The 40th Kentucky Mounted Infantry was formed in 1863 when the Governor of Kentucky was authorized to raise 20,000 troops for the defense of the state for 12 months. This was in response to Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's continued raids into Kentucky. The 40th was mustered into the Union Army in August and September 1863 to serve 1 year. During the winter of 1863, the regiment was employed in scouting operations through Eastern Kentucky. In April 1864, the 40th joined other regiments to stop Confederate General Ferguson from coming into Kentucky by way of Pound Gap. The 40th and other units met and routed the Confederates near Paintsville, Kentucky on April 14, 1864.
In June 1864, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his Raiders appeared on the Virginia side of Kentucky near Pound Gap. Morgan slipped past the 40th and other units and came into Kentucky through the mountains. The 40th then met Morgan at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and fought there on June 8, 1864. Morgan's Raiders defeated the Union forces at Mt. Sterling and continued on to Cynthiana, Kentucky with the Union Army in pursuit. On June 12, 1864 the 40th and other units fought at the second Battle of Cynthiana where they defeated and routed Morgan and his men and followed him and his army out of the state. The regiment marched from Cynthiana to the Cumberland River near the Tennessee State line in pursuit of the Confederates, 120 miles, in a record of less than sixty hours.
In September 1864, the 40th Kentucky went with the first expedition under General Burbridge to Saltville, Virginia to destroy the Confederate salt works. It was unsuccessfully attacked on October 3, 1864 and after a severe fight, Burbridge and his forces withdrew and marched most all night toward Kentucky. After the return of the 40th from the Saltville Expedition, the regiment remained on duty in Eastern Kentucky until December 30, 1864 when it was mustered out of service.

Roster of Company F, 40th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
Company F was comprised of men from Pendleton County, Ky., and was musterd in at Falmouth, Kentucky on August 31, 1863.

Captain James Henry Johns - (former 2nd Lt. in Co.D, 18th Kentucky Infantry.)
1st Lt. William E. Arnold
2nd Lt. Zachariah H. Mullins
1st Sgt. Michael T. Foster
Sgt. George H. Abernathy
Sgt. Livingston M. Carlisle
Sgt. John J. Monson
Sgt. John W. Lemmon
Cpl. John M. Stephens
Cpl. Onley R. Landrum
Cpl. Clement W. Lancaster
Cpl. Samuel C. Dayton
Cpl. Joseph Lytle
Cpl. John T. Monson
Cpl. William A. Frakes
Cpl. William J. Jacobs

Privates

Edmund Addis
Amos Blackburn
John C. Brann
John Brown
John T. Bell
Seth Bailey
William N. Cummins
John R. Cooper
Abner H. Coleman
Alex Cunningham
Richard T. Chandler
Joshua Dotson
William T. Eckler
Jacob W. Eckler
William Foster
Caleb Foster
William G. Glacken
Michael Gallagher - born in Ireland
Jeremiah Gillion
William Hall
John J. Holton
Isaac Hawkins
William H. Jolley
William O. King
Willis R. King
John T. Keith
Charles L. Kennett - killed in action
Asa D. Louis
Roswell Lilley
John D. Linthicum
James G. Milton
Henry Martin
Elbridge Mackelfresh
Harvey McLane
James K. P. Martin
John J. Marshall
John Riley McMillen
Matthew E. Morehead
James F. McDonald
John M. Oldham
James H. Orr
Edmund Pace
James Plummer
Henry Plummer
King W. Plummer
James Rogers
Francis Rogers
William Rogers
Eli Stewart
John Shulker
Granville A. Stewart
Dennis H. Sullivan - born in Ireland
Jacob Snyder
William H. Spurr
J. T. Vanlandingham
Theodore Yelton
John T. Haley
William O. Dunnaway
John W. Frazer
John E. Kennady
Charles McLane
C.C. McGinetty
Clark Royal
Michael Tharp
Thomas Agee
William T. Cress
George D. Jacobs
Asberry Mattox
Robert Stewart
Cornelius C. Southard - killed at Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Ebenezer P. Simpson
John L. Welman
John Atfield
William Lawson
Joseph Lawson
James T. Lowry
James H. McKenney
George Walker
John Walker