To our inquiries of the chance to get something to eat, we were informed by the prisoners that we had come to a bad place for that purpose. On account of the prison not being crowded at the time, we had the chance to get some condemned tents sent to the island for the use of Yankee prisoners.

We of the First Kentucky Cavalry selected our tents and tried to stay together. We had nothing to eat that night, but the next day we were taken outside, formed into line, counted off into twenties and hundreds, and then returned to camp. Then we had to elect a Sergeant for each twenty, whose duty was to draw the so-called rations for his squad. Thomas R. Grinstead, of Company E, was elected Sergeant of my squad. That day we drew our first rations on Belle Isle, consisting of a small piece of bread, a common water bucket two-thirds full of soup, and a small piece of beef for twenty men. The bread was about sufficient for one man, provided he had plenty of everything else. The beef for each man would not make a good "bite"; the soup we divided with a small tin cup, holding about a gill; the peas and beans were divided with a spoon. The beef and soup soon played out. The soup was as destitute of grease as the waters of James River, and about the color. We continued to draw our little piece of corn bread daily with many exceptions; for some days, we failed to make any draw, and our missing rations were not afterward made up.

I remember we looked for something extra on Christmas day, but we failed to draw anything until night, and then it was the same small piece of corn bread.

I will long remember the day when Lieut. Boisseux came into camp with his fat little dog, which was decoyed into a tent, slain, and eaten. We lost our next day's rations as a punishment for that offense.

Outside, near the old cook-house, was a wooden horse of triangular shape, with sharp edge upward. I have seen many prisoners for slight offenses compelled to ride this horse with their feet so fastened that they could not reach the ground. The prisoners who came in the first part of the winter of 1863-64, got no tents, and were compelled to take the snow or frozen sand for habitation, without shelter.

During this time the cold was so intense that the James River froze over three times. In order to protect themselves, the men dug holes in the sand and burrowed in them like wild animals. We who possessed tents were not much better off. They would break the wind some, but leaked badly, and we were so crowded for room that we were compelled to spoon, as it was called. We would lie on one side until we
became tired, and then the command would be given to "right" or "left spoon," as the case might be. We had to change our positions frequently, for we had sores on our hips, the scars of which still remain.

I remember the "raiders" came to our tent one dark night, reached in, and jerked a blanket off some men near the door, and ran away. Poor fellows! it was their only covering. The extreme sufferings to which we were reduced, mixed with depravity, caused some mean selfishness to be shown among our fellow-prisoners. Two of our squad — an American and an Irishman — sold their blankets for six
loaves of bread, and ate all without offering their comrades a morsel. That left two blankets for the twenty men. I owned one, which was the make-shift for six men. Thomas R. Grinstead owned the other. I soon became so helpless that I was taken to the hospital. I left my blanket with my mess, and suppose it did service for some of them when they were afterwards taken to Andersonville, Ga., in February.
A Confederate Chaplain visited the prisoners a few times. I asked him why we were kept at all times in almost a starving condition. His reply was, that they could do no better; that we were as well fed as their own men at the front. I told him that there was no excuse to freeze us to death; that there was plenty of wood convenient; that if permitted we could cut and prepare our own fuel, and that I was satisfied that many of our men died from exposure to the weather. I further told him that there was plenty of food lying there in our sight, sent by the government and people of the North for our benefit, and that Jeff Davis had refused to let us have this food and clothing, but preferred issuing them to his own men. This silenced him, for he could make no reply. We had become satisfied that they intended to destroy as many as possible of us by exposure and starvation. Rations, escape, and exchange were the absorbing topics of discussion during the long, weary cold winter nights of November and December, 1863, and January and February, 1864.

COMPANY A. Enrolled in Casey County, Kentucky, in July, 1861. Organized at Liberty, Kentucky, July 27, 1861. Entered the service at Camp Dick Robinson, Garrard County, Kentucky, August 6, 1861. Mustered into the service at the same place, October 28, 1861. Mustered out of the service at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, December 31, 1564. Date of muster-in and muster-out of each individual, the same as the Company and regiment, if not otherwise stated.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Capt. George W. Sweeney. Enrolled July 17, 1861. Elected Captain of Company organization. Mustered out April 14, 1862.

