Clays of Ky.-- Part 9: Col. Green Clay, U.S. Army

From Find-A Grave

Attended Transylvania University then transferred as a sophomore to Yale where he graduated.  Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1861.  Married Janie Rhodes.

Served  a year abroad as secretary to the United States minister to Russia, who was his uncle, Cassius Marcellus Clay.

Served as colonel of the 3rd Kentucky Cavalry Regiment 1862-1865.  I can not find any source where he is listed as colonel of this regiment.  I did find one roster of the regiment that listed Green Clay Smith as a major in the unit.  Perhaps there is a mix up here.

His father, Brutus Junius Clay and uncle were sons of Green Clay of Kentucky, his namesake.

There is more to wrote about the Clay family in the Civil War, but I am going to take a break from that and write about the Read family.

--Old Seclay

Clays of Ky.-- Part 5: Green Clay Smith Became Union General

His maternal grandfather was Green Clay.  His uncles on his mother's side were also politicians and had involvement in the Civil War, Brutus J. Clay and Cassius M. Clay.   I'll be writing about them next.

As a young man he was a second lieutenant in the First Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Infantry in the Mexican War.

Was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863.    On April 4, 1862, he was commissioned colonel of the Fourth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry and then was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on June 12, 1862.

Like his uncles, Brutus and Cassius Clay, he joined Kentucky's Unionist Party.

--Old Secesh