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HAJOR GENERAL S. G. BURBRIDGE.ItZIs lilfe and Services—Patriotism andDevotion to the Union—Heroic Acts and Personal Bravery—His (.'am-palpus Against John Morgan— Sacrifices for Ills Country and Present Poverty—A Major General Working in a Sa u -Mill.Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.Major General Stephen G. Burbridge, the best h tted man, by the rebels, in the United States,• Ncept Benjamin Butler, was born in Scott County K entucky, in the year 1831. He sprung of good •t ck, his grandfather. Captain George Burbridge, h ving served in the Revolutionary war, and his father, Captain Robert Burbridge, having com-Xl anded a company in the war of 1812. His mother, a woman of great talent and bravery, at the age of •i iteen, was married to Captain Robert Burbridge, a* Port Gibson, from whioh place, on horseback a d alone, the young people made their way to I entucky. passing through the hunting grounds of »lt;-veral tribes of Indians then inhabiting the banks ©1 the Mississippi, which stream was not, in those 4 tys navigated by steam. Arriving safely in Kentucky, the newly married pair settled in Scott County, where the subject of our sketch was born.At the age of eight young Stephen was sent to• hool, and after passing through the primary branches at the Georgetown College he was entered as a cadet at the Fraakfort Military Institute, where he received a complete military edu-c ition. While still young ho married Miss Lizzie €arth, a beautiful and accomplished young lady,• od at the beginning of the war was living on a firm near Russelville, Kentucky. General Bur-Lridge’s relatives and pecuniary interests were all identified with the South: nevertheless, he, with-«ut a moment's hesitation, took the side of the Union, and soon became one of the most active• od zealous loyalists in Kentucky.Learning that General Simon Bolivar Buckner Intended occupying Bowling Green, General Burbridge applied to the Government at Washington ft r authority to raise a regiment and defend the jiace, but the Government had not yet got done• wearing rattle-snakes, and rebels in Virginia, or I itting the traitors of Kentucky on the back, so Burbridge’s application was refused, and while we Y.ere conciliating him, Buekner marched into fowling Green, and the Government spen t millions of the people’s money, and sacrificed th ou-f ands of lives to get him out. As soon as it wasJtnown that Buckner would not he conciliated, und that he had actually occupied BowJiDg Green, the refusal to grant Burbridge authority to raise a j egiment was reconsidered, and the authority given him. By this time, the youths of Kentucky, Being unable to get into the army of the Union, and fired with the spirit of war, were rushing by hundreds to the camps of the rebels. Burbridge, ©siisted by Colonel B. C. Grider, applied himself gealously to counteracting the rampant spirit of accession that was carrying the flower of the State Into the rebel ranks, and succeeded so well that in •a few weeks he had recruited several hundred jaen. The necessities of the service reauired him io send his men forward in squads and companies scon as enlisted, and many of them without training or uniforms, and while only poorly armed, were placed on active duty. Ho soon, however,completed the regiment, and then, at the solicitation of friends, turned it over to Colonel Grider, »nd commenced raising another reiment, authority for a second regiment having been received from the War Department. While his new regiment was still incomplete, he was sent with the gallant and lamented General Jackson to defend Green River, and here, while daily engaged in f ghts and skirmishes with the enemy, he completed his regiment, which afterward became sowell known as the famous twenty-sixth Kentucky.Colonel Burbridge continued at the head of his Jtegiment until the Battle of Shiloh, where he so greatly distinguished himself that he was immediately promoted by the President to the rank of Brigadier General, and soon afterward assigned by General Grant to the command of a division in bis army. He was ordered to Kentucky to assist ju driving out Kirby Smith, and rendered good service in the short campaign of 1862. After the expulsion of Smith from Kentucky, General Burbridge was summoned by General Grant to Vicksburg, and there placed in command of one of the besieging brigades. His Brigade was conspicuous for gallantry and was actively engaged in all the operations around Vicksburg until that place surrendered.Hie next service was at Akansas Post, where hisheroic conduct excited the highest praise. Having ordered a charge upon the fort, he joined the advancing column, and approaching one of the gates, slashed his horse at it, and clearing it at a single leap, landed inside the works among the astonished rebels. In an instant a hundred rebels nimed their guns at the hold intruder, hut the General coolly told them the fort was taken and to lay down their arms, which they did just as his boldiers came clambering over the walls. His next feat was the capture of Fort Hindman, the garrison of which place surrendered to him unconditionally, with all their munitions of war. At Port Gibson the General led a desperate charge, and Va8 one of the first men to enter the place. Advancing, sword in hand, he planted the flag of his country on the steeple of what is now the eourt-ouse, and which had once been the residence ofis mother.At Fourteen-mile Creek, Champion Hills, Big Black, Hainea’Bluff, and Chickasaw Bayou, General Burbridge was present and bore a conspicuous part in the battles resulting in the capture of those places. He commanded a division under General Banks in Louisiana, and at the Battle of Carion Crow bis command of only 1,200 men was attacked by nearly 8,000 of the enemy, but the Generaltucky. Forming his line of battle across the neck of land and resting his flanks on the river banks,Morgan was hopelessly cut off.Finding the river too deep to ford, and the only bridge by which he could escape in the bands of the Union troops, Morgan