The Civil War in Kentucky Antebellum Kentucky Kentucky Neutrality The Confederate Heartland...

The Civil War in Kentucky

Antebellum Kentucky

Kentucky Neutrality

The Confederate Heartland Offensive

Kentucky’s Confederate Government in Exile

Antebellum Kentucky

My Old Kentucky Home

How much of a connection to the South did Kentucky have prior to the Civil War?

Antebellum Kentucky

It was also a time of significant divisions among the people of Kentucky. North and South, Slave and Free, Rich and Poor, all

were in conflict with each other.

Antebellum is a Latin phrase which means “before the fighting started”.

In Kentucky this period before the Civil War began was a time of great stress

and confusion.

Was Kentucky a Northern state or a Southern state?

This is a difficult question to answer. At the time Kentucky was actually neither. They considered themselves a Western

state. The great Kentucky Senator, Henry Clay, was known as “Henry of the

West” and “The Western Star”.

Was Kentucky a Northern state or a Southern state?

The map shows the United States in 1859, just prior to the Civil War. Up until this time Kentuckians were used to thinking of themselves as Westerners.

Was Kentucky a Slave holding state or a Free state?

Kentucky was very definitely a slave owning state. At the start of the Civil War 20% of the people living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky were slaves. That is one person out of every five was a slave.

Margaret Garner, an escaped slave, from Boone County, KY

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kypendle/slavemargaretgarner.htm

How was Kentucky different from other slave holding states?

Geography: Because of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and the invention of the railroad Kentucky had strong ties to the North.


Economics: Because slaves did so much of the unskilled and semi-skilled labor in the state many Kentucky natives had to move north to find work. This created a bond with the north that many other slave owning states did not share.


Economics: Kentucky did not have large plantations. Most of the farms in Kentucky were small, family owned farms. These small farms generally could not afford to own slaves.


Education: Kentucky had a higher standard of education than the other slave holding states. Kentuckians were learning that slavery was not simply immoral it was also an inefficient economic system.

Transylvania University, founded in 1798, is theoldest College west of the Alleghany Mountains.

Other important Kentucky colleges were CentreCollege and Georgetown College.


Legal: Kentucky had the strictest rules of all slave states prohibiting the importation of slaves into the state.

Twenty churches formed the Kentucky Abolition Society in 1808 to end slaveryKentucky.

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Kentucky Abolitionist

What does this all mean?

Kentucky was a state both North and South desperately wanted.

• Kentucky was a rich, powerful state which could add considerable power to either side.

• It’s location as a border state gave Kentucky a strategic advantage that both sides desperately desired.

View from the North

“I hope to have God on my side. I must have Kentucky.”

Abraham Lincoln, September, 1861

President of the United Statesof America, Abraham Lincoln.Born in Hardin County, KY.

View from the South

If the South could convince Kentucky to join the Confederacy they might be able to secede from the Union without going to war.

Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis.Born Christian County, KY.

Four Corners Discussion Activity

Kentucky clearly had stronger ties to the North than it did to

the South prior to the Civil War.

Assessment

• Things you need to know:

• The details; who, what, where when, why. These are the basic, minimum facts you need to know.

• Knowing the hows and whys shows you understand the more complicated parts of the lesson.

Assessment

Q. What does Antebellum mean and how is it used?

Assessment

Q. Before the Civil War was Kentucky considered a Northern or a Southern state?

Assessment

Q. Give one reason why Kentucky was different from the other slave owning states.

Assessment

Q. Why was Kentucky so important to the governments of both the USA and CSA?

Assessment

Q.What does Antebellum mean and how is it used?

A. Antebellum means ‘time before the fighting started’. In American history it is usually used to talk about the period of time before the Civil War.

Assessment

Q. Before the Civil War was Kentucky considered a Northern or a Southern state?

A. Neither. Before the Civil War Kentucky was considered a Western state. For most of Americas history, up until that time, Kentucky had been the westernmost state.

Assessment

Q. Give one reason

why Kentucky was different from the other slave owning states.

A. There are many reasons; Kentucky’s geographic location, its economic status, its higher education level, and its historic and legal background all made Kentucky unique among the other slave owning states.

Assessment

Q. Why was Kentucky so important to the governments of both the USA and CSA?

A. Both the North and the South knew that Kentucky’s strength and strategic location would be an important factor in winning a war between the states. Whichever side had Kentucky would win the war.

The End(click here to return to the main menu)

Kentucky NeutralityHow did Kentucky react to the national

events of 1861?

Neutrality noun The act of not supporting either side of a debate, quarrel or party.

