12th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate)

Brief History
The 12th Cavalry was organized at Tupelo, Mississippi, in April, 1863. The regiment saw active service and won high renown under the leadership of General N. B. Forrest. It took conspicuous part in the battles at Jack’s Creek, Union City, Harrisburg and Pulaski, to name a few. The Regiment was surrendered at Gainesville, Alabama, on May 10th, 1865.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Field and Staff Officers - See roster.

Company A - Many men mustered in from Northern Mississippi, West Tennessee, and Kentucky, (no counties listed). See roster.

Company B - Many men mustered in from Mississippi, West Tennessee, and Kentucky, (no counties listed). See roster.

Company C - Many men mustered in from West Tennessee, (no counties listed). See roster.

Company D - Many men mustered in from Ballard County, Kentucky and Carroll County, Tennessee. See roster.

Company E - Many men mustered in from Camp Boone, Boone County, Kentucky and McKinzie,Carroll County, Tennessee, and many listed as just Tennessee. See roster.

Company F - Many men mustered in from West Tennessee, (no counties listed). See roster.

Company G - Many men mustered in from Murray, Calloway County, Kentucky and Spring Creek, Madison County, Tennessee. See roster.

Company H - Many men mustered in from Graves County, Kentucky and Paris, Henry County, Tennessee. See roster.

Company I - Many men mustered in from Hickman County, Kentucky and Tennessee (no counties listed). See roster.

Company K - Many men mustered in from Tennessee, (no counties listed). See roster.

Kentucky. Adjutant General, Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, Civil War Vol. II Confederate Kentucky Volunteers War 1861-65.

Rosters are in History of the 3d, 7th, 8th and 12th Kentucky C.S.A., by Henry George, (Lyndon, Kentucky : Mull-Wathen Historic Press, 1911), pages 175-181. Internet Archive.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,810 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Kentucky in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Kentucky in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Kentucky, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.