Worst Civil War General: Stephen G. Burbridge

[Stryker65]

(Usually, these "Worst Civil War General" threads turn into a debate on which general was the worst, I hope this one doesn't...)

I've been reading the Union correspondence for October, 1864 to January, 1865 -- the period in which General Stephen Gano Burbridge, military governor of Kentucky, had his reign of terror over the people. He was the Robespierre of the Civil War era: executing suspected "spies", imprisoning all anti-Lincoln citizens up until the election (including the lieutenant governor of the state), and deporting dozens of them into Confederate lines. Many of the "spies" and "guerrillas" he executed turned out not to be so -- they were usually boys within the conscript age, Confederate deserters at home, or Confederate convalescents. Especially known for General Orders No. 59, in which four "guerrillas" were executed for every Unionist citizen murdered, Burbridge ruled Kentucky with an iron fist. The "Butcher of Kentucky" was finally relieved in February, 1865 when he tried to forcibly take command of the Kentucky state forces, believing the duly-elected governor, his staff, and the entire militia to be Confederate sympathizers.

 

[Sheltowee]

Born in my town of Georgetown, Ky- I have a ton of disdain for this guy.

But apart from his notorious rule in Kentucky- how would we rate his effectiveness as a combat commander?

I know he was at Cynthiana and Saltville. Was he competent? There is a bust of him at Vicksburg. Have no idea how he was engaged there?

 

[Stryker65]

Born in my town of Georgetown, Ky- I have a ton of disdain for this guy.

But apart from his notorious rule in Kentucky- how would we rate his effectiveness as a combat commander?

I know he was at Cynthiana and Saltville. Was he competent? There is a bust of him at Vicksburg. Have no idea how he was engaged there?

In his very first independent command at Saltville, he was defeated handily by a force of dismounted cavalry, militia, and reservists, reinforced by Dibrell's cavalry division. Burbridge's command contained nine Kentucky, one Michigan, one Ohio, and two USCT cavalry regiments.

Two months later, the exact same troops under George Stoneman accomplished what Burbridge couldn't, and destroyed the salt works.

 

[Stryker65]

Side note on Burbridge/Stoneman drama:

In December 1864, department commander John M. Schofield appointed George Stoneman as acting department commander (Schofield was away commanding the 23rd Corps), who would naturally supersede Burbridge. Burbridge went over Schofield's head and complained to Secretary of War Stanton, falsely claiming that the order was meant to replace Burbridge as military governor with Stoneman. Stanton accordingly relieved Stoneman of command.

Word eventually got to Schofield, who told Stanton the true story, and even got Grant on his side, who pressured Stanton to relieve Burbridge. Stanton dragged his feet, and only relieved Burbridge January 11, 1865. Stoneman subsequently got most of the troops Burbridge was holding back to "police Kentucky", and went on to lead the famous "Stoneman's Raid" in March, 1865, which tore up most of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountain regions.

Stoneman appears to have been one of the only generals Sherman and Grant disagreed on value-wise. After the disastrous July 1864 raid and Stoneman's capture, Stoneman was exchanged within a month at Sherman's personal request, but during the Burbridge/Stoneman drama, Stanton wrote Grant, saying "I think him [Stoneman] one of the most worthless officers in the service and who has failed in everything intrusted to him." Grant agreed, saying "I am not in favor of officers who have signally failed when intrusted with commands in important places," but left the matter to Schofield and Thomas. Those officers, along with Sherman, all concurred in placing Stoneman back in charge of East Tennessee.

 

[Sheltowee]

According to NPS website, the bust of Burbridge at Vicksburg is of unknown origin.

Was he even there?

Many have opined that Kentucky was the state that joined the confederacy after the Civil War. Would seem that Burbridge was a major contributor to hard feelings in the Bluegrass.

And the scoundrel rests in Arlington…

 

[Stryker65]

According to NPS website, the bust of Burbridge at Vicksburg is of unknown origin.

Was he even there?

Oh, he was there. Commanded a brigade at Champion Hill for sure -- he submitted a report and his brigade suffered casualties.

Many have opined that Kentucky was the state that joined the confederacy after the Civil War. Would seem that Burbridge was a major contributor to hard feelings in the Bluegrass.

Definitely! If the state was as "Confederate" as he was saying, it seems all the "Confederates" left at the exact same time Burbridge got relieved.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

(Usually, these "Worst Civil War General" threads turn into a debate on which general was the worst, I hope this one doesn't...)

