Processed by: Staff, Lindy Melvin; machine-readable finding aid created by:Eric Weig and Lindy Melvin
Sketches of Camp Boone
1860
University of Kentucky Libraries, Special Collections
Lexington, Kentucky 40506
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
[Identification of item], Sketches of Camp Boone, 1860, 80PA122, Special Collections, University of Kentucky.
.10 cu. ft. (1 Box): 20 items
On March 5th, 1860 The Kentucky State Legislature enacted the Kentucky Militia Law, which enabled the Kentucky State Guard to form. "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." By May 5th, 1860 the Inspector-General and staff received their commissions. Simon Bolivar Buckner was named Inspector-General with the rank of Major General. On August 23, 1860 the Kentucky State Guard assembled for the first time. Camp Boone was named for Daniel Boone and was located on the grounds of the South-Western Agricultural Association in Louisville.
In Sketches of Camp Boone,1860 there is a detailed record of all the orders that were given and officers who were present at Camp Boone. A notable name on this roll is Captain John Hunt Morgan of the Lexington Rifles. Morgan would later become know as the organizer and leader of the Morgan Raiders, a Confederate military group. Major-General Simon Bolivar Buckner would also become know as an important leader for the Confederacy.
The state of Kentucky declared neutrality during the American Civil War 1861-1865. As the head of the state's military forces Major-General Simon Bolivar Buckner attempted to preserve the guards precarious neutrality but in July 1861 the Unionist-controlled military board of the state ordered the State Guard, which they considered pro-secessionist, to turn in its arms. As a result, most of the Kentucky State Guard troops joined the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
Information about Simon Bolivar Buckner and John Hunt Morgan was derived from Who Was Who In The Civil War by Stewart Sifakis.
Sketches of Camp Boone, 1860 is both a photographic and text record of events and orders carried out during the forming of the state militia. It was published by G.T. Shaw for the Garret & Nickerson, Photographers, Telegraphy Gallery located Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky. Eleven photographic views of the camp are included in the book. Also nine portraits of the Major General and his staff are included.
All the images in the book are salt prints.
Frankfort, KY: 1861.
1VF69M25, Special Collections, University of Kentucky.
1907.