Who was the former U.S. vice president that went to war against the United States government?

During the United States Civil War, John Breckinridge became the only former vice president (1857–61) to ever go to war against the United States government.

Breckinridge was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army on November 2, 1861. He was given command of the 1st Kentucky Brigade which was nicknamed the Orphan Brigade because its men felt orphaned by Kentucky's Unionist state government. This brigade was in the 2nd Division of the Army of the Mississippi, commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston.

In 1862, Breckinridge's performance earned him a promotion to major general. After his promotion, he joined General Earl Van Dorn near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

After fighting in numerous battles for several years, Breckinridge was appointed Confederate Secretary of War on January 19, 1865. By late February 1865, Breckinridge concluded that the Confederate cause was hopeless. Ultimately, he was the person who disbanded the Confederate War Department.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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11 Comments

dmarkc

Is it just me or does anyone else find it weird responding to a comment someone made 3 years ago?

Armadillo

earlepg, now that sounds familiar.

earlepg

At least Breckinridge was reacting to events which were important to him and his family in the context of history and not some preposterous notion of the grandioseness of himself.

earlepg

Char, Speaking of history "classes", I'm with you. The history of things associated with us (as in genealogy/family oriented) is much more interesting than the stuff we learn in classes (especially the mandatory ones) with those lists of "other people" and dates (I still have problems with dates).

Cora Jeske

Char, isn't that sad? I couldn't really get into history when they were teaching it in school but as an adult, I'm much more interested. It's a shame. I would have done so much better in that class I would have had interest in it.

james parrillo

Apparently, many players here know. I needed to check the reference article to learn Mr. Breckinridge was vice-president for James Buchanan. Thank you, Christine, James's wife

Char

Well I'm not pleased being from Kentucky but I had heard of this doing genealogy because away back cousin from Ireland is said to have joined them while I myself stood with Kentucky. Still Thank You because I had no idea on who what when and where only that it took place..Lived in Kentucky over 30 years but only heard we were neutral..Took me another 25 years to find more doing genealogy and another 10 years to learn by whom lol..strange how we learn something though I'm sure it was in History books as a kid but I was just never into history back then especially war..

Richard G Schwartz

Very interesting.

Joseph A. Robitaille

Great picture it had to be The Civil War period.

William Laughlin

George Oliver Prince, scottlarock, Aaron Burr would have been a terrible option, since he died at 80 years old, 25 years before the civil war! (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836)