Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kentuck

(114,447 posts)
10. He led his troops at Shiloh...
Sun Jun 22, 2025, 02:52 PM
Jun 22
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/john-c-breckinridge

(snip)
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1821, John Cabell Breckinridge was a graduate of Centre College and later Transylvania Law School in 1845. He holds the record as the youngest Vice President ever elected to office, serving under President James Buchanan starting in 1856. In 1859, a year before his term as Vice President was to expire, he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Siding with the slaveholding faction of his native state during the secession crisis of 1861, Breckinridge resigned and accepted a post in the Confederacy as a brigadier general, and was quickly promoted to major general in April of the following year. He commanded at Shiloh and in the summer defense of Vicksburg. Failing in an attack on Baton Rouge, he distinguished himself at Murfreesboro, in Johnston’s campaign to relieve Vicksburg, and at Chickamauga. He accompanied General Jubal Early on the raid on Washington and in the Battle of Monocacy.

Following his service with Early's command, Breckinridge took command of Confederate forces in southwestern Virginia in September, where Confederate forces were in great disarray. He reorganized the department and led a raid into northeastern Tennessee. Following a victory outside of Saltville, Breckinridge discovered that some Confederate troops had killed black Union soldiers the morning after the battle, an incident that shocked and angered him.

In February of 1865, Breckinridge received the appointment of Secretary of War by Confederate President Jefferson Davis. However, the war did not last long enough for Breckinridge to prove himself as a desk leader, and he quietly returned to a small law practice in Lexington. He died and was buried there in May of 1875.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Republicans needed a precedent for Nixon justaprogressive Jun 22 #1
It was Gen. Grant who prevented Lee from being prosecuted Kaleva Jun 22 #2
Andrew Johnson pardoned Jeff Davis, Lee, and other Confederate leaders in December of 1868... kentuck Jun 22 #4
Lee was never pardoned during his lifetime Kaleva Jun 22 #9
The paperwork was misplaced, and rediscovered about that time. eppur_se_muova Jun 22 #16
Interesting! Kaleva Jun 22 #21
whoa, thank you for sharing this! TacosUberAlles Jun 23 #29
Grant later invited Lee to the WH. Times were different. nt eppur_se_muova Jun 22 #17
Hard to tell what would've happened in Lincoln hadn't gotten assassinated. brush Jun 22 #3
Being magnanimous in victory was not an innovation for Lincoln bucolic_frolic Jun 22 #5
But anger and blame are only components of division. kentuck Jun 22 #7
Great post! Akakoji Jun 22 #6
Some details: WarGamer Jun 22 #8
He led his troops at Shiloh... kentuck Jun 22 #10
Lee wasn't AT Shiloh WarGamer Jun 22 #11
Breckenridge commanded at Shiloh kentuck Jun 22 #12
No... Breckenridge was a subordinate General to General Johnston at Shiloh... WarGamer Jun 22 #13
Kentuck, those dates don't figure. Jeebo Jun 23 #23
THe 17th Amendment allowed for the popular election of US Senators. kentuck Jun 23 #34
John C. Breckenridge sweetapogee Jun 23 #33
I've always asked that, and all the confederate Generals demosincebirth Jun 22 #14
Grant prevented it. Kaleva Jun 22 #15
See my reply #16. nt eppur_se_muova Jun 22 #18
They had to unify the country. There were too many Southerners to give out Melon Jun 22 #19
Andrew Johnson was something of a flip-flopper. Sometimes he supported strong measures against ... eppur_se_muova Jun 22 #20
In the early 21st century, Johnson is among those commonly mentioned as the worst presidents in U.S. history. Celerity Jun 23 #26
Buchanan failed to prevent the Civil War, Johnson failed to consolidate victory. eppur_se_muova Jun 23 #31
Thank you kentuck for starting this interesting and informative thread! Kaleva Jun 22 #22
About Jefferson Davis ... Jeebo Jun 23 #25
+1 Kaleva Jun 23 #27
If he did renounce his citizenship of the US, could the US have not recognised the Confederacy, which they probably did OnDoutside Jun 23 #32
Lost Cause of the Confederacy Celerity Jun 23 #24
"With malice toward none; with charity for all..." Buns_of_Fire Jun 23 #28
I just wanted to say thank you everyone TacosUberAlles Jun 23 #30
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Why wasn't Robert E Lee p...»Reply #10