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General:

The Third Kentucky Volunteer Infantry saw service as part of the U.S. occupation forces in Cuba.

Unit History:

The regiment was briefly considered for movement to Washington, D.C. to support coastal defense, but no action was taken. Shortly thereafter, while portions of the regiment were still being mustered in, the Third Kentucky was ordered to report to Camp Thomas, on the old Civil War battlefield at Chickamauga, Georgia.  The Regiment completed the deployment by June 2 and was assigned to Third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps. Conditions at Camp Thomas quickly worsened as it grew to a city of as many as 60,000 men without adequate supplies or sanitation. Typhoid fever and other diseases became rampant, with the Third Kentucky registering 63 medical cases in June 1898 alone, including men with typhoid fever, measles, mumps, and Diarrhea. In July the number of cases rose to 87 and resulted in two deaths. 

On July 3, 1898, the First Division, including the Third Kentucky, was alerted that it would be sent to Cuba following a request by Major General Rufus Shafter to replace losses to his Fifth Corps due to disease.  Following the surrender of Santiago, Cuba on July 17th, the First Army Corps was to be reassigned for the invasion of Puerto Rico under the command of Major General Nelson Miles.

Following the Armistice with Spain signed on August 12, 1898, the Third Kentucky departed Virginia and returned to Lexington, Kentucky, arriving on August 17, and was assigned to First Brigade, Second Division, First Army Corps.

At Lexington, the various regiments got into the habit of visiting one another, an action that was begun by 1st Territorial Volunteer Infantry on its arrival. The practice was begun on the night of their arrival when the men of the regiment went visiting to the other regiments in the camp. The other regiments took up the practice themselves and their men also began visiting with the other regiments also, creating a strong feeling of comradeship that grew among the other regiments, including the 160th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and the 12th New York Volunteer Infantry. One evening the some of the Native American members of the 1st Territorial Volunteer Infantry entertained the men of the 12th New York with a "war dance." Sergeant Beard of the 1st Territorial invited people with wild horses to bring them in and have the regiment's riders "tame them." Unfortunately, the comradeship of the regiments took a severe hit when, on October 9th, Private Nygren of the 12th New York Volunteer Infantry was shot and killed by a Private Kitchen of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry while the latter was on duty as a Provost Guard. It was later determined that the incident was in the line of duty, but some men of the 12th New York began a plot to avenge what they considered a wrong, and on the night of the 10th attempted to carry out their plan against Private Kitchen.  Gen. Wiley, hearing of the incident, sounded “To Arms” and the entire 160th Indiana and a battalion of the 3rd Kentucky were ordered out with ten rounds of ammunition per man and marched five miles to Lexington.  There they were ordered to patrol the streets and arrest every soldier regardless of rank or pass.  It was long after midnight when they returned nearly 400 prisoners to camp. The incident generated ill will between the men of the 12th New York and the men of the 160th Indiana who were only doing their duty.  It had been a bloody night in Lexington. In addition to the death of Pvt. Nygren, the Provost Guards of the 160th Indiana tasked to maintain order reportedly had two experienced two other incidents – the killing of Sgt. Richard Green of the 7th U.S. Volunteer Infantry (the “7th Immunes”), Co. A by Cpl. Edwards of the same company. Five other men were also wounded that evening while the 160th Indiana and the 3rd Kentucky attempted to restore order.

In November, the regiment moved into winter quarters at Columbus, Georgia. Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, officially ending the war, on 30 December the First Army Corps, commanded by General James Wilson, received orders to initiate movement to Matanzas, Cuba for occupation duty, along with the 8th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the 160th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.  The Third Kentucky boarded the U.S.  Army transport MINNEWASKA on January 18th, arriving in Matanzas, Cuba on January 21, 1899. 

Occupation Duty:

Occupation duty for the troops under General Wilson in Matanzas Province, including the Third Kentucky, evolved into several missions, including: Civil Administration, overseeing the safe repatriation of nearly 20,000 Spanish soldiers in Matanzas, overseeing the demobilization of Cuban revolutionaries, the formation and training of a civil police force, and civil affairs work including distribution of relief funds and food.

The regiment was divided into three Battalions, with one battalion (companies A, C, G, and K) assigned to La Union de Reyes, a small town of a few thousand about 20 miles south of Matanzas, Cuba.  A second battalion (companies B, F, L, and M) assigned to Cardenas, a larger town of around 23,000, and the third Battalion (companies D, E, H, I) remained at Matanzas, a city of around 88,000.

Going Home:

The Third Kentucky remained in Cuba as part of the island's occupation forces until April 8, 1899, with Companies A, C, G, and K sailing home on the transport FLORIDA, and the remainder on the transport KILPATRICK (formerly the MICHIGAN).  The regiment arrived at Daufuskie Island, Georgia, on April 10, 1899, and remained in quarantine for one week and then went into camp at Savannah, Georgia on April 18, 1899. The 3rd Kentucky remained in service until May 16, 1899, when it was mustered out at Savannah. At the time of mustering out, the regiment consisted of fifty officers and 954 enlisted men.

During its term of service, the Third Kentucky suffered the following casualties, all among the enlisted men: 17 men died of disease, two were killed in accidents, one was murdered, and 56 deserted.

Deaths:

Wounded / Severely Injured:

Deserted:

Bibliography:

Eanes, Greg.  Heroes of Peace: A History of the Third Kentucky Infantry in the Spanish-American War. 2016, The Eanes Group, LLC., Crewe, VA.

Findagrave (for John Sproul): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151370742/j-f-sproule