George Washington Bridges
Encyclopedia
George Washington Bridges (October 9, 1825 – March 16, 1873) was an American
politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives
for the 3rd congressional district
of Tennessee
.
in Bradley County. He attended East Tennessee University
, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1848. He commenced practice in Athens, Tennessee
in McMinn County. He was the