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Kentucky's Civil War leaders
Burbridge was controversial Union general
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the ninth in a series about Kentucky officers and battle leaders during the Civil War.)
By PHILLIP SEYFRIT
Bugle Staff Writer
Major Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge, a Georgetown native, was a controversial Union commander during the Civil War who also was known as “Butcher” Burbridge or the “Butcher of Kentucky.”
Burbridge attended Georgetown College and the Kentucky Military Institute and became a lawyer. When the Civil War broke out, he formed his own Union regiment and officially joined the army as a colonel.
After participating in several Civil War campaigns, including the successful final Battle of Cynthiana 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 Pres. Abraham Lincoln.
On July 16, 1864, Burbridge issued Order No. 59 which declared: "Whenever an unarmed Union citizen is murdered, four guerrillas will be selected from the prison and publicly shot to death at the most convenient place near the scene of the outrages."
During Burbridge's service in Kentucky, he directed the execution and imprisonment of numerous people, including public figures, on charges of treason and other high crimes, many of which were baseless.
While continuing in charge of Kentucky, Burbridge, in October 1864, led Union assaults against the salt works near the town of Saltville, Va. He controversially led black troops into a battle that ultimately failed. Wounded troops left behind were killed by Confederate soldiers, with special ire directed toward the black troops.
To ensure Lincoln’s reelection, Burbridge allegedly tampered with returns in Kentucky and arrested candidates and campaign participants he considered objectionable as well as people he thought might vote for someone other than Lincoln.
Lt. Gov. Richard Taylor Jacob and Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joshua Bullitt were among those arrested and taken away.
Despite Burbridge's efforts, George B. McClellan won the state by a wide margin, although Lincoln was reelected.
After a falling out with Gov. Thomas E. Bramlette, including an attempt to take control of Bramlette's troops and arms, Burbridge was dismissed from his role of overseeing operations in Kentucky. He resigned from the army soon thereafter.
Burbridge finally left Kentucky in 1867 and died in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 2, 1894. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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