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The grandson of a Revolutionary War veteran, he was born in Scott County, Kentucky, August 19, 1831.
He attended Georgetown College and Kentucky Military Institute, then practiced law and engaged in farming. He was commissioned Colonel of the 26th Kentucky (Union) Infantry on August 27, 1861, and Brigadier General of Volunteers to rank from June 9, 1862.
He took part in the battle of Shiloh and commanded a Brigade in the XIII Corps in the expedition which reduced Post of Arkansas and also in the Vicksburg Campaign. Early in 1864 he succeeded General Jeremiah T. Boyle in command of District of Kentucky. He was moderately successful in the field – he was, for example, awarded a brevet of Major General on July 4, 1864, for repulsing John M. Morgan's abortive invasion of the state -but his administration of Kentucky earned him the enmity of the duly constituted civil authorities as well as of the populace. Relieved from his command in January 1865, he resigned his commission in December.
After the Civil War he and family were socially and financially ostracized. He died at Brooklyn, New York, December 2, 1894 and was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.
BURBRIDGE, STEPHEN G
GEN US VOLS CW
DATE OF DEATH: 11/30/1894
BURIED AT: SECTION WSIDE SITE 666
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Photos Courtesy of the National Archives
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard