Lincoln and Union Military Policy in Kentucky

"I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky." -- attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Union military policy in the commonwealth angered Kentuckians and pushed Kentucky to “secede” after the Civil War.

Once Kentucky rejected secession, it was difficult for the Lincoln administration to handle the border state of Kentucky, which was full of pro-Union, proslavery residents.  Because some Kentuckians overtly supported the Confederacy, the Federal government viewed the commonwealth with a wary eye.  Lincoln’s need to keep Kentuckians satisfied (to prevent more from joining the rebel cause) induced him to appoint many inexperienced “political generals” who, as they commanded the Military District of Kentucky, placed a hard hand on Unionist Kentuckians, thereby alienating them from the Lincoln administration.  When military abuses were brought to Lincoln’s attention, however, he kept his military leaders restrained and ensured a “plausible deniability” that kept Kentucky under a firm military hand.

Early in the war, as some Kentuckians moved into the Confederate camp, Unionists began to check secessionist influences.  One of the first institutions to actively seek out Kentucky Confederates were circuit courts, which passed down indictments for treason against scores of prominent secessionists.  Among those indicted were John C. Breckinridge (former U. S. vice president), John Hunt Morgan (a successful Lexington businessman), and future Kentucky governor Simon Bolivar Buckner (commander of the Kentucky State Guard).

Although indictments and acts passed by courts and state governments greatly affected Kentucky citizens, the Union military authorities appointed by the Lincoln administration played the greatest role in dictating policies across the state.  Usually, generals appointed to command the District of Kentucky were native Kentuckians with regional influence and political connections.  Lincoln gave these commanders a free hand in the state, and usually only checked abuses if he were personally contacted.

On June 1, 1862, Brigadier General Jeremiah T. Boyle, a Danville lawyer, was appointed U. S. military commandant of Kentucky.  As soon as Boyle took this post, he enacted policies to curb secessionist influences.  Under the threat of arrest and confinement in military prisons he forced secessionists to take the oath of allegiance and pay security bonds for their future conduct.  Any citizen who supported guerrilla activity was arrested, and, if loyal Kentuckians’ property was damaged by guerrillas, local secessionists were forced to pay reparations.  Boyle also shocked Kentuckians’ sensibilities by arresting pro-Confederate women, and many of these rebel ladies were confined in a Newport military prison, where they were forced to sew for Federal troops. Ministers who preached secession from the pulpit were arrested and imprisoned, Southern-leaning newspapers were shut down, and pro-Confederate political candidates were forced to withdraw their names from the ballot or face arrest.   Furthermore, any merchant wishing to ship goods was required to take the oath and procure a permit; if they refused their goods were confiscated by the Federal authorities.

Many Kentuckians were pro-Union slave owners, and their ire was raised when Boyle impressed slaves to build railroads and repair roadways.  The enlistment of African-Americans also angered Kentuckians.  In January 1864, Kentucky Governor Thomas E. Bramlette informed Boyle that “No such recruiting [of African Americans] will be tolerated here.  Summary justice will be inflicted upon any who attempt such unlawful purpose.”  Furthermore, the president’s Emancipation Proclamation, which did not affect slavery in Kentucky, induced many Kentucky Union troops to resign from the service.

Policies against Confederate prisoners also angered Kentuckians.  One of Boyle’s successors, Brigadier General Stephen Burbridge, instituted a policy of executing four Confederate prisoners for every Unionist killed by guerrillas. While more than fifty prisoners were executed, Dr. Lowell Harrison writes, “In a number of cases President Lincoln intervened to prevent punishments he considered too harsh.”  These public executions and accusations of corruptness against Burbridge made this Kentucky general one of the most hated men in the commonwealth after the Civil War. When Burbridge was relieved of command on February 22, 1865, the Louisville Journal reported, “Thank God and President Lincoln.”