attempted to force a passage by turning Burbridge’s flanks, but that General,perceiving the maneuver, let loose his cavalry upon the flanks, and, at the same time, drove iu the weakened rebel center. The rebel General, seeing the mistake he had made, hastened to strengthen his center by weakening his flanks, when Burbridge, rapidly moving his troops from the center, turned both of Morgan’s flanks. The battle raged until nearly noon, at which time Burbridge was victorious at every point, capturing fifteen hundred prisoners, over two thousand horses,an immense number of wagons and arms, and a* * •great amount of plunder. It was confidently expected that Morgan would be captured, but he escaped across the river, .with a few followers, andwas pursued into Tennessee, where he was killed, and most of his party captured, by General Gil-lem. His campaign was most disastrous, not only resulting in the lorn of his own life and all his horses, trains and baggage, but, out of three thousand men with which he entered the State, less than four hundred escaped South. When Mr. Lincoln heard of the brilliant operations of General Burbridge in Kentucky, he made haste to send him an autograph letter of thanks, and the Secretary of War was directed to at once promote himto the rank of Major General.General Burbridge, in 1864, made two expeditions against the Salt-works in Virginia. The first was a failnre, owing to the incapacity and jangling of subordinate commanders, hut the second was eminently successful, the works being captured and totally destroyed, thereby inflioting anirreparable loss upon the enemy. So completely were the immense works at Saltville destroyed, that they have not been repaired to this day.On the 19th of December, 1864, General Burbridge met and defeated, at Marion, Virginia, General John C. Breckinridge, and drove him into North Carolina; after which he returned to Kentucky, having in this expedition destroyed over one hundred and fifty miles of railroad, captured andburned three hundred cars, twelve locomotives, and taken eighteen pieces of cannon and one thousand prisoners.General Burbridge continued in command of Kentucky until relieved by General John M. Palmer, soon after which he resigned his commission in the army and retired to private life.The General is now a refugee from his State, being unable to live in Kentuckysince the war on account of rebel persecutions. During his administration he sent several hundred persons out of the State for disloyal practices, and for his action in this case he claims to have had the written order of General Sherman. He hung a great many guerrillas. but recent investigations show that these were all tried before military ’commissions and found guilty of murder and other heinous crimes, for which they were sentenced to death, and that Burbridge did no more than execute the sentences, as it was his sworn duty to do. The persons whomhe banished, and the friends of the guerrillas whomhe huDg, have conspired against his life, and compelled him to seek safety in another State. Several attempts on bis life have been mado since the war, and there is little doubt if he attempted to live in Kentucky he would be mobbed or assassinated.It was alleged that General Burbridge had made large sums of money out of the Government; but as he is now working for a living in a saw-mill in Tennessee, and is known to be very poor, it is likely these stories were putin circulation by mis-ohievous, lying persons, and that they are entirelyuntrue.The General was a large slave-owner before the war, but at the beginning of hostilities he freed his slaves, and continued to provide for them until after the emancipation proclamation.He has several times visited Washington and attempted to obtain small posts of honor, or suchemployment under the Government as would give him bread for his wife and children; but his applications have not been noticed, and he is nowcompelled to resort to hard labor to gain a livelihood.On the reorganization of the army, the Secretary of War appointed him a Lieutenant Colonelin one of the new infantry regiments; hut the President, at the instigation of certain parties in Kentucky, revoked the appointment.In personal appearance General Burbridge il one of the finest looking men in America. Broad shouldered, deep chested, with a high forehead, and manly, pleasant face, he stands six feet two inches in his stockings. In society he is mild, modest and reserved, but withal, affable, genial, polite and gentlemanly. In battle, he was quick, active and decided; never failing to see the weak spot of an enemy, and seizing it with a bravery and dash that could not be resisted. In bis personal habits, he is lively, sociable, and will give his last dollar to a friend without expecting a return. A great many have asserted that General Burbridge was too light hearted and thoughtless for great responsibilities and power, and that he did many things inconsiderately; but those who know him best say he reflected much upon his acts, and did nothing without first weighing the matter carefully. His patriotism and love of the Union made him impatient with treason, and he often acted with a dispatch that seemed almost like cruelty; but it is likely time will justify most of his acts. This distinguished and remarkable man may be taken as a fair type of the workings of onr free institutions, and is a living example of the ingratitude of republics._S. H. PUTERBAUQH.WESTEM KENTUCKY.Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.the iron fingers of Uncle Sam have olosed upc the wrists of the Confederacy, and are curious feeling the pulse of secession.One of the institutions of the place is a colon school which, despite the chronic prejudice ar openly-expressed disapproval of the citizens, coi tinues to exist, and demonstrates to a certain that even “niggers” can learn. The freedm* gladly avail themselves of the means of educatio open to them, and make rapid progress. The whi children regard them with jealousy, and havetl same fear of being outstripped iu their studies 1 the little darkies” that their seniors manifest lethey should be displaced iu the honors of citizei ship by their late “household goods and chattelsMany outrages have been perpetrated upon tl freedmen oflate. Since January 16 no less the three murders, wholly unprovoked, have bet committed. On the night of the 16th Washingtc Gardner, an inoffensive colored man, was shot, : a grocery, by Jesse Meshew, a citizen of the plac and died shortly after. January 29,1867, a freec man named Henry Owens was shit, near the ma( mine by David Coy, and died from the effects the wound March 10, 1867.April 7. 