The National tribune., 1889-02-21


%SSE ~ Colonel Sept y, 1855,
- and last August, on
- ~ the promotion of Gen.
Roger Jones, became the Senior Colonel, and
now, Eve months later, becomes Brlgadler-
General on the death Of Gen. Jones.
He has thus, since his first appointment IN
the Regular Army in April, 1862, passed regu-
larry through each grade to his present rank,
and from Captain to Brigsdier-Genera in just
eight years. 1t is the most rapid promotion IN
regular order Of seniority that has ever been
known ~ our service. The late Gen. Sheridan
was promoted directly from Captain, 18th lnI.,
to Brigadier-Genersl in the Army, but he had
held commission as general officer OF Yoiuh-
teers. In Gen. Greelys case, that otheer jump
ed the intermediate grades from Captain, 5th
Cav, to Brigsdier- General
Gen. Breckenridge, though a Kentuckian,
was born In Baltimore June a. 1872 during
the time that his father, the eminent divine,
Rev Robert J. Breckenridge, was pastor oil
church there for q few years. live years later,
after the death Of his mother al the birth OF
younger brother, the family returned 10 Ken
lucky, which Rev. DIR. Breckenridge had al
ways considered his home, and the future Gen
eTal was raised in the State where part OF
the education Of youth is 10 know and love
thoroughbred horse.
DR.. Breckenridge was known, even beyond the
boundaries Of kentucky, as ardent and out
spoken advocate Of the Union, but when the
crash OF war came il found his family divided
in their loyalty An elder son, to the great
sorrow Of Dr.. Breckenridge followed his uncle,
ex- Vice. President John CabeII Breckenridge 20
Join the rebel standard but the present General
was as stanch in his loyalty to the Union as his
famous uncle was disloyal.
IL viii be remembered that when President
Lincoln made his first call for $4,000 men, the
disloyal Governor Of Kentucky, Berish Ma
Coffin, refused to furnish the quota allotted TO
8 l..4~a Il
Keatuckians would have no opportunity 10
help IN the defense Of the Union, except by join
ing regiments from other States
Just at this crisis Lieut. William Nelson,
United States Navy, a thoroughly loyal and
energetic Kentuckian, suggested to the War De
partment authorities that il he was permitted
to do So and the Government would accept
their services and arm them, he could speedily
raise enough KentuckiSns 10 1.-THE quota of the
State. Authority was granted him. aud by Au-
gust, 1861, kenfncky's loyal troops had been
enrolled and organized. Lieut.. Nelson, who
had been made q Brigadler-GeDeraI OF Nolun-
feers, expected 10 have command Of that force.
and had accordingly appoiH ted Aids-de-C Camp
and other staff officers and one Of the Aias,
with the rank OF First Lieutenant, was Joseph
L. Breckenridge, then not yet 20 years OF age.
None OF these Kentucky officers were commits
stoned, as Gov. MagotiR refused TO issue the
necessary papers, and al served without Fegu-
Bramlette succeeded. II was for this reason
that Gen. Breckenridge in 1874 procured a spe-
cial act Of Congress TO muster him as First Lieu
tenant and ABIDE Camp from Aug. 81, lc5l. 10
June 5 1862 the date on which he accepted his
commission as Second Lieutenant, ID U. > art.
When the Kentucky Union force was organ
lied and equipped, much TO the disgust rather
plainly expressed Of Gen Nelson, Gen. George
u. Thomas was ordered 70 the command, and
Nelson was left out in the cold, his staff being
also transferred to Gen. Thomas.
Lieut.. Breckenridge was with Gen. Thomas
st the battle Of Mil Spring KY, and other en-
gagemeuts and il had been arranged at the
War Department that when he was appointed
10 the % Art. be would still remain on Tue staff
Of Gen. Thomas, but when the commission
came, while the army lay near CoTiuth and
along the Tennessee River, he, as well rs Gen.
Thomas was surprised at receiving psrrmp-
tory order from Gen. Haileck, directing hIEH
10 at once join his battery Il which was IN
garrison AZ Fort Barrancas, Pensacola Bay. lie
duly proceeded TO tie battery by sea from New
YORK and Hampton Reads and remained with
u until June ], 1854 when, having been pro-
NOTED TO First Lieutenant Of Light Battery +,
il TIE Seventeenth Corps, Of the Army Of the
Tennessee, he Joined II at Decatur, Ala, while
Gen. Sherman was pounding his way TO At
lanta
At the fierce battle Of July ., 1864, in front
or Atlanta, when Gen. Mcpherson was killed,
LieuL Breckenridge was commanding his bat
terry, winch was severely punished. and was
captUrea by the rebels lie was sent first 10
bacon. and thence, with a number of other
Regular ofbcers was taken to Charleston to be
placed Under the IRE Of our guns on Norris Is
LAND
Fortunately for Breckenridge. the tart CORE
sp0ndeace about exchange OF prisoners sprung
up in the ensuing Fall between Gen. Sherman
and the IeBel Gen. Hood, WHO succeeded Gen
fnt.r sr,
tainted Gen. Sherman with the assertion that
the Union authorities were afraid to consent
20 an exchange, and made bluff by Offering
70 give two men for one If Sherman would ex-
change. Gen. sherman met this by Offering Ia
give Hood sound and well rebel prisoners in
exchange for as many as the latter had taken
since assuming cOmmand-ab0ut I,000-aud
take sick and disabled men IN exchange man
for man. This was agreed TO- as a special car
tel, notwithstanding the fact that the Wash
lngtOn authorities had suspended exchanges
and Il was this that probably saved Breckin.
ridges life for confinement in prison and pris
on fare had made him SO III that he was re-
duced from lS0 to 10 pounds Ia weight. fol
be was one OF the l,OO9 that was sent to Gen
Sherman's lines
lie narrowly escaped being left at Charles
ton, however, for his name had been scratched
from the list, but bride OF a SO gold piece b,
had secreted procured the restoration Of TIA,
much broken down and SO i'll that he was unf
Tor duty, and was ordered TO his home to recu.
perafe Gen. Thomas his old-time Chief wa
about starting back toward Nashville ar
the campaign that resulted IN the destruction
Of Hoods army, and be procured transporfa
tlon Tor bis former Aid, and sent him on ~
way northward from Nashville rejoicing. Gen
Breckinridge told the writer very recently. !,
Speaking Of that time. that the very Gnomep
he Crossed the Tennessee line into Keutuck,
he began 70 grow better with each mile he 20
further into Kentucky air.
lie mended slowly and was never fl IN 70
turn TO the heid again while the war lasted
and was placed on duty as Assistant Commits
s2ry OF Musters in Kentucky until ApriI Ise=
when he joined his regiment al Fort McHenry
Baltimore, and went with il that year 10 Cal
fOrnia.
In May 1856 he was appointed Aid-de-Cam
on the staff Of Maj.-Gen. Halleck. Commander
the Military Division Of the Pacific. al 81
Francisco, and remained on that duty unti
1867, when he rejOined bis battery and re
turned 70 the Alantic Coast in 1870 with ii
regiment
In October, 1870 he was selected by Ger
Barry formerly Chief OF Artillery of tb
army as AdJutant of the Artillery School !
Fort Monroe, and served in that capacity unti
Jnnes 4si4' when he was promoted TO Captai
OF BATTERY Is, and went TO his new station :.
not fFa d. :.