Stephen G. Burbridge

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Union Major General Stephen Gano Burbridge

Stephen Gano Burbridge (August 19, 1831 – November 30, 1894), also known as "Butcher" Burbridge or the "Butcher of Kentucky", was a controversial Union Major General during the American Civil War.

Burbridge was born in Georgetown, Kentucky. He attended college at Georgetown College and the Kentucky Military Institute in Frankfort, and subsequently became a lawyer.

After participating in some successful Civil War campaigns, including one against John Hunt Morgan, Burbridge in June 1864 was given command over the state of Kentucky to deal with the growing problem of Confederate guerrilla campaigns. This began an extended period of military siege that would last through early 1865, beginning with martial law authorized by President Abraham Lincoln. During Burbridge's rule in Kentucky, he directed the execution and imprisonment of scores of people, including public figures, on charges of treason and other high crimes, much of which were baseless.

While continuing in charge of Kentucky, in October 1864, Burbridge led Union assaults against the salt works near the town of Saltville, Virginia as part of the Battle of Saltville. Burbridge controversially led black troops into battle, which ultimately failed. Wounded troops left behind were slaughtered by the Confederates, with special ire directed toward the black troops.

For the sake of ensuring Lincoln was reelected, Burbridge tampered with the 1864 election in Kentucky. Burbridge arrested candidates and campaign participants he considered objectionable as well as people he thought might vote for someone other than Lincoln. Even Lieutenant Governor Richard Taylor Jacob and Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joshua Bullitt were arrested and taken away. Despite Burbridge's efforts, George B. McClellan won the state by a wide margin, even though Lincoln was reelected.

After a falling out with Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, including an attempt to take control of Governor Bramlette's troops and arms, in February 1865, Burbridge was dismissed from his role of overseeing operations in Kentucky. He resigned from the army soon thereafter.

Burbridge later moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he died. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

[edit] References

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Government Printing Offices, Washington, D.C. 1879.
Odis Lee Harris, "Union General Burbridge Brought Hate and Terror to His Kentucky," The Kentucky Explorer, Feb. 1995.
Collins, Lewis (1979). History of Kentucky. Southern History Press. ISBN 0-89308-168-X.