George Baird Hodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Baird Hodge
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| Born | April 8, 1828 Fleming County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | August 1, 1892 (aged 64) Longwood, Florida, U.S. |
| Place of burial |
Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, Kentucky
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| Allegiance | United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Navy Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1845–1850 (USN) 1861–1865 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Midshipman (USN)Colonel (CSA) Acting Brigadier General (CSA) |
| Unit | Orphan Brigade |
| Commands held | Hodge's Cavalry Brigade |
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| Other work |
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George Baird Hodge (born April 8, 1828 – died August 1, 1892) was an important figure from Kentucky. He was a lawyer and a politician. During the American Civil War, he served as a colonel and an acting general for the Confederate States of America. He led a group of cavalry soldiers. Even though he was considered a brigadier general at the end of the war, his promotion was not officially approved by the Confederate Senate.
Early Life and Family
George Hodge was born in Fleming County, Kentucky. His parents were William and Sarah Hodge. When he was young, he joined the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He became a midshipman in the Navy in 1845. He was later promoted to acting lieutenant but decided to leave the Navy in 1850.
George Hodge married Keturah Moss Tibbatts. They had seven children together.
Political Career
After leaving the Navy, Hodge became a lawyer in Newport, Kentucky. He practiced law there for several years. In 1852, he tried to become a member of the United States House of Representatives, but he didn't win.
In 1859, he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives as a Democrat. The next year, he supported a presidential candidate named Breckinridge in the 1860 election.
Civil War Service
When the American Civil War began in 1861, George Hodge joined the Confederate States Army as a private. Soon after, he was chosen to represent Kentucky in the Confederate government from 1861 to 1862.
While he was away, he was promoted to captain and became an assistant officer in the Orphan Brigade. He was promoted again to major in May 1862 because of his bravery at the Battle of Shiloh. He then led a cavalry group under generals Joseph Wheeler and Nathan Bedford Forrest.
General Wheeler praised Hodge for his service during the Middle Tennessee Raid. However, General Forrest later removed Hodge from his command, questioning his leadership. Hodge was cleared of these accusations and was put back in command. He was promoted to colonel in May 1863. He also briefly served as an inspector-general at Cumberland Gap.
Hodge continued to represent Kentucky in the Confederate House of Representatives until 1864. After his term ended, he was promoted to colonel and inspector-general again. He was given command of a district in Mississippi and Louisiana, where he served until the war ended.
He was promoted to acting brigadier general in November 1863, but this promotion was not approved by the Confederate Senate. It was submitted again in August 1864, but still wasn't confirmed. Even though he was considered a brigadier general when the war ended, his rank was never officially confirmed.
Later Life
After the Civil War, George Hodge went back to being a lawyer in Newport, Kentucky. He stayed involved in politics. In 1872, he supported the Greeley ticket in the presidential election.
He was elected to the Kentucky Senate and served from 1873 to 1877. Later in his life, he became an orange grower and lived in Florida.
George Hodge passed away on August 1, 1892, in Longwood, Florida. He was first buried in Seminole, Florida. In 1903, his remains were moved to Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky.
Publication
- Sketch of the First Kentucky Brigade (1874)
