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

to check the movements of Gen. Franz
Sigel. On May Is he attacked the force:
Of that General at New Market and routed
him after brilliant engagement. The
Federals were driven in full retreat to
Winchester, but rendered pursuit impos-
sible by burning the bridges in their rear
Gen. Lee sent Breckinrige a congratula-
tory dispatch and an oader to join MIN
forthwith at Hanover Junction. The or
der was promptly obeyed, and Gen. Brock.
Inridges forces protected the rear Of Lee 6
army and his line of communication
when Sheridan made his great raid. He
remained with Gen. Lees army. and bore
conspicuous pratt in the battle of Cold
Harbor. fought June 2, 1864, where the
Federal army was repulsed with great
loss. Subsequently, in conjunction with
Gen.zJabat Ea.iy. -hs foifeff ten David
Hunter in his attempt TO capture Lynch
burg, and pursued that officer into the
mountains. Gen. Breckenridge troops
were then incorporated with Gen. Early's,
and be was placed in command Of corps
They next prepared Tor operations IN
Maryland, Virginia and the District oil
Columbia, and on June % they took up q
line Of march. On July 8, 1864, Breck.
inridge's command captured Martinsburg.
On July 5, the whole army crossed the
Potomac at Shepherdstown. On July
Gen Breckenridge defeated Gen. Lew.
Wallace at Monocacy, which left the way
open to Washington. On the llth the
Confederates reached Silver Spring, only
six miles from that city, and within sight
OF the dome of the capitol. SkirmishiDg
occurred the next day; but that night Gen.
Early, for prudential reasons, ordered a
retreat, re-crossing the Potomac at Ed
wards ferry, the night of the 18th. Gen.
Breckenridge remained 10 the valley, par.
ticipating in the serious engagements
there fought A few days after the battle
of Winchester, he received orders from
Richmond to return to Southwest 'Vir-
ginia, which he did in time to repel the
Federal forces operating in that quarter
under Gen. Stephen g. Burbridge. He
continued in command ofthis department
until February 4, 1865, when he was D.
pointed Secretary Of War, to succeed Hon.
James A Seldom, and was thus engaged
at the close of the war.
HE GOES ABROAD.
After the fall of Richmond and the col.
lapse Of the Confederacy, Gen. Breckin-
ridge made his way to Florida, in COM
pany with Colonel Wilson, the Inspector
General of his staff Here they met Co
lionel Taylor Wood, brother-in-law oil
Jefferson Davis, who proposed they 90 to
Cuba. The suggestion was adopted A
skiff seventeen feet long. was obtained,
and two Confederate soldiers consented to
undertake the voyage in their company.
They coasted along the Florida shore to
Key West, living on turtle eggs the while
and then made directly for Cuba. They
landed at Csrdenas, sixty miles from Ha-
vana. After remaining here a short time,
General Breckenridge proceeded to Eng
land, and from thence to France, where
he took up his sojourn. In 1866 be made
tour of Europe, and after q years resi-
dence in Canada, returned to Lexington,
his home. in 1868. Avoiding all politi-
cal complications, he devoted himself ex-
clusively 10 his profession and to his bus
mess engagements as Vice President OF
the Elizabethtown. Lexington and Big
Sandy railroad. He was in comparative
ly comfortable circumstances, pecuniarily.
at the time of his death. He was Do
sessed of a considerable tract Of land in
the Northwest, which he had purchased
previous to the war. thinking that it might
become valuable during the lifetime Of
his children. His most noted profession
al engagement since the war was that in
which he was retained az attorney for the
Dosl
1t was in behalf Of this corporation that
he appeared before the Railroad Commit
tee ofthe Kentucky Legislature. in 1870.
All Of General Breckinridge's children
survive him-three sons and two daugh-
ters-named respectively John Cabell,
Clifton, Owen County. Fannie, and Mary.
He named his third son Owen County"
out ofgratitude to that county for the very
large majority it gave him over Governor
Letcher in his Congressional race of 1858.
He was Thirty-third degree Mason
the highest degree in that order-and
the fraternity everywhere with pride al
Jude to his membership as one Of the most
eminent exemplars OF its dignity and phi.
lanthropy. General Breckenridge was
an ardent member Of the Kentucky Turf
Association. and up to the 18th inst. the
date Of the annual election Of officers, was
its honest President He was very fond
of horses, and it was told IS a frequent
remark OF his when a member of Con-
gress. that his highest ambition was to
own 300 acres Of bluegrass land. and to
devote his time to the rearing Of fine
stock Though he was never known to
lay wagers upon q race. or, indeed. to
gamble in any manner, he ever took a
warm interest in the sports of the course.
Such are, without detail and in their
own order, the bare events which have
composed the public career Of John G.
Breckenridge. A conspicuous young Of
ficer at six and twenty, Congressman at
thirty, Vice President at thirty-six, a
brilliant General and War Secretary when
turned of forty, he dies at the early age OF
forty-four. leaving behind him a name as
celebrated and personality as marked as
any in the annals Of his country. He
was an invalid for nearly two years-a
combination of disorders affecting the liv-
er and the lungs, infiicting excruciating
bodily torture, which he bore with for
titude bordering on stoicism. The Incl
dents of his final demise are told by our
Lexington correspondent. He died. as
he had lived. like a man, brave, calm,
conscious and selfpossessed. Upon the
record of such a career, it is needless to
dwell upon his; amazing popularity. or to
doubt that it was based upon merit of the
highest type.
"
The Funeral.