The daily gazette., 1875-05-19
General John C. Breckenridge.

General john Cabeif Bfsekinridge, the
painful intelligence of whose death IS
given in another column, was born near
Lexington, KY, January n. 1921. He
was educated ut Centre College, Dan
vile, Mercer county, In that State; stu
died law ut the Trans5lvania Institute,
and entered, upon the practice OF MS
profession at Lexington. At the break
ing out of the war with Mexico he was
elected Major Of the Third Regiment OF
kentucky Volunteers, but had little OPP
portunity for active service. After the
war he was elected to the House OF Rep
resentatives of Kentucky. In 1851 he
was chosen to Congress, and in 1858 was
reelected, after q violent and protraoted
contest. During the first session Of the
Thirty third Congress, in the course Of
the discussion of the Kansas-Nebraska
bill he was involved in personal alter
cation with Mr.. F. d. Cutting, member
from Now York, leading to the preiimi.
naries Of duel. which. however, DID % mot
take place. Up0n the ACCESSION OF Pres:
ident Pierce he was offered the post Of
Minister to Spain but declined it. In
1855 he was elected Vice. Prssident in
conjunction with Mr.. Buchanan as Pres
ident. In 1860 part Of the delegates
in the Demo cratic National Convention,
having separated from the supporters
of Hon. Stephen A. Douglass. held a
Convention at the Maryland Institute,
in this city, and nominated Mr.. Breckin-
ridge for President, and ho received the
electoral votes of all the Southern States
except Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee
and Missouri. In the same year h0 was
elected United States Senator, From his
own State. After warmly advocating
and defending the cause OF the South IN
the Senate, he resigned, and after iirst
visiting Kentucky, went to Richmond,
Va, the then capital Of the Soushern
Confederacy, waere he entered the army
and rose to tho rank of Major General
He was repulsed in an attack on Baton
Rouge in 1861; commanded corps un-
der Bragg at Stone River in 1852, and at
| Chickamauga in September. 1868; de-
| feat.d Sigel at Newmarket in May, 1851;
took part IN EIrly's advance on Wash;
| ington in July OF the same year, and
| shared in his defeat near winchester IN
, the September following. At Cold Har'
Dor, when the Confederate line was bro
ken by General Grant, General Breekin-
ridge placed himself at the head OF the
two Maryland batall;ons and some othel
troops, led the assault upon the enemy
and re.e5tablished the Confederate line
This was probably the most hr liant mi
litary achievement of his life. Shortly
after this he was appointed Secretary o.
War, and infused new vigor into that
department Of the Confederate Govern
meut, but too late. He retreoted from
the capital with the army ana reached
General Johnston's army at Greensboro
and endeavored to arrange terms will
General Sherman for the surrender O.
that army after the surrender OF Lee
and when at the headquarters OF Gene
raj Sherman, he heard the tiding3 OF tn
a death Of President Lincoln, which ter
: minated the negotiations. Gen. breck
inridge proceeded to Charlotte, N; G
where he performed the last act OF hl
official life, q final discharge to all til
Marylanders in the service OF the Con
federacy, which was marked with a.
that finished grace, feeling and elo
ouence which characterized the mos
I important Of his official acts. He short
ly after went to Europe. and RENAME
abroad until about 1868, when he rt
turned and resumed TIE practice OF la
: in Lexington, bearing himself in mar
nar 80 as to gain the respect OF his lat
enemies. Rumors OF his i'll health hay
e been prevalent for Il year and more, bI
n.thing definite was learned by the pu'
Z lie until few days ago, when the wire
brought the painful intelligence tn:
7 the days of the great statesman al
soldier were numbered.-Bdlto. Gasett