The 2nd Kentucky Infantry was organized in August 1861, at Camp Boone in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and became part of the Orphan Brigade. The men were recruited from Hickman, Fayette, Bullitt, Jefferson, Graves, Franklin, Harrison, Scott, Owen, Bourbon, and Anderson counties. In October of that same year, the regiment contained 832 men and, at the Battle of Fort Donelson, its force of 618 was captured. After being exchanged, the reconstituted regiment saw action at the Battle of Shiloh. It later was assigned to Hanson's, Helm's, and J.H. Lewis' Brigade. The 2nd Kentucky Infantry was involved in the battles of Murfreesboro and Chickamauga. It reported 13 killed, 70 wounded, and 21 missing at Murfreesboro, lost fifty-two percent of the 302 engaged at Chickamauga, and totaled 293 men and 214 arms in December 1863.