Thomas E. Bramlette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas E. Bramlette
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| 23rd Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office September 1, 1863 – September 3, 1867 |
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| Lieutenant | Richard T. Jacob |
| Preceded by | James F. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | John L. Helm |
| Member of the Kentucky General Assembly | |
| In office 1841 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Elliott Bramlette
January 3, 1817 Cumberland County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 1875 (aged 58) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cave Hill Cemetery Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Whig Democrat |
| Spouses | Sallie Travis Mary E. Adams |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1862 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 3rd Kentucky Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Civil War |
Thomas Elliott Bramlette (born January 3, 1817 – died January 12, 1875) was the 23rd Governor of Kentucky. He was chosen in 1863. He led the state through the last part of the Civil War. He also guided Kentucky during the start of the Reconstruction period.
When the war began, Bramlette put his political plans on hold. He joined the Union Army. He helped create and then led the 3rd Kentucky Infantry regiment. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln made him the district attorney for Kentucky. A year later, he became the Union Democrats' choice for governor.
The Union Army helped him win the election easily. But soon, Bramlette stopped supporting Lincoln. This was because of federal rules. These included drafting Black men from Kentucky into the Union Army. Also, the government stopped the right of habeas corpus for Kentucky citizens. After this, Bramlette said he would "bloodily baptize the state into the Confederacy".
After the war, Bramlette forgave most former Confederates in Kentucky. He did not agree with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. He also opposed the Freedmen's Bureau being in Kentucky. He was proud of other things he did. These included lowering the state's debt. He also helped start the Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical College. This school is now the University of Kentucky. After being governor, Bramlette went back to being a lawyer in Louisville. He passed away on January 12, 1875. He was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.
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Early Life and Career
Thomas E. Bramlette was born on January 3, 1817. His birthplace was Elliott's Cross Roads in Cumberland County. This area is now Clinton County, Kentucky. His parents were Ambrose S. and Sarah Bramlette. His father served in the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives.
Bramlette studied law and became a lawyer in 1837. He was 20 years old. He started his law practice in Louisville, Kentucky. In September 1837, he married Sallie Travis. She was his first wife. They had two children, Thomas and Corinne.
Bramlette's political journey began in 1841. He was elected to represent Clinton County in the Kentucky General Assembly. In 1848, Governor John J. Crittenden made him the Commonwealth's Attorney. He left this job in 1850 to focus on his law practice. He moved to Columbia, Kentucky in 1852. In 1853, he ran for the United States House of Representatives. He was a Whig but lost to a Democrat. In 1856, he became a judge in Kentucky. He served as a judge for five years.
Military Service During the Civil War
Bramlette stopped being a judge on August 7, 1861. He joined the Union Army as a colonel. Kentucky had agreed to stay neutral in the Civil War. But Bramlette helped create and lead the 3rd Kentucky Infantry. On September 19, his troops marched to Lexington. They wanted to stop a peace meeting there. They also planned to arrest Senator John C. Breckinridge. But a delay allowed Breckinridge to escape. He soon joined the Confederate Army.
Bramlette left the military on July 13, 1862. He went back to Louisville. President Abraham Lincoln offered him a new job. He became the United States District Attorney for Kentucky. In this role, he strongly enforced Kentucky's wartime laws. He acted against Confederates and their supporters.
Governor of Kentucky During Wartime
In 1863, the Union Democrats chose Joshua Fry Bell for governor. But Bell was unsure about Kentucky's future with the Union. So, he decided not to run. The party then chose Bramlette to take his place. Bramlette turned down a high military rank to run for governor. During the election, Union soldiers scared and jailed supporters of Bramlette's opponent. His opponent was former governor Charles A. Wickliffe. Because of this, Bramlette won the election by a huge amount. He won almost four times more votes than Wickliffe. While governor, he turned down a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He also refused to be a candidate for Vice-President in 1864.
Civil War Challenges
In December 1863, Bramlette spoke to the General Assembly. He said Kentucky had enough soldiers for the Union army. On January 4, 1864, he announced a new rule. People who supported rebels would be blamed for guerrilla attacks. They would face big fines and jail time for helping guerrillas.
Bramlette started as a strong supporter of the Union. But within a year, he changed his mind. He said he would "bloodily baptize the state into the Confederacy". Many things caused this change. He disagreed with General Stephen G. Burbridge's decision. Burbridge wanted to enlist Black men from Kentucky into the military. Bramlette asked that this only happen if Kentucky did not meet its soldier goals.
To enlist Black men, Lincoln ordered a special count in 1863. It showed 1,650 free Black men and 40,000 enslaved Black men of military age. By March 1864, Bramlette agreed to Black enlistment. This was because white enlistment was too low. He said owners must agree and get $300. By April, enslaved men ran away to join the army. They wanted freedom. This led to violence against those trying to enlist. By June 1864, owners' consent was no longer needed.
The situation got worse on July 5, 1864. President Lincoln stopped the right of habeas corpus for Kentucky citizens. This meant people could be jailed without being told why. General Burbridge also bothered Kentucky citizens. He interfered with the 1864 presidential election. He also forced Lieutenant Governor Richard Taylor Jacob to leave the state. When the General Assembly met in January 1865, Bramlette still opposed the Union's actions. But he urged them to pass the Thirteenth Amendment. He believed slavery was "irrevocably doomed".
Reconstruction Era Efforts
Despite his disagreements with Lincoln, Bramlette called for a day of fasting and prayer. This was after he heard about Lincoln's death. The General Assembly asked the new president, Andrew Johnson, to end martial law in Kentucky. But tension between the state and federal governments remained. Bramlette announced that every "white male citizen" who was 21 and lived in Kentucky for two years could vote. Because of Bramlette's actions, Kentucky voters gave Democrats control of the General Assembly. They also won five of nine congressional seats. President Johnson then ended martial law and restored habeas corpus in Kentucky.
When the General Assembly met in December 1865, Bramlette wanted to bring peace to the state. He gave pardons to most former Confederates. He and most of the General Assembly opposed the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Bramlette also protested the Freedmen's Bureau being in Kentucky.
Bramlette was very proud of his achievements not related to the Civil War. These included lowering the state's debt. He also helped create the Agricultural and Mechanical College. This school later became the University of Kentucky. He supported building turnpikes (toll roads) using government money. He also supported developing natural resources. He encouraged people to move to Kentucky to help with rebuilding efforts.
Later Life and Death
After his term as governor, Bramlette tried to become a U.S. Senator. But he did not win. In 1874, he married Mary E. Graham Adams. This was two years after his first wife passed away. He went back to his law practice in Louisville. He also supported many charities.
Bramlette died in Louisville on January 12, 1875. He had been sick for a short time. He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
See also