At the start of the Civil War Kentucky felt that both sides, North and South, were wrong and wanted to stay out of the fight.

November, 1860Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United

States

• South Carolina• Alabama• Florida• Georgia

• Louisiana• Mississippi• Texas

Fearing Lincoln’s politics seven states secede from the Union by March, 1861.

Lincoln is inaugurated president on March 4th, 1861.

In his inauguration speech he promises Americans of the North and South to maintain the

Union and to avoid war.

Tensions between North and South continue to rise.

On April 11th, 1861 Confederate forces bombard Fort Sumter, SC. South Carolina did not want a Union outpost so near to

their capital. Union forces stationed there are forced to surrender two days later.

Confederate Flagflying over Fort Sumter, SC.

After the attack on Fort Sumter Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers to put down

the Confederate Rebellion.

Because of Lincolns preparations for war against the Confederacy four more slave owning states

secede from the Union.

• Arkansas• North Carolina

• Tennessee• Virginia

The Stars and BarsThe original flag of theConfederate States of America

The first time it was ever flown in public was in 1861 at the Ben Johnson House inBardstown, KY.

This leaves five slave states remaining in the Union. They’re known as “The Border States”

• Delaware• Kentucky• Maryland

• Missouri• West Virginia

Much of the heaviest fighting of theCivil War occurred in the BorderStates. The photo shows the sufferingThe people in them had to endure.

The Border States knew that they would be caught in the middle of any conflict between the North

and the South.

How did Kentucky decide to deal with this problem?

At the time KY governor Beriah Magoffin favored the states right to secession but wished to avoid it at all cost. He worked hard to create a compromise that would preserve the Union.

KY Senator John Crittenden wrote a proposal called the Crittenden plan which would create several amendments to the Constitution that protected the slave trade and strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act. Lincoln, rejected the plan because he had been elected on an Anti-Slavery platform.

Gov. Magoffin refuses to send Kentucky troops or money to Lincoln. Magoffin said, “I will send not a man nor a dollar for the wicked purpose of subduing my sister Southern states”.

Instead, on May 16, 1861, the Kentucky General Assembly passes “The Declaration of Neutrality” which makes the Commonwealth of Kentucky officially neutral in the American Civil War.

The Old State Capitol building.Built in 1830, it was replaced byThe current building in 1910.

In order to show its neutrality Kentucky does not fly the American

flag over the state capitol. Since Kentucky did not adopt an official

state flag until 1918 they simply did not fly a flag during this time of

neutrality.

Both sides claim to respect KY neutrality but station soldiers just

outside of Kentucky borders.

• The Union stations soldiers at Camp Clay, Ohio and Camp Joe Holt, Indiana. Both are directly across the Ohio River from Kentucky.

• The Confederacy stations soldiers at Fort Donelson and Fort Henry, in Tennessee. Some Confederate troops are camped only 50 yards from the Kentucky border.

During this period both sides recruited soldiers from Kentucky.

Realizing that Kentucky would not be able to remain neutral for long Governor Magoffin mobilizes the Kentucky militia and prepares for the defense of Kentucky from invaders.

• The Kentucky State Guard, under the command of Simon Buckner mostly favored the South.

• The newly formed Kentucky Home Guard favored the North.

Unfortunately the members of Kentucky’s militia are just as divided as the rest of the state.

The elections of 1861

On June 20th, 1861 Kentucky held a special congressional election. In this election pro-Union candidates control 9 of Kentucky’s 10 congressional seats.

In August 1861 KY holds state wide elections. Pro-Union candidates win so many seats that they can now easily override any veto Gov. Magoffin makes which could benefit the South.

The only section of Kentucky to vote in favor of the South is the Jackson Purchase region which was heavily tied economically to Tennessee.

Following the elections both sides begin to operate more boldly in Kentucky.

• Union General Bull Nelson opened Camp Dick Robinson in Garrard County, KY. Gov. Magoffin complained to Lincoln but he did nothing.

• Confederate forces covertly occupied Camp Boone near Guthrie, KY in preparation for a future invasion.

The end of Kentucky’s neutrality

• 4 Sep 1861 – Confederate forces occupy Columbus, KY to control the Mississippi River and railroad assets there.

• 8 Sep 1861 – Gen US Grant orders Union soldiers to capture Paducah and seize control of the mouth of the Tennessee River and the railroad in Paducah.

What does Kentucky do about it?• 6 Sep 1861 - Governor Magoffin demands that both

sides withdraw their troops from Kentucky soil and respect its neutrality.

• 7 Sep 1861 – The KY General Assembly passes a resolution ordering the withdraw of Confederate, but not Union, troops.

