Yeah, Kentucky union soldiers fought because they thought the war was about preserving the union, not ending slavery. Lincoln had many policies throughout the war to prevent Kentucky from leaving the union. Most pertaining to being allowed to keep slaves. I've read accounts of Kentuckians feeling betrayed after the war and wishing they would have seceded.
During the occupation of Kentucky the Federals were not that nice.
Below is a couple pages from an 1891 History of Kentucky book. It was published by the Louisville Courier Journal. I show this because our family paid an incredible price for being from Kentucky. One of my folks who was fighting with an Illinois Regiment came home to find no family, house, barns or cattle. He had been wiped out by his co-fighters.
Here is the book quote:
15.
Military changes in Kentucky. - At the election in August, 1863, polls were guarded by the soldiers, and the Union candidates were elected, with little contest. Thomas E. Bramlette was elected Governor. General Boyle having resigned as commandant, the military control of the State fell into the hands of some of the officials, whose cruelties and corruptions established a reign of terror throughout the Commonwealth for the next two years. For the first time, orders were issued for the enlistment of colored troops in Kentucky. At first much opposition was made to this policy, but in vain; and all came to tolerate what they could not help. Heavy drafts of men were being made to recruit the Federal army, and many slaves were sold to become substitutes to men who were drafted but did not wish to enter the service.
200 SCHOOL HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
16.
Guerrilla bands. - From out of the ranks of the Confederate army, there were banded together some very lawless and desperate men, known as "guerrillas," who, defying all the rules of civilized warfare, gave themselves up to deeds of violence to pillage and to indiscriminate outrages. Banks, stores, residences and persons were robbed with ruthless hands. Their violence and wanton deeds spread terror through the country more than did the marching and counter-marching of the great armies of both combatants over the territory of the State. The Confederate government felt itself called on to repudiate and condemn the acts of these outlaws, and to order them treated as common enemies of mankind.
17.
Another reign of terror. - In 1864 the deeds of cruelty and outrage on the part of some Federal officers elevated to power in Kentucky produced a terror among the people equal to that caused by the raiding guerrillas. Chief among the men who were guilty of these inhuman deeds were generals high in official authority and in command both in East and West Kentucky. Under orders of these, many prisoners, without trial, were taken out of their prison-houses, led away and shot to death by squads of soldiers. Many peaceful citizens were arrested and cast into prison, and heavy sums of money extorted from some of them under military duress. The pretexts for these acts were usually alleged to be retaliation for the outrages of the guerrillas. Often the innocent suffered.
18.
The last of the campaigns in Kentucky. - During 1864, General Forrest attacked the Federals fortified at Paducah. Though he inflicted considerable loss upon the enemy, he was compelled to retire after an equal loss of his own men, killed and wounded. Late in the year, General Burbridge, in command of four thousand Union troops, marched into Virginia through Pound Gap, in the hope of capturing
201 SCHOOL HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the important works at Saltville. This place was defended by two thousand Confederates, under General John S. Williams. The attack was made by the Federals; but, after a hotly-contested fight of some hours, the latter were defeated and compelled to retreat back into Kentucky, with a loss of several hundred men.
19.
The end of the war. - The war was protracted in the earlier months of 1865, in Virginia, Georgia, the Carolinas and in the South-west; but the signs of exhaustion on the part of the Confederates were apparent. At last came the news of the retreat from Richmond, the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and the downfall of the Confederate government. To this greatest of all modern wars, Kentucky contributed to the Union ranks seventy-six thousand three hundred and thirty-five volunteers; while thirty thousand of her sons are supposed to have entered, from first to last, the ranks of the Confederate army. The discharged Federals and the paroled Confederates returned together in peace to their homes, and again resumed their occupations and relations as neighbors and citizens. All true soldiers joined in ridding the State of lawlessness and outrage, and restoring quiet and prosperity.