1867, a colored boy named Robert Smil was killed at Union City by Thomas Walton, bol residents of Columbus. Smith had worked for Wo ton a year, hut had never been paid for his laho Ifis asking for his wages was the only offense of whic he had been guilty.In the first of these instances the murdereMeshew.wfts arrested aud tried by the civil autha ities, and acquitted. The other two cases caused r more excitement and created no more indignatio than the killing of a dog in the streets of Cincii natuIn addition to these, the body of ^kdOrMmai whose skull had been broken by parues unknebq was brought into town on the cars, but as no or took sufficient interest to investigate the matte the corpse was quietly buried by the negros, an nothing more said about the occurrence.This was not surprising, however, as the body lt;a white horse-thief, who had been shot by a policlt; man, was suffered to lie upon the street, with r provisions for burial, until it became putrid.A| regards morals aud intelligence, Columbu doubtless, is on a par with most Southern village although it is patent to the most casual observlt; that the lack of a good system of free schools, at the peculiarity of Southern institutions. bare r duced it to a great many degree® fcetow zero in tlsocial thermometer Having business engaglt;men to wtiicn will probably detain me in this di lectahle locality for an indefinite length of time, shall endeavor to keep your readers informed lt;all matters of interest that transpire. N, T.FROM LANCASTER, KY.• 11 • r ■ ^.eemmmmemmmemmmmmmCorrespondence Cincinnati Commercial.Lancaster. Ky., June 25.This charming town is situated about one hundre and thirty miles from Cincinnati, and twenty-tvmiles from Nicholasville, Kentucky. It is coi uected with the latter city by stage-line, and du; ing this excessively warm weather the journey undertaken with no little reluctance. The tra\ eler is, however, amply repaid for any annoyam by the scenery in Jessamine and Garrard Countie This is surpassed by none in the country. Th turnpike near the Kentucky river has, for two lt;three miles, been hewn out of the solid rock, anX B « ] 2 Uy r'fas it is elevated about three hundred and fifty felt; above the bed of the river, a most comprehensiv view of the surrounding country can be obtaine from it. Noble forests, that seem almost impem trable, surmount, and ivy, and intricate vines lt;every description clamber over the front of th grand old cliffs, whicb rear their heads, with brow like the furrowed foreheads of a convocation lt;giants, on one side, and on the other, a deep vallei through which the river flows, extends itself as fa as the eye can reach. A person on this road it stinctively grasps more firmly the sidling coact Then some deep wood, with its hazy atmosphei and sparkling rivulets, claims your attention, unt you are whirled into the sunshine again to enjo the variegated verdure of the fields and the succe*aion of grateful odors.Lancaster is a very pleasant village. It is not large place,‘containing 1,200 inhabitants/but whs there is of it is very substantial. Many improvtments are being made this summer; the prinoip*one, the Court-house, will cost $35,000. It is ( blue limestone and will be completed iu about fou months. The town has three substantial churchei and three school edifices; one for the inexperi enced marksmeD, one tor the young ladies, and thother for all sorts. There are five teachers ec gaged in instructing two hundred pupils. A mo* devastating fire occurred here some time sinci which consumed a block of buildings, consisting c the Masonic Hall, two drug stores, and severs other fine buildings. The loss was about $89,(XX $4U,0Q0 of which was covered by insurance, an promptly paid. In consequence of this calamit the city does not present the usual cheerful appeal ance, as the merchants who occupied the destroye buildings have been compelled to improvise other* The public square is surrounded by well fillestores, and many neat residences are distribute through the place. Three hotels are supported the Huffman House being the principal one.The citizens were at one time expecting to b connected more directly with Cincinnati. Th pian was to extend the Kentucky Central Railroa from Nicholasville to Danville, and have a brancroad from Lancaster to the main line.The works progressed smoothly until the Ken tucky River was reached, when, after ereetin towers for a bridge, the engineer was of opiniot that as the span would be one thousand feet, am the hight from the water three hundred and fift feet, the route would be impracticable. The tow era remain there and have, for twelve years, bee monuments to the burial of $150,000.This incident made the people rather wary c railroad schemes, and they have hereabout per sistently refused to invest their substance in an railroad until recently. Now, the Louisville au Nashville Railroad proposes to extend a branc from Stanford, to run through here and on t Richmond—a distance of twonty-five miles. Th: road, when completed, will be decidedly advanta geous to the place.Lexington is bristling with railroad project* they have again endeavored to render the Dan ville scheme popular by appointing Basil Duk/»An avaI fl aI 1^11 AT fnf t h ft rflttH r I h an ♦ K ht a n t
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Cincinnati Commercial
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Fri, Jun 28, 1867
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USA 14 Dec 2019
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