• Gov. Magoffin vetoes the resolution but the Assembly easily overrides it.

• The Assembly orders the American flag to once again fly over the State Capitol, officially ending Kentucky neutrality.

What next?• The North must make sure that they are strong

enough to keep and defend Kentucky. They must also keep the citizens of Kentucky happy and on the side of the Union.

• The South must try to gain control of Kentucky at all costs.

• Many Kentuckians are still pro-South and try to create a Confederate government in Kentucky.


The vast majority of Kentuckians supported the North during the Civil War.

Assessment




Assessment

Q. What were the Border States?

Assessment

Q. What were the details of the Fort Sumter bombardment?

Assessment

Q. What did Lincoln do in response to the attack on Fort Sumter?

Assessment

Q. Who was the Kentucky governor at the start of the Civil War?

Assessment

Q. Why did Kentucky declare a policy of neutrality at the start of the Civil War?

Assessment

Q. What were the Border States?

A. Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and later West Virginia were the slave owning states which remained loyal to the Union. They were called the Border States because they lay between the North and South.

Assessment

Q. What were the details of the Fort Sumter bombardment?

A. When – 11 April 1861

B. Where – Fort Sumter, SC

C. Who – The South bombarded Fort Sumter.

D. Why – Fort Sumter was a Union post in SC.

Assessment

Q. What did Lincoln do in response to the attack on Fort Sumter?

A. Lincoln called for state governors to raise a Federal Army of 75,000 troops.

Assessment

Q. Who was the Kentucky governor at the start of the Civil War?

A. Beriah Magoffin was the governor of Kentucky at the start of the Civil War.

Assessment

Q. Why did Kentucky declare a policy of neutrality at the start of the Civil War?

A. The Border State Kentucky had close ties to both the North and South. While Kentucky politicians generally supported southern States Rights policy they felt that secession was to be avoided at all costs.


What was the major campaign fought in Kentucky during the Civil War?

The Confederate

Heartland Offensive

Union forces had great success in the west in the spring of

1862.


• The US Navy controlled the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers


1862.


• The US Navy controlled the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers

• This meant that the state of Tennessee was virtually surrounded by the Union Navy.


1862.


• The rail center in Corinth, TN was abandoned by the Confederates.


1862.



• This gave the Union control of western TN


1862.



• This gave the Union control of western TN

• This left the South with only one railway line east of the Mississippi River.


1862.


• The US Navy, led by Admiral David Farragut, from TN, captured New Orleans.


1862.


• The US Navy, led by Admiral David Farragut, from TN, captured New Orleans.

• The North now controlled all southern access to the Mississippi River.


1862.

Admiral David G. Farragut

• 5 July 1801–14 Aug 1870• Born near Knoxville, TN• Fought during the War of

1812 when he was 12.• Hero of the Battle of

Mobile Bay• Famous quote “Damn the

torpedoes, Full speed ahead!”

In order to protect the important Mississippi port of Vicksburg the South begins the

Heartland Campaign

Vicksburg, MS 4 July 1863

General Braxton Bragg is chosen to command the offensive.

• 22 Mar 1817-27 Sep 1876• Born at Warrenton, NC• Fought in the Mexican War• Led the Army of

Tennessee in an invasion of Kentucky

• Military Advisor to Jefferson Davis

Goals of the Offensive


• Outflank the Union Army of the Ohio and draw them away from the important southern stronghold of Vicksburg, MS.



• Attract Kentucky volunteers to join the Confederate Army



• Attract Kentucky volunteers to join the Confederate Army

• Draw Kentucky into the war on the Confederate side.

August 1862 Braggs army invades Kentucky

Kentucky native John Morgan promises that when Bragg’s army enters Kentucky tens of thousands of Kentucky men will join the Confederacy. This persuades Bragg to leave Tennessee and invade the Union state of Kentucky.

August 1862 Braggs army invades Kentucky

While many Kentucky men did in fact join the Confederacy Morgan’s prediction proved false. Nearly 80,000 Kentuckians served in the Union army while only approximately 25,000 served in the Confederate army. Braggs invasion gathered little support in Kentucky for the South.

3 Sep 1862 CSA Gen Kirby Smith’s army captures Frankfort, KY

The Confederate Monument in Frankfort, KY.


• Frankfort was the only Union state capital captured during the Civil War.




• 4 Oct 1862 Richard Hawes is inaugurated as Kentucky’s 2nd




• 4 Oct 1862 Richard Hawes is inaugurated as Kentucky’s 2nd Confederate governor.

• It remains in Confederate control until after the Battle of Perryville.