Capt. Silas Adams. Enlisted July 11, 1S61. Elected 1^st Lieutenant at Company organization. Appointed Regimental Quartermaster, and mustered in with the regiment. Promoted Captain, June 7, 1862; to Lieut. Col., November 28, 1862.

Capt. Francis M. Wolford. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Elected 2d Lieutenant at Company organization. Promoted 1st Lieutenant, June 7, 1862. Appointed Regimental Adjutant, July, 1862. Promoted Captain, November 28, 1862. Killed in action at Hillsborough, Georgia, July 31, 1864.

1st Lieutenant James Humphrey. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Appointed Sergeant at Company organization. Promoted 1st Lieutenant, November 28, 1862. Mortally wounded in action near Hillsborough, Georgia, July 31, 1864, and died 14 days afterward.

2d Lieutenant William Adams. Enlisted July 17, 1861. Appointed Sergeant at Company organization. Promoted 2d Lieutenant, November 28, 1862.

2d Lieutenant Thomas Watson. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Appointed 1st Sergeant at Company organization. Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, June 7, 1862. Resigned November 24, 1862.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
1st Sergeant William T. Humphrey. Enlisted December 10th, and mustered in December 31, 1861. Promoted to 1^st Sergeant, November 28, 1861.

Sergeant Eastham Tarrant. Enlisted as a private, July 27, 1861, and mustered in as a Sergeant. Remained with the Company most of the time until February, 1863. Was then on detached service as clerk at regimental, brigade, and Cavalry corps headquarters, as long as the command remained in front.

Serg. John G. Brown. Enlisted November 11, 1861, and mustered in at Liberty, KY, December 31, 1861. Promoted to Sergeant, November 28, 1862.

Serg. Geo. T. Wesley. Enlisted July 21, 1861. Promoted Sergeant, November 28, 1862. Wounded at Wildcat.

Serg. Robert T. Pierce. Enlisted July 24, 1861, and appointed Corporal at Company organization. Promoted to Sergeant, 1863. Captured at Rockford, Tennessee, November 14, 1863. Escaped and was recaptured. Again escaped in North Carolina, and after many adventures, and traveling hundreds of miles, he reached the Union lines in Sweetwater Valley, Tennessee, April 5, 1864. He finally joined his regiment in Georgia, near Resaca, in May. He was afterward again captured on the Chattahoochee River, in July, but only remained with the enemy one night, when he escaped and joined his command the next evening.

Corporal James W. Stephens. Enlisted July 26, 1861. Captured at Rockford, Tennessee, November 14, 1863. Exchanged, June 20, 1864.

Corporal James M. Logan. Enlisted July 26, 1861. Promoted Corporal, July, 1863.

Corporal Geo. W. Gadberry. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Promoted Corporal, July, 1863.

Corporal William Bailey. Enlisted July 20, 1861. Pro moted Corporal July, 1863.

Corporal John M. Sharpe. Enlisted August 3, 1861. Promoted Corporal, July, 1863.

Corporal Wm. L. Brown. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Promoted to Corporal, July, 1863.

Corporal John O. Staton. Enlisted July 20, 1861. Promoted Corporal, May 1, 1864.

DISCHARGED ON SURGEON'S CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY, IF NOT OTHERWISE STATED.

Serg. Geo. R. Murphy. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Somerset, KY, June, 1868, to enable him to accept commission as Captain in Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry.

Corporal James M. Gibony. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Somerset, KY, June, 1868, to enable him to accept commission as 1st Lieutenant in Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry.

Corporal John E. Sharpe. Enlisted July 18, 1861. Discharged in May, 1862, to enable him to accept commission as 1st Lieutenant in Eighth Kentucky Cavalry.

Bugler Galen E. Taylor. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Shelbyville, Tennessee, May 28, 1862.

Jesse Edwards. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Murfreesboro, July 20, 1862.

Thomas G. Gaddis. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Columbia, Tennessee, May 2, 1862.

William J. Murphy. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged , May 2, 1862.

Job Sweeney. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, May 24, 1862.

Thornton West. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Louisville, KY, July, 1862.

Edward R. Williams. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Columbia, Tennessee, June, 1862.

Parker H. Grinstead. Enlisted July 27, -1861. Discharged July, 1862.

