Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-20
A Strange StOry-Career Of an Army
G0ieer.

A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial informs the public that
Major General ;. q. Bnrbridge is now
working for his living in a Tennessee
saw mill. The career of this officer is
interesting. At the opening of the
war he owned farm, well stocked with
negroes, near Russelville, Kentucky.
He promptly freed his servants, whom
he supported for two years, and offered
his services to the government to raise
regiment and occupy Bowling Green.
They were declined f; Buckner occupied
Bowling Green the government then
recOnsideTed its action. Burbrldge
raised a regiment which he handed over
TO Colonel Order. He then proceeded
TO recruit a regiment for himself, doing
good service at the same time on the
Green River.
He took such distinguished part in
the battle of Shiloh that he was made
a full brigadier general and assigned by
General Grant to the command of a
division. He was engaged in the brief
Kentucky campaign of 1862. After
KIRBY Smiths expulsion from that state
General Burbridge reioined Grant be-
fore Vicksburg.
At Arkansas Post occurred charac-
! teristic incident which is thus told by
the correspondent Having ordered
a charge upon the fort he joined the
advancing column, and approaching
one of the gates, dashed his horse at 1t,
| aud clearing 1t at "A single leap, landed
inside the works among the astonished
rebels. In an instant hundred rebels
aimed their guns at the bold intruder,
but the General cOolly told them the
fort was taken and to lay down their
arms, which they did Just as his soldiers
came clambering over the walls"
Soon after be captured Fort Hind
man. a. Fort Gibson he was one of
the first men in the town. His repu-
tation for military skill and personal
gallautry was enhanced by his share IN
the actions of FOurteen-mill Greek,
Champion Hills, Big Black, Haines'
Bluff, Chickasaw Bayou and Carbon
Grow.
Gen. Burbridge succeeded Gen.
Boyle IL command of the district of
Kentucky. He was sent there expressly
to put down John Morgan Besides
his intimate acquaintance with the to-
Biography OF the state, he had known
Morgan from a boy.
The story of the campaign which
followed is one of the most familiarsin
the history of the war. Morgan en-
tered the state with three thousand
men. He left it with about three hun
dred. MIR. Lincoln sent an autograph
letter OF thanks to Gen. Burbridge,
and directed the Secretary of War TO
make him full mai general.
La 1864, Gen. Burbridge destroyed
the great Virginia salt works. In the
same year he inflicted a crushing defeat
on Gen. j. Q. Breckenridge, and raided
IN North Carolina. Not long after
wards he was relieved of the command
OF Kentucky, and resigned his commits
sion.
Tnis gallant and meritorious soldier
Is now working in saw mill for his
daily bread. He has applied to the gov
eminent more than once for some small
office that would enable him to support
ms wife and children, but his applica-
tiOns have not been noticed. Secretary
Stanton gave him a Northumberland
in the regular army, but Kentucky in
fiuence induced the President to revoke
the appointment. Gen. Burbridge
made himself very unpopular IN that
state by his harsh treatment of rebel
sympathizers. The lower class threaten
to assassinate him if he ever sets foot
in Kentucky; the higher cabal against
him at Washington. But certainly his
services in the field are more than
enough TO cover any errors which he
may have committed through excess of
patriotism In administration.