About two weeks later, Company K was recruited from those who worked the riverboats and repair out of Kanawha Harbor and the other landings.

Starr was the General Manager of the Hartford Salt Works and was familiar with the river logistics workers.

[2] Theodore Lang writes, "The regiment was composed largely of refugees, who, having been driven from home, were fighting with a desperation that was not excelled by any troops in any army.

"[3] Joe Geiger (Vol 54 1995:28-41) writes of 1861, "July 13, however, the Second Kentucky moved into the Kanawha Valley and civil chaos in the county resumed unchecked."

The 9th was assigned to Milroy's Command, Winchester, Va., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to February, 1863.

After this, the 9th was assigned to its home region to the 1st Brigade, Scammon's Division, West Virginia, to August, 1863.

They moved over to Flat Top Mountain on July 28 and then to the battles at Summersville and Gauley August 14.

As a first step in the campaign, Albert G. Jenkins and his 550 Confederate Cavalry circled through western Virginia and moved behind the small Union force in the Kanawha Valley.

A feint toward the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad may have been a diversion tactic, but Jenkins accomplished his goal of moving into position to prevent a Union retreat.

Meanwhile, General William W. Loring pushed back Joseph A. J. Lightburn at Fayetteville to Charleston on September 11.

Some historians have regarded this as one of the most intelligent execution of a military recall and retreat manoeuvre exercised.

The Confederate occupation of six weeks was for the salt from which they caravan to the south to keep their meats supply from spooling.

Stationed at Point Pleasant to guard the packets and refugees, the K-Company had a significant number civilian steamboat workers recruited.

After these skirmishes and battles they were recalled to their routine sentry duty guarding river fords and towns in the Kanawha Valley until May, 1864.

In the spring of 1864, the 9th was ordered to join George Crook's expedition against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad which took place from May 2 to the 19th.

Several of the best men were selected for detached service in Blazer's Scouts, a mounted unit that was to guard supply lines and combat John S. Mosby's rangers.

The 9th West Virginia Infantry was a part of Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August from 6th to November 1.