James E. Woods. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged at Columbia, Tennessee, June, 1862, on account of disability from wounds received in action at the Battle of Wildcat, October 21, 1861.

Benjamin Bransom. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged in June, 1868, to enable him to accept commission as 2d Lieutenant in Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry.

KILLED AND DIED IN THE SERVICE.
Corporal George W. Cabbell. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Killed in Battle of Lebanon, Tennessee, May 5, 1862.

John Q. Wolford. Enlisted August 5, 1861.

RECRUITS TRANSFERRED TO COMPANY B, FIRST KENTUCKY VETERAN CAVALRY.

Zachariah Anderson. Enlisted January 12, 1863. Mustered in at Danville, KY, February 28, 1863.

John H. Black. Enlisted August 28, 1863. Mustered in at Knoxville, Tennessee, September 6, 1863.

Leslie Carman. Enlisted January 30, 1863. Mustered in June 80, 1863, at Jamestown, KY Mustered out at Lexington, KY, May 25, 1865, by General Order No. 27, Department of Kentucky

John Cochran. Enlisted January 12, 1863. Mustered in February 28, 1863, at Danville, KY

James Eubanks. Enlisted August 12, 1863. Mustered in at Somerset, KY

Harvey Ellison. Enlisted August 12, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

Joseph Eubanks. Enlisted November 10, 1862. Mustered in November 12, 1862, at Nashville, Tennessee

George A. Gibbins. Enlisted and mustered in February 28, 1863, at Danville, KY

Jesse P Harris. Enlisted March 13, 1863. Mustered in April 30, 1863, at Somerset, KY Captured at Philadelphia, Tennessee, October 20, 1863. Died in prison.

William Jeffries. Enlisted August 6, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee. Captured at Rockford, Tennessee, November 14, 1863. Died in prison.

James Pierce. Enlisted July 20, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

James Reynolds. Enlisted April 1, 1863. Mustered in April 30, 1863, at Somerset, KY

George W. Raiborn. Enlisted August 3, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee. Captured at Philadelphia, Tennessee, October 20, 1863. Died in prison.

Thomas J. Robinson. Enlisted July 3, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

James Spaw. Enlisted July 28, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

Francis M. T. Sloan. Enlisted March 1, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

John M. Tilford. Enlisted April 15, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee.

Levi Wilcher. Enlisted March 3, 1863. Mustered in April 30, 1863, at Somerset, KY

Robert Wesley. Enlisted August 5, 1863. Mustered in September 16, 1863, at Knoxville.

Robert W. Staton. Enlisted July 20, 1861. Mustered in with the regiment, October 28, 1861. Held on charges of absence without leave. Proved charges incorrect, and mustered out at Louisville, 1865.

John R. Conner. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Was held on charges, but finally had them removed, and was mustered out.

Nine of the Company are on the roll as deserters.

RECAPITULATION.
Present and mustered out 59
Absent in Rebel prison 2
Recruits transferred 17
Total belonging to the Company 78

LOSSES.
Promoted to Field and Staff 1
Resigned and mustered out 2
Discharged for disability and promotion in other regiments 13
Killed in action 4
Died in the service and in Rebel prisons 22
Deserters 9
Aggregate losses 51
Total belonging to the Company during service 129

COMPANY B.
Enrolled on the Rolling Fork, in Casey County, Kentucky, in July, 1861. Organized July 27, 1861. Entered the service at Camp Dick Robinson, August 6, 1861. Mustered in, October 28, 1861. Mustered out December 31, 1864. The date of the muster-in of each individual not given unless mustered in at a different time of the company.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Capt. William Rains. Enlisted July 8, 1861. Captain at the organization of the Company, as the Company officers were appointed, and not elected. Mustered out, April 14, 1862. Capt. Geo. W. Drye. Enlisted July 18, 1861. Entered the service as 1st Lieutenant, and appointed Adjutant at regimental organization. Promoted Captain, April 14, 1862. Promoted Major, February 28, 1864.

Capt. Samuel Belden. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Entered the service as 1st Sergeant. Promoted 2d Lieutenant, June 23, 1862; 1st Lieutenant, July 1, 1863; Captain, April 10, 1864. 1st Lieutenant William B. Carter declined accepting commission.

