I guess that is a "problem" with Orphan Brigade research - exactly *how* to define the Brigade.

The original Brigade historian, Thompson, defined the Brigade as it stood at the end of the war (plus adding the 1st Ky. Cav., after they were adopted by the vets, and including all the artillery that served with the Brigade). Personally, I think he should definitely have included the 3rd Ky. Inf., since they were part of the Brigade when it was formed, and served as Orphans for the first year of their service.

Some argument could be made for including the 7th Ky. Inf., since they served for a time with the Brigade in the summer of 1862 (when the Brigade was actually split between two brigades). Same could be said for the Alabama and Tennessee units that served with the Brigade for a short time.

I do not believe the 8th Ky. Inf. was ever part of or attached to the Orphan Brigade, although I will have to check. I have read modern sources that say the 8th Ky. was organized at Camp Boone, but I know of no period source to support this. The 8th Ky. was at Ft. Donelson when the 2nd Ky. was there, but not in the same brigade, and this was not the Orphan Brigade. When the 2nd Ky. Inf. returned from prison after Ft. Donelson, they were again assigned to the Orphan Brigade, but the 8th Ky. wasn't.

Geoff Walden