Military officer; born in
Kentucky in 1823; was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1844; was
Assistant Professor of Ethics there for two years, and then engaged in the war with
Mexico.
in which he was wounded, and brevetted captain.
After that war he was again a tutor at
West Point; resigned in 1855: practised law in
Kentucky: and became one of the most prominent “Knights of the Golden circle” (q. v.) in that State.
After the
Civil War began he became commander of the Kentucky State Guard, and adjutant-general of the
State.
He soon joined the Confederate army, and surrendered the fort and garrison of
Fort Donelson (q. v.) in February, 1862, when he was sent a prisoner to
Fort Warren.
After his release, he continued in the
Confederate service until the close of the war. He became a lieutenant-general in the army; was selected by
General Grant to be one of his pall-bearers; and was elected governor of
Kentucky in 1887.