I've been reading the Union correspondence for October, 1864 to January, 1865 -- the period in which General Stephen Gano Burbridge, military governor of Kentucky, had his reign of terror over the people. He was the Robespierre of the Civil War era: executing suspected "spies", imprisoning all anti-Lincoln citizens up until the election (including the lieutenant governor of the state), and deporting dozens of them into Confederate lines. Many of the "spies" and "guerrillas" he executed turned out not to be so -- they were usually boys within the conscript age, Confederate deserters at home, or Confederate convalescents. Especially known for General Orders No. 59, in which four "guerrillas" were executed for every Unionist citizen murdered, Burbridge ruled Kentucky with an iron fist. The "Butcher of Kentucky" was finally relieved in February, 1865 when he tried to forcibly take command of the Kentucky state forces, believing the duly-elected governor, his staff, and the entire militia to be Confederate sympathizers.

Darn, General Burbridge WAS even worse than Bragg!

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

According to NPS website, the bust of Burbridge at Vicksburg is of unknown origin.

Was he even there?

Many have opined that Kentucky was the state that joined the confederacy after the Civil War. Would seem that Burbridge was a major contributor to hard feelings in the Bluegrass.

And the scoundrel rests in Arlington…

Darn it again. There's no way to get him out of Arlington.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Side note on Burbridge/Stoneman drama:

In December 1864, department commander John M. Schofield appointed George Stoneman as acting department commander (Schofield was away commanding the 23rd Corps), who would naturally supersede Burbridge. Burbridge went over Schofield's head and complained to Secretary of War Stanton, falsely claiming that the order was meant to replace Burbridge as military governor with Stoneman. Stanton accordingly relieved Stoneman of command.

Word eventually got to Schofield, who told Stanton the true story, and even got Grant on his side, who pressured Stanton to relieve Burbridge. Stanton dragged his feet, and only relieved Burbridge January 11, 1865. Stoneman subsequently got most of the troops Burbridge was holding back to "police Kentucky", and went on to lead the famous "Stoneman's Raid" in March, 1865, which tore up most of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountain regions.

Stoneman appears to have been one of the only generals Sherman and Grant disagreed on value-wise. After the disastrous July 1864 raid and Stoneman's capture, Stoneman was exchanged within a month at Sherman's personal request, but during the Burbridge/Stoneman drama, Stanton wrote Grant, saying "I think him [Stoneman] one of the most worthless officers in the service and who has failed in everything intrusted to him." Grant agreed, saying "I am not in favor of officers who have signally failed when intrusted with commands in important places," but left the matter to Schofield and Thomas. Those officers, along with Sherman, all concurred in placing Stoneman back in charge of East Tennessee.

Interesting insights into Burbridge/Stoneman/Sherman/Grant/Schofield/Thomas, @Stryker65. I would never have known.

 

[Pollaco]

Until I looked him up I wasn't aware he was so young when he "did his dastardly deeds" in Kentucky. He was born in something like 1831. And yes he is buried in Arlington.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Side note on Burbridge/Stoneman drama:

In December 1864, department commander John M. Schofield appointed George Stoneman as acting department commander (Schofield was away commanding the 23rd Corps), who would naturally supersede Burbridge. Burbridge went over Schofield's head and complained to Secretary of War Stanton, falsely claiming that the order was meant to replace Burbridge as military governor with Stoneman. Stanton accordingly relieved Stoneman of command.

Word eventually got to Schofield, who told Stanton the true story, and even got Grant on his side, who pressured Stanton to relieve Burbridge. Stanton dragged his feet, and only relieved Burbridge January 11, 1865. Stoneman subsequently got most of the troops Burbridge was holding back to "police Kentucky", and went on to lead the famous "Stoneman's Raid" in March, 1865, which tore up most of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountain regions.

Stoneman appears to have been one of the only generals Sherman and Grant disagreed on value-wise. After the disastrous July 1864 raid and Stoneman's capture, Stoneman was exchanged within a month at Sherman's personal request, but during the Burbridge/Stoneman drama, Stanton wrote Grant, saying "I think him [Stoneman] one of the most worthless officers in the service and who has failed in everything intrusted to him." Grant agreed, saying "I am not in favor of officers who have signally failed when intrusted with commands in important places," but left the matter to Schofield and Thomas. Those officers, along with Sherman, all concurred in placing Stoneman back in charge of East Tennessee.

