Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment
On January 5, 1862, the 40th Indiana was in transit to Bardstown, KY to begin training in the Union Army.
Background - Situation in Kentucky
In addition to the reasons described yesterday for the 40th Indiana to be sent to Kentucky, the military situation there had become more serious. Kentucky was deeply and closely divided between the Union and Confederate causes, and the state government had initially, as best it could, remained neutral. Kentucky furnished regiments to both North and South. The Crittendens, a prominent family, had two brothers, one who became a Union general, and the other a Confederate general.
In Western Kentucky, a Confederate force had moved to Columbus, KY, with General Leonidas Polk commanding. A Union force had moved to face the Confederate force and entered Paducah, KY, just a few miles away. A small and mostly inconclusive engagement was fought at Belmont, KY in November 1861.
Late in the fall the main Confederate army in the West, under General Albert Sidney Johnston, had moved north from Nashville to Bowling Green, KY, near the Union army under General Buell. In early January, the situation was quiet but tense, and there were small engagements, but nothing approaching a battle as of yet. About 100 miles to the southeast of Louisville, on the Cumberland River, both sides were in proximity and were anxiously reconnoitering each other. This is the situation into which the 40th Indiana was now moving.
As we are now up to date for January 5th, posts will not be every day but will be a few days apart.
NEXT POST: JANUARY 9TH
More Information:
- Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 1, The Opening Battles, pp. 373-392, "Holding Kentucky for the Union".
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