Battle Flag of the “Orphan Brigade”

Battle Flag of the Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry
courtesy Kentucky Historical Society / Military History Museum

The Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry was mustered into Confederate service at Camp Burnett, Tennessee, on 13 September 1861, as part of the First Kentucky Brigade, better known by its post-war name “Orphan Brigade.”  The unit fought in most of the major battles of the Army of Tennessee, from Shiloh through the Atlanta Campaign.  It was then converted to mounted infantry, and opposed Sherman’s March to the Sea and Federal operations in South Carolina.  The Fourth Kentucky Infantry was still fighting on 29 April 1865, when it received word it had been surrendered, and ordered to Washington, Georgia, where the regiment was paroled on 6-7 May 1865.  For further information, follow this link to a detailed history of Company F.