"'Till Stoneman's cavalry came,
and tore up the tracks again...."

 

[rupert822]

Burbridge v. Felix Huston Robertson at Saltville was a confluence of awfulness.

 

[lee62]

Bush's "Butcher Burbridge" is a pretty good biography and account if his command in Kentucky. It also puts his actions in context.

 

[tony_gunter]

(Usually, these "Worst Civil War General" threads turn into a debate on which general was the worst, I hope this one doesn't...)

I've been reading the Union correspondence for October, 1864 to January, 1865 -- the period in which General Stephen Gano Burbridge, military governor of Kentucky, had his reign of terror over the people. He was the Robespierre of the Civil War era: executing suspected "spies", imprisoning all anti-Lincoln citizens up until the election (including the lieutenant governor of the state), and deporting dozens of them into Confederate lines. Many of the "spies" and "guerrillas" he executed turned out not to be so -- they were usually boys within the conscript age, Confederate deserters at home, or Confederate convalescents. Especially known for General Orders No. 59, in which four "guerrillas" were executed for every Unionist citizen murdered, Burbridge ruled Kentucky with an iron fist. The "Butcher of Kentucky" was finally relieved in February, 1865 when he tried to forcibly take command of the Kentucky state forces, believing the duly-elected governor, his staff, and the entire militia to be Confederate sympathizers.

He commanded a brigade in A J Smith's division at Vicksburg, which saw little action (skirmished at Port Gibson late in the day, skirmished at Champion Hill, showed up near the end of the battle at Big Black, didn't play a prominent role in the May 19/22 assaults IIRC).

 

[ErnieMac]

From what I have read Burbridge was a competent, though not an exemplary general. @tony_gunter noted the extent of his participation in some of the battles of the Vicksburg Campaign though it was mostly the circumstances of those battles that limited his participation. Burbridge was also present at Chickasaw Bayou (in reserve) at Arkansas Bayou (on the left-center of the Federal lines). His division commander, BG A. J. Smith was complementary of Burbridge's performance.

Following Vicksburg Burbridge was transferred to the Department of the Gulf where he assumed command of the 4th Division of the XIIIth Corps on September 20, 1863. He remained there until December 9, 1863, when he was relieved of command and went on furlough. Burbridge next appears in temporary command on the District of Northern Kentucky in February 1864. On August 7 he was assigned to command the the Military District of Kentucky.

 

[JonnyReb_In_MI]

And the scoundrel rests in Arlington…

In Section #1, Grave #666-WS...
As one with Kentucky Confederate roots, that plot number sounds fitting.

 

[Ozarknative]

(Usually, these "Worst Civil War General" threads turn into a debate on which general was the worst, I hope this one doesn't...)

I've been reading the Union correspondence for October, 1864 to January, 1865 -- the period in which General Stephen Gano Burbridge, military governor of Kentucky, had his reign of terror over the people. He was the Robespierre of the Civil War era: executing suspected "spies", imprisoning all anti-Lincoln citizens up until the election (including the lieutenant governor of the state), and deporting dozens of them into Confederate lines. Many of the "spies" and "guerrillas" he executed turned out not to be so -- they were usually boys within the conscript age, Confederate deserters at home, or Confederate convalescents. Especially known for General Orders No. 59, in which four "guerrillas" were executed for every Unionist citizen murdered, Burbridge ruled Kentucky with an iron fist. The "Butcher of Kentucky" was finally relieved in February, 1865 when he tried to forcibly take command of the Kentucky state forces, believing the duly-elected governor, his staff, and the entire militia to be Confederate sympathizers.

I have a relative that was killed because of Order No. 59. I would love to find any more information that I could. I just don't know where to look. John W. Sipple was his name.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

at Saltville, he was defeated handily

He abandoned wounded USCT troops, who the Confederates then executed, led by Champ Ferguson.

 

[Sheltowee]

I have a relative that was killed because of Order No. 59. I would love to find any more information that I could. I just don't know where to look. John W. Sipple was his name.

View attachment 546747

This book may be a good source.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1nh3mfr

 

[Stryker65]

He abandoned wounded USCT troops, who the Confederates then executed, led by Champ Ferguson.

Ferguson's men also executed one wounded white officer and threatened the surgeon.