8 Oct 1862 The Battle of Perryville

• 7 Oct 1862 Union forces occupy Perryville in pursuit of Braggs army.



• 8 Oct 1862 Braggs forces attack the Union army



• 8 Oct 1862 Braggs forces attack the Union army.

• 9 Oct 1862 Despite having a strong tactical battle Bragg decides to withdraw.

The Battle of Perryville“Why did Bragg withdraw?”

Many historians wonder why Bragg withdrew from Perryville and leave Kentucky even though his army had a tactical advantage.

“Why did Bragg withdraw from Kentucky?”

Theory 01

Bragg did not get the support from Kentucky he was promised. Everywhere his Army went they were opposed by the US Army and hostile Kentucky natives.


Theory 02

Bragg did not want to spend the winter in Kentucky. His army was 100’s of miles from supply lines that he could trust. With winter setting in he did not want to leave his men to have to spend the winter in what he considered a northern state.


Theory 03

Many of Braggs senior officers disobeyed or failed to follow his orders. Several of them were court-martialed after their return to Tennessee. Perhaps if Bragg had had the support of his officers the outcome may have been different.


Theory 04Bragg was a poor general who did not

know how to take advantage of a winning situation. After the army’s retreat to Tennessee Bragg had to report to President Jefferson Davis and explain his reason for leaving Kentucky after winning so many battles there.

Was the Confederate Heartland Offensive a failure?

While it did not meet it’s primary objective; to have Kentucky leave the Union and join the Confederacy, Union forces were forced out of northern Alabama and most of central Tennessee. It would take the North a year to regain the lost ground.


Kentucky would have been better off if Bragg had stayed

and fought in Kentucky instead of returning to Tennessee.

Assessment




Assessment

Q. What year was the Confederate Heartland Campaign run?

Assessment

Q. Who were the commanders during the Heartland Campaign?

Assessment

Q. Why did the South begin the Heartland Offensive?

Assessment

Q. Who was Kentucky’s second Confederate Governor?

Assessment

Q. Why did the Confederates Heartland Campaign fail?

Assessment

Q. What year was the Confederate Heartland Campaign run?

A. The Heartland Campaign was run from June to October, 1862. Kentucky was mostly involved in August, September and October.

Assessment

Q. Who were the commanders during the Heartland Campaign?

A. The Confederate Commander was General Braxton Bragg, from Warrenton, North Carolina.

The Union

Commander was General Don Carlos Buell, from Lowell, Ohio.Gen. Bragg Gen. Buell

Assessment

Q. Why did the South begin the Heartland Offensive?

A. The North had had several major victories in the West in 1861 and 1862. The South needed to take the pressure off of areas of strategic importance, such as Vicksburg, and apply pressure of their own, where it would hurt the North, such as in Kentucky.

Assessment

Q. Who was Kentucky’s second Confederate governor?

A. Richard Hawes, born in Caroline County, VA, was Kentucky’s 2nd Confederate governor. He spent most of his time as governor in exile in Tennessee and Virgina.

Assessment

Q. Why did the Confederates Heartland Campaign fail?

A. Rather than take advantage of his victories at Perryville and Munfordville General Bragg withdrew from Kentucky leaving it to the Union. Bragg felt he had no support in Kentucky and was too far from Confederate supply lines.

Confederate Kentucky

How much of a role did the Confederates play in Kentucky's government?

During the Civil War Kentucky had two governments.

The recognized, legal government of Kentucky was part of the United States of America.

The shadow government of Kentucky was part of the Confederate States of America.

When a state or country is in political upheaval sometimes a second government is formed which will be ready to take charge if the legitimate, legal government is overthrown.

This is often called a shadow government.

This seal was used torepresent the Confederate government of the state ofKentucky.

Voce Populi is the Latin phrasefor “Voice of the People”.

Why did Kentucky have two governments?

During the Civil War many Kentuckians had close family, cultural and economic ties to the Confederacy. They also felt that the American government was wrong on it’s policy regarding states rights.

How powerful was Kentucky’sConfederate Shadow Government?

• The shadow government never replaced the elected government in Frankfort, which had strong Union sympathies.

• It never gained the support of Kentucky's citizens, they continued to support the Union

• Its jurisdiction extended only as far as Confederate battle lines in the Commonwealth.

Despite having little power in Kentucky the Shadow Government was recognized by the Confederate States of America as the states legitimate government.

Kentucky was admitted to the Confederacy on December 10th, 1861.

The central star on the Confederate Battle Flagrepresents Kentucky.

*Note it’s square design. The CSABattle Flag was square, not rectangularlike most other flags.

