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The Civil War Comes To Kentucky
Positioned between two warring nations,
Kentucky and her people suffered harshly during the bloodiest conflict in
American history.
In Kentucky, it was strictly, "the worst of times!" To no other state did
the phrase "brother against brother" mean as much. Although three of
four soldiers who fought in the Civil War from Kentucky wore Federal uniforms,
sympathy was pretty much divided for both sides.
Because most of the industry was along the Ohio River, as were the larger
cities and towns, there was a larger population to draw from. In addition,
on July 13, 1862, Union General Boyle issued an order to Louisville males,
"that every able-bodied man take arms and aid in repelling the marauders.
Every man who does not join will remain in his house 48 hours, and be shot
down if he leaves it". This was done because of exaggerated reports
of Morgan!s Confederate force and their exploits south of the city.
With these things added together it would appear that Kentucky was mostly
Union supporting-but it was not the case. Kentucky and its residents
were divided more than any other state.
Before the outbreak of the war, the state was already divided. River
trade, state's rights, and slavery were issues important to Kentuckians and
made many of the residents bonded to the South; while railroad commerce and
patriotism kept as many or more pro-Union. So when in 1860 there rose
a cry for the forming of a new nation-the Confederate States of America, Kentucky's
citizens were in turmoil themselves.
The election of 1860 was the "straw that broke the camels back". Four
candidates ran for the Presidency (two from Kentucky). The Southern
Democratic ticket included John C. Breckinridge, former vicepresident and
a Lexington native. Abraham Lincoln was the Republican candidate.
Kentuckians however looked to another candidate, John Bell from Tennessee
(a pro-Union candidate). Lincoln received justl,364 votes. Southerners
soon decided to secede.
South Carolina was the first state to leave the
Union on December 20,1860. Quickly, over the next few months, seven
more states joined with South Carolina. A president was appointed, Jefferson
Davis from Kentucky. It was now official, there was a new Confederate
States of America.
Kentucky governor Beriah Magoffin was proslavery and for succession.
However, on May 16,1861, barely one month after the fall of Fort Sumter, the
Kentucky House of Representatives voted that the state would remain neutral.
On May 20, the senate and the governor approved this policy. Although
the state was neutral, men began joining both sides in droves. Then,
on August 5,1861, due to the fact that the majority of Kentucky legislature
were pro-Union and Southern sympathizers boycotting, an election was held
and an end to the policy of neutrality was passed.
During the time of neutrality, in July 1861,William "Bull" Nelson, a former
naval officer and Kentuckian, came to Kentucky to recruit soldiers for the
Union. Soon afterwards, Richard M. Robinson, a Garrard County farmer,
offered his farm for the use of recruiting soldiers for the Federal army.
Agents were sent throughout the state and new recruits were ordered to the
Robinson farm, soon named Camp Dick Robinson.
Governor Maggofin and the other Southern sympathizers across the state were
outraged and Magoffin asked President Lincoln to remove the Union camp.
Lincoln’s response further outraged Confederate officials. Lincoln
replied, "I do not believe it is the popular wish of Kentucky that this force
shall be removed beyond her limits ... I must respectfully decline to so
remove it".
THE GIBRALTAR OF THE WEST
The Confederates decided that they too would violate this neutrality violation
and sent General Leonidas Polk to Columbus, Kentucky. He and his
WRITTEN BY RON PUCKETT
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