State Guard
Guerilla activity was a problem in Spencer County all through the War,
as
it was in most of Kentucky. Having seen what was happening in Kansas, the Kentucky legislature
took
action to provide for a force in each County to protect the State, and if needed to deal with
guerrilla activity. They passed a law organizing the militia into the Kentucky State Guard.
Governor
Beriah Magoffin signed this act into law, March 5, 1860:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
That the Kentucky Militia shall be divided into three classes: 1st The Active or Volunteer
Militia, 2nd. The Enrolled Militia, 3rd. The Militia of the Reserves. The Volunteer of Active
Militia shall be styled the Kentucky State Guard.
Spencer County's State Guard unit was commissioned on May 18,
1861.
Named the "Howard Guards", this company-sized unit was formed and based in
Taylorsville.
Original officers were: T. L. Bennett, Captain; James L. Davess, 1st Lieutenant; Quinton
Bennett,
2nd Lieutenant; and James Beauchamp, 3rd Lieutenant.
You have my full permission to post. Uley T. Washburn, Jr.
Return to Spencer County
Copyright ©2026 KYGenWeb Project
|