Bowling Green was the Confederate capital for Kentucky.

• BG was chosen for it’s large size economic wealth and because it was close to Tennessee.

• In mid-Feb 1862 Union forces capture BG from the retreating Confederate Army.

• As they left Confederate soldiers burned much of BG to the ground so that the Union Army could not use it. A monument to Confederate

Soldiers in Bowling Green, KY.

When the Confederate Army fled Bowling Green Kentucky’s Confederate government had to flee with them.

For much of the next four years the Kentucky government traveled with the Confederate Army of Tennessee trying to persuade the CSA to return to Kentucky and defeat the Union Army there.

George W. JohnsonKentucky’s 1st Confederate Governor

• Born May 27th, 1811 in Scott County, KY

• Died April 8th, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh

• Johnson believed that if Kentucky joined the Confederacy the CSA would be too strong for the Union to fight and we could avoid the Civil War.

George W. JohnsonKentucky’s 1st Confederate Governor

Johnson was the only American governor, Confederate or Union, to die in battle during the Civil War.

• Born February 6th, 1797 in Caroline County, VA.

• Died May 25th, 1877 in Paris, KY.

• After Johnson was killed Hawes was selected by the 10 member state council to become governor.

Richard HawesKentucky’s 2nd (and last) Confederate Governor

• Hawes followed General Braggs Army into KY during the Confederate Heartland Offensive.

• Hawes was inaugurated in Frankfort after Braggs army captured it in October, 1862.


• He was forced to leave Kentucky after Braggs army left it after the Battle of Perryville.

• Hawes spent the remainder of the war living near the Confederate capitol in Richmond, VA.


Goals of Kentucky’s Confederate Government

• Persuade the Confederate army to force the Union army to leave Kentucky.

• Support the CSA by recruiting soldiers and supplies for the war effort.

• Be prepared to take over the state government when the Confederacy won the war.

Kentucky’s Confederate government had little success with their goals.

• They were only able to persuade the army to return once, during the failed Heartland Offensive.

• They were able to provide soldiers and supplies for the war effort, but nowhere near what they had hoped for.

• Since the Confederacy lost the war Kentucky’s Confederate government were considered traitors and criminals instead of heroes.

What happened to the members of the Confederate government after the Civil War?

• After the Civil War the Union government wanted life to return to normal as quickly as possible.

• Under President Johnson’s Restoration Plan wealthy landowners and high ranking Confederate government officials could be pardoned by the president after swearing an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.

What happened to the members of the Confederate government after the Civil War?

• Many Kentucky members of the Confederacy agreed to take this oath.

• Richard Hawes agreed and became a county judge in Bourbon County.

• John Breckinridge, of Kentucky and Confederate Secretary of War, became a businessman in Lexington.

• President Jefferson Davis sold life insurance in Tennessee and wrote a history of the Confederacy.


Kentucky should have seceded in March 1861, instead of waiting until after the war

started.

Assessment




Assessment

Q. What is a shadow government?

Assessment

Q. Where was the Confederate capitol of Kentucky?

Assessment

Q. Which star on the Confederate Battle Flag represents Kentucky?

Assessment

Q. Who were the Confederate governors of Kentucky?

Assessment

Q. How did members of the Confederacy regain their rights as American citizens?

Assessment

Q. What is a shadow government?

A. When a state or country is in political upheaval sometimes a second government is formed which will be ready to take charge if the legitimate, legal government is overthrown.

Assessment

Q. Where was the Confederate capitol of Kentucky?

A. The Confederate capitol of Kentucky was in Bowling Green.

Assessment

Q. Which star on the Confederate Battle Flag represents Kentucky?

A. The center star on the Confederate Battle Flag represents Kentucky.

Assessment

Q. Who were the Confederate governors of Kentucky?

A. George Johnson and Richard Hawes were the Confederate governors of Kentucky.

Assessment

Q. How did members of the Confederacy regain their rights as American citizens?

A. People in the Confederate states had to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States in order to regain their rights. Those who had been members of the government had to have a presidential pardon.

Resources

• The Civil War in Kentucky, by Kent Brown

• Remembering Kentucky’s Confederates, by Geoffrey Walden

• War in Kentucky, by James McDonough

• The Breckinridge Family

• The Henry Clay Estate

• The Library of Congress

http://www.breckinridge.com/

http://www.breckinridge.com/

http://www.henryclay.org/index.htm

http://www.henryclay.org/index.htm

http://www.loc.gov/index.html

http://www.loc.gov/index.html

The Civil War in Kentucky Antebellum Kentucky Kentucky Neutrality The Confederate Heartland...

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