1st Lieutenant Stephen H. Coppage. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Entered the service as 2d Lieutenant. Promoted 1^st Lieutenant, June 23, 1862. Resigned December 21, 1862.

1st Lieutenant Vincent Peyton. Enlisted November 1, 1861. Promoted 2d Lieutenant, July 1, 1863; to 1st Lieutenant, April 10, 1864.

2d Lieutenant Stephen G. Averitt. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Promoted from 1st Sergeant, April 10, 1864.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
1st Sergeant Buford Kinnett. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Promoted April 10, 1864.

Sergeant William M. Dodd. Enlisted July 18, 1861. Prisoner of war from November 14, 1863, to April 15, 1864.

Sergeant Sterling T. Brewer. Enlisted and mustered in at Camp Owens, November 1, 1861.

Sergeant Thomas Evans. Enlisted and mustered in at Camp Owens, November, 1861. Wounded at the Battle of Rockford, Tennessee, November 14, 1863.

Sergeant Sylvester Murphy. Enlisted July 23, 1861.

Sergeant John C. Burke. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Wounded at Mud Lick, October, 1864.

Corporal Benjamin Helm. Enlisted and mustered in at Camp Owens, November 1, 1861.

Corporal John Capheart. Enlisted July 27, 1861.

Corporal George W. Gray. Enlisted July 27, 1861.

Corporal John W. Yowell. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Captured at Hillsborough, Ga., July 31, 1864.

Corporal Perry F. Belden. Enlisted July 23, 1861

Corporal William Cochran. Enlisted July 28, 1861.

Bugler Robert Allgood. Enlisted August 6, 1861.

Huston Tharp, wagoner. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Captured at Philadelphia, Tennessee, October 20, 1863. Died in Rebel prison.

Mathias Cox, saddler. Enlisted July 23, 1861.

PRIVATES.
N. B. Brown. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Captured at Philadelphia, TN, October 20, 1863. Died in prison.
Thomas Cox. Enlisted July 25, 1861.
William Coffman. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
William Clemmons. Enlisted August 6, 1861.
Adam Clemmons. Enlisted August 6, 1861. Absent.
Hardin Coppage. Enlisted July 27, 1861.
Elijah N. Decker. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Benjamin F. Eads. Enlisted July 27, 1861.
Hickman Edwards. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Captured at Philadelphia, TN, October 20, 1863. Died in Rebel prison.

Adam Ellis. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Tolbert Edwards. Enlisted July 24, 1861. Absent.
Wesley Genheart. Enlisted November 27, 1861.
Wesley Glazbrook. Enlisted July 27, 1861.
Jacob Green. Enlisted and mustered in November 1, 1861, at Camp Owens.
Edward Harvey. Enlisted July 28, 1861.
William Hill. Enlisted and mustered in, November 1, 1861.

Wesley Hair. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Thomas J. Hafley. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
John T. Lynn. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
William F. Lynn. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
Hays B. Lynn. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
Thomas Lynn. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Alexander Lynn. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
Thos. F. Lankford. Enlisted July 27, 1861.
John W. Lane. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
William C. Lanham. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Mathias Lanham. Enlisted July 2-3, 1861.
William Lane. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Captured near Hillsborough, Ga., July 31, 1861. Died in Rebel prison.
Wm. L. Luster. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Captured at Rockford, Tennessee, November 14, 1863. Died in Rebel prison.

Davis Low. Enlisted and mustered in November 1, 1861.
E.H. Martin. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Reuben P. Martin. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Absent.
John E. Mills. Enlisted July 23,"l561.
Wm. N. Mounce. Enlisted July 23. 1861. Absent.
Charles Monday. Enlisted July 21. 1861. Captured at Hillsborough, Ga., July 31, 1564. Mustered out at Louisville, KY, March 2-5.
Thomas J. Peyton Enlisted and mustered in November 1, 1861. Wounded at Mill Springs, January 19, 1862.
James Powell. Enlisted July 26, 1861.
David Pemberton. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
Joel Pemberton. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Wounded at Lebanon, Tennessee. May 5. 1862.
James Roney. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
Jacob Sluder. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
V. B. Sinkhorn. Enlisted July 23, 1861.
Richard Sinkhorn. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
Wilson Sinkhorn. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Captured at Hillsborough, GA July 31, 1864.
Samuel Sandusky Enlisted July 23. 1861.
James Sandusky Enlisted July 23. 1861.
William Taylor. Enlisted July 23. 1861.
R. X. Wiser. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Captured at Rockford, TN, November 14, 1863. Died in Rebel prison.
Charles Wright. Enlisted August 6, 1861.
George W. Ward. Enlisted August 6, 1861.
Thomas J. Wright. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Badly wounded near Bear Wallow, KY, in November, 1862.
Joseph E. Wilcher. Enlisted August 6, 1861.
James Willis. Enlisted August 6, 1861.
Moses C. Yowell. Enlisted July 27, 1861.
William E. Yowell. Enlisted July 27, 1861.

DISCHARGED ON SURGEON'S CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY, FOR SICKNESS, WOUNDS, AND TO ACCEPT COMMISSIONS IN OTHER COMPANIES OR REGIMENTS.

Serg. Joseph Anderson. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged for wounds received at Mill Springs, January 19, 1862.

Serg. William F. Beard. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged for wounds received at Mill Springs, January 19, 1862.

Serg. Elijah Cox. Enlisted July 28, 1861. Discharged by order of Gen. Schofield to accept commission as 1st Lieutenant on Field and Staff.

Corp. DeWitt C. Burk. Enlisted July 27, 1861. Discharged May 15, 1862.
Corp. M. C. Bransom. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Discharged May 10, 1862.
Corp. Geo. Lowe. Enlisted and mustered in, November 1, 1861. Discharged March 1, 1863.
Bugler Davis Cox. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Discharged August 28, 1862.
John W. Brewer, Farrier. Enlisted August 23, 1861. Discharged August 28, 1862.
John G. Bibb, Farrier. Enlisted August 6, 1861. Discharged March 15, 1862.
Lloyd Adams. Enlisted July 28, 1861. Discharged January 19, 1862.
John Ellis. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Discharged by or der of Gen. Schofield to accept commission as 1st Lieutenant in Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry.

RECRUITS TRANSFERRED TO FIRST KENTUCKY AND VETERAN CAVALRY, AND OTHER TRANSFERS.
Serg. Philip W. Cox. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Transferred to Field and Staff, December 20, 1862.

Company C soon joined us. There is some dispute in regard to the day this Company entered camp; some claiming that it was on the same day as the entrance of A and B, and others that it was one or two days later.

These three companies being organized on the same day, and being the beginning of the regiment, it might be of interest to give a brief description of the material of which they were composed, which, with some slight modifications, would answer for the whole regiment. The mass of this material was composed of the best men of their respective sections. There were some lawyers and other professionals and tradesmen among them, but the farmers predominated. It is not claimed that there were not some rough or lawless men among them, but this class can be found more or less among all such bodies of men, and in fact but few communities are free from them. It will not be claimed that every officer or private was of the right material to make first-class heroes or soldiers. Even in the civil walks of life, in every avocation and vocation, there are many who mistake their calling and undertake to perform parts in the great drama of life for which they are in no way fitted. But we do claim that we had as good material as ever fought under the Stars and Stripes. There were many beardless youths, and a large majority were young men. Some were middle-aged, while there were a few whose "sands of life” had nearly run out. Of course these were soon discharged on account of disability. There were fathers and sons in the same company.

Among the privates of Company C was Colonel Avery, a wealthy old man about eighty years of age.
Nothing but devoted loyalty could have induced such men to leave their families and the comfort of home to peril their lives to save their country.

Colonel W. J. Landram appeared at Camp Dick Robinson on the 6th day of August, and while he retained command of the men for a few days, he ultimately made up his mind to relinquish the command and turn it over to Colonel Wolford, preferring to command an Infantry regiment. He accordingly notified Colonel Wolford of his intentions, and Wolford insisted on Landram's retaining the command. Landram had respect for Wolford and the men of the regiment, but finally concluded to adhere to his original intention, and when General Nelson arrived, he notified him of his decision. That officer also urged the Colonel to hold on to the command in very strong terms; but after remaining at the camp for some time, acting as Adjutant-General, he located a camp at Harrodsburg, and recruited the Nineteenth Kentucky Infantry, which afterwards did much valuable service, and won high honors in the Southwest.

The transition from the life and habits of a citizen to that of a soldier, though it could not be accomplished in a day, yet was comparatively rapid. We soon learned to habituate ourselves to rough camp life. We had the usual experience of false alarms gotten up to train the nerve of the soldier. The first one of the kind happened only a night or two after entering the camp. The night was dark and still,
and the men, except those on duty, were wrapped in deep slumbers. We were suddenly aroused with the startling announcement that the enemy were approaching, and near at hand. As we tremblingly fell into line, we could distinctly hear the horrid thunder of the shod hoofs of what we took to be thousands of horses. Home guard muskets were put into our hands, ammunition issued, and we were ordered to load our guns. Ludicrous tales were afterward current in camp about how some put the cartridges in their guns with bullet end downwards, others missed their guns entirely, while some had a superfluity of loads rammed down. Many showed strong symptoms of the "buck ague," and were much relieved when it was found that no enemy was near, but only our own horses running loose in the pasture had become rested, and having gotten in a gala way, were dashing over the pasture in a body, having their amusement at our expense.

Four days after reaching Camp Dick Robinson, Saturday, August 10, 1861, the camp was set apart to the cause of the government by appropriate exercises. The Rev. W. H. Honnell, a young Presbyterian minister, came over from near Harrodsburg to preach the dedication sermon. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, but came to Ohio in childhood, and was a graduate of Miami University, at Oxford, in 1853, where he was college mate with President Harrison. The great name of Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, the uncle of Vice-President John C. Breckinridge, had lured him to Danville, KY, to finish his theological studies, and he graduated there in 1856. He was the first graduate who offered to go as a foreign missionary from that Seminary, and on his way arrived at New York. There a strange Providence interfered, and he left his destination to the vote of the Mission Board. Their vote was "not to China, but to Kansas." Thrown into the exciting scenes of the border war, he helped make Kansas a free State, and had returned from the Indian Nation to a quiet Kentucky pastorate, when the soldiers began to gather at Camp Dick Robinson. He was there on their first entrance, and has the honor of defying the Governor's neutrality proclamation, and preaching the first sermon in a military camp on Kentucky soil.

The dedication sermon was the most thrilling and picturesque ever produced in the State. It has already passed into history. The vast crowds of newly enlisted soldiers and citizens sat under the spreading branches of the walnut trees on the fallen blue grass. The preacher had them summoned to the place by the bugle, now calling for the first time to worship; "not in disobedience to the powers that be," as he explained, "but a false interpretation of State, and not national authority."

When all became still, from a large good's box improvised into a pulpit, he gave out his hymn and offered prayer, dedicating the grounds, himself and congregation, and people of the great loyal State, to God and their country. After another hymn came the sermon — clear, fervent and impassioned.

It was nearing the close, when some ladies were seen to be knocking with their fans here and there a humble bee to the ground just in front of the stand. A soldier would rise upon his knees, and after a few motions, would jump to his feet and rush away, slamming his hat around his ears, having a dozen bees about his shoulders. Another and another would follow in a like manner, but the preacher held on with
his sermon, growing more fervent with every sentence. He slacks his gestures as the bees gather around his face, but continues till he raises his hands for the benediction. As the vast audience rises, the few short words are said, and the bees in immense numbers bounce the mischievous soldiers, and the crowd moves away. Wolford, who stood at the side of the box, with Bramlette and other officers, in much glee, seizes the preacher's arm, and nominates the first and only Chaplain of the First Kentucky Cavalry.

He rode with them in nearly all of their battles and adventurous marches till their muster-out, about the close of the war, in all three and a half years.

  Owing to absence of records, deficiencies of diaries and imperfections of memories, the exact dates of the movements and operations of Wolford's Cavalry about this time cannot be given; therefore, only approximations will be attempted.

A few days after our fiery baptism, about January 28d, the battalion under Col. Wolford was ordered to Camp Rigney, Casey County, to rest and recover exhausted strength of men and animals. Here Company C, with its men and officers, had a twenty day's leave of absence to visit their homes, some sixty miles distant, and report any movement of the enemy in that section, as they appeared to be always in an aggressive state in Clinton County.

At Camp Rigney, Companies A, B and H, had but little to do but enjoy themselves for a week or two, the camp being situated in an exceedingly loyal part of the country, and soldiers were welcomed around every fireside, and feasted on the best each house could afford. It was not even necessary to make the nocturnal raids on chicken-roosts for luxuries, and as forest timber was plentiful around the camp, there was no military exigency to "fall and trim up the laps of fence rails" for fuel.

Lancaster, KY, July 15, 1861.
Lieut. Colonel Wolford was notified of his appointment, and the two jointly commenced the work of recruiting for the First Kentucky Cavalry — Wolford speaking in Casey and other counties near his residence, while Landram spoke in Garrard and adjoining counties. They jointly addressed the
people at Buckeye, in Garrard County.

By order of Gen. Nelson, the troops were to go into camp at Camp Dick Robinson, on the first Tuesday after the election in August, 1861. This day was selected in order to give the enlisted soldiers an opportunity to cast their votes at the election. The true Union men of Kentucky, composing the regiments soon to be organized at Camp Dick Robinson, did not wait to see whether coercion would be popular or unpopular, either North or South, East or West, but responded to the first call of their country, only waiting an opportunity to enroll their names in the grand army which was destined to crush the most gigantic rebellion known in modern times.

Only two days after receiving his appointment, Col. Wolford, accompanied by Mr. Geo. W. Sweeney, went to Mt. Olive, in the eastern part of Casey County, and addressed a large number of citizens. This was July 17, 1861. Several men enlisted on that day, and their names were enrolled by Mr. Sweeney. This meeting may be considered the first starting of the regiment. Several other meetings took place
in the Southeastern part of the county and in the Green River Valley, and the assemblages were addressed by Col. Frank Wolford, his younger brother, F. M. Wolford, and Silas Adams, a young law student of Fishing Creek.

On July 27th, a meeting was held at Liberty, when the company was completed and organized by electing Geo. W. Sweeney, Captain; Silas Adams, 1st Lieutenant; and F. M. Wolford, 2d Lieutenant. Jarrard W. Jenkins was elected 3d Lieutenant, but on arriving at Camp, it being found that only two Lieutenants were allowed to a Company under revised rules of organization of the army, Mr. Jenkins received a recruiting commission, and afterward became Captain of Company F. The non-commissioned officers were appointed. This Company was designated A.

About July 18th, William Rains, a Mexican war veteran, and Geo. W. Drye, a youth seventeen years of age, commenced enlisting a Company on the Rolling Fork Creek, in the western part of Casey County, and its rolls were completed on the same day as Company A, July 27th, and organized by its officers being appointed. Wm. Rains was made Captain; Geo. W. Drye, 1st Lieutenant; and Stephen H. Coppage, 2d Lieutenant. The report of the Company was received only a few hours later than that of A, and was given the name of B.

On the same day of the organization of Companies A and B, July 27, 1861, Judge Thomas E. Bramlette, then enlisting men for his own regiment, the Third Kentucky Infantry, delivered a patriotic address near the home of his youth in Albany, the county seat of Clinton County, which town is near the Tennessee line. A multitude of Clinton County loyalists were present, and also a number from across the State line, in Fentress and Overton counties, Tennessee. Many of these did not wish to enter the Infantry service, and enrolled as Cavalry. A full Company was completed on that day, and organized by electing John A. Brents, Captain; John A. Morrison, 1st Lieutenant; and Jonathan P. Miller, 2d Lieutenant.

The non-commissioned officers were also elected by the company. It was made known that the members of the regiment were to furnish their own horses and horse equipment, and after organization the men were dismissed for about ten days to arrange their business affairs and furnish themselves with horses. Those unable to furnish themselves, their Captains endorsed their obligations with the permission to retain a certain portion of the men's pay until the obligations of each were liquidated.

The men of Company A, after casting their votes, rendez-voused principally at Liberty, late Monday evening, August 5th; those of Company B, at appropriate points on the Rolling Fork Creek. Company C being raised on the border of the new Confederacy where there was much bitter blood, for prudential reasons did not remain until the election, but arranged their affairs in a very few days, and having about
one hundred miles to march, by easy stages reached Camp Dick Robinson nearly as soon as the other two companies.