The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-05-26

President sympathized with the former
Though he did not indorse the course of
Senator Douglas in the session of Con-
gress then recently closed, on the Lecomp-
ton question, he sympathized with him,
and desired his success, being the leader
Of the Democracy of Illinois in their pres
ent fight against the Republicans"
On the removal of the Senate from the
old and time-honored chamber, which
had been the scene of 80 many great
events Of American history, to the new
one, the Vice President made feeling
address. He gave an historical outline
of the exigencies 10 which Congress was
put in its early days-holding it's sessions,
as the chances of war required, at Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, Lancaster, Annapo-
lis and Yorktown, and, during the period
between the conclusion of peace and the
establishment of the present Government,
at Princeton, Annapolis, Trenton and
New York. He followed with history
of the choice ofthe present locality, the
foundation Of the city, the building Of the
Capitol, and the onward career of our leg
islature, with suggestive memorials OF the
great men who had made the place they
were leaving immortal. 1t was a chaste
and suitable farewell to the old chamber.
THE ADVENT OF CIVIL WAR.
He was nominated for the Presidency
in 1860 by the Southern Democrats, after
they had seeded from the convention
which nominated Stephen A. Douglas as
a Union Democrat. He had two other
ompetitors-John Bell and Abraham
Lincoln. He received seventy>two elec-
toral votes, Lincoln received one hundred
and eighty, Bell thirty mine, and Douglas
twelve. All the Southern States except
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis-
souri,, voted for Breckenridge Before the
expiration of his term of service as Vice
President, the Kentucky Legislature cleo.
ted him United States Senator to succeed
Mr.. Crittenden. for six years, from March
4th, 1861. Civil war was then impending.
While he presided in the Senate he had
seen not alone the withdrawal ofthe Sem
ators from the cotton States, but noted
the harsh action of the Northern Sena-
tors towards their Southern colleagues.
But, impressed with the magnitude OF the
bitter struggle it would cause If all were
submitted to the arbitrament Of the
sword. he strove most earnestly to secure
by peaceable means the rights denied that
section. He labored in the Senate and
among his own people to avert the disas-
ter of the war. As long rs there was hope
of peace with honor, he bent his energies
to secure it. As long as it was a politi-
cal question, he treated it as a political
question. But when it became evident
that the North could be satisfied only by
the subsection of the South, he quilted
the Senate, and took up the sword. He
was expelled from the body over which
he presided December 2, 1861, by the fol-
lowing resolutions:
WHEREAS, John c. Breckinridge, a member
of this body, is now in arms against the Gov
eminent he had sworn to support; therefore,
Resolred, That the traitor, breckenridge, be
expelled.
HIS SERVICE IN THE CoNFEDERACY.
He at once came to Kentucky. Pro-
ceeding by private conveyance from
Georgetown to Nashville, and thence to
Bowling Green, he issued an address on
Oct 8, 1861, in which he reviewed the
events which had eliminated in the con-
dition OF things then existing He an
nounced his purpose Of appealing to the
sword, resigned his commission as United
States Senator to the people of Kentucky
refusing to recognize Legislature over,
awed by bayonets-and called on Ken
tuckians to make common cause with the
South. He was appointed Brigadier
General in the Confederate States army,
and at once placed by General Albert Sid
ney Johnston in command of brigade at
Bowling Green. When the army fell
back, Gen. Breckinridge's command FORM
ed part Of the forces which made the
wonderful retreat to Corinth, Mississippi.
At Shiloh, in the critical charge when
General Johnston lost his life, General
Breckenridge was in command of the res
serve corps, and General Johnston and
General Breckenridge led the charge to-
gether. He was called upon to cover the
retreat of the armv, a duty which was
skillfully and efficiently executed, and
the same service was repeated when the
Confederates evacuated Corinth. Brock
inridge had now been promoted Major
General, and commanded division. In
June, 1862 he was ordered 10 Vicksburg,
and with his troops, in connection with
Gen. Van Dorm and Gen. Smith. success
fully resisted that memorable lombard
ment, which was continued necessarily
through the month of July. General
Breckenridge was next ordered to take
Baton Rouge, which was then occupied
by the Federals. Although greatly OUT
numbered, he drove the enemy from his
camp, which he destroyed, and forced
them to take shelter under cover OF their
gunboats. The Confederate ram Arkan-
sas was to cooperate in this attack. but
the disaster which destroyed it rendered
further operations by the land forces i'm
practicable, and the Confederates retired
unmolested. On August IL, 1862, Gen.
Breckenridge took possession of Port Hud-
son, and discovering its military strength,
urged its dafense as very important to the
policy of holding the Mississippi river.
Acting upon positive orders, General
Breckenridge, with his gallant Kentucky
brigade (Which followed his leadership
throughout the war; and some Tennessee
troops marched to the succor OF Gen.
Bragg, who was then in Kentucky; but,
before reaching Cumberland Gap, COM
munication from Gen. Bragg announced
his abandonment OF Kentucky. At the
battle of Murfreesboro, January 2, follow
ing, Gen. Breckenridge, acting under Or
ders, attacked an almost impreguable po-
sition of the enemy, losing LOO men out
of less than 1000. Nevertheless, upon
his command again devolved the arduous
duty OF covering the retreat OF Bragg's
broken army. He continued with the
Army Of the Tennessee until May %. 1868.
when he was ordered to join Gen. Jos. E.
Johnston in Mississippi 1t was his com
mand which repealed the assault Of the
enemy on jackson, Miss, July IL, 1868.