The Lynchburg Republican says of the Kentucky troops which arrived in
that city Thursday morning, that the average height of the members is five
feet nine and a half inches, while no man in the regiment weighs less than
one hundred and fifty pounds. They are under the command of Col. Blanton
Duncan, and the following officers: Adjutant D. J. Symmes; Surgeon, Dr.
Alex. Forsythe; and Captains Jo. Desha, of Harrison county; Ed. Crossland,
of Hickman county; John D. Pope, of Louisville; M. Laparelle, of Louisville,
and — Harney, of Louisville. They are all dressed in the blue Kentucky
hunting shirt, and a finer body of men the world has never produced. On
Thursday night they left Lynchburg for Harper's Ferry.
The Richmond (VA) Daily Dispatch: May 4, 1861.
Better material for good soldiers, it would seem at a glance, could not
be desired. The men were generally above the ordinary height, stoutly framed,
and wore upon their countenances an expression of ready intelligence and
of resolution which conveyed a promise of deeds of heroism whenever the
hour of action shall come. The majority of them, as I learned from one
of its intelligent members, are from the counties of Western Kentucky,
a considerable portion of the remainder hailing from Louisville. Their
expertness with the rifle is a subject of remark in the camp, and was publicly
illustrated one day last week, when at a target firing parade of the regiment
five out of every six shots fired hit the mark within a circumference of
thirty-six inches.--They number about six hundred, are uniformed in blue
woolen hunting shirts and trousers, with slouched hats, and are commanded
by Col. Blanton V. Duncan, a wealthy gentleman of Kentucky, who served
in the regiment of that State with distinction during the Mexican war.
Col. Duncan raised, equipped and transported his regiment to Virginia entirely
at his own expense. The Kentuckians are armed with Minnie rifles. They
are specially detailed to guard the strongly fortified Maryland Heights,
the key to the whole position. They know it to be a post of danger, and
express an eager desire for the fight, which they believe is soon to occur.
The Daily Dispatch: may 17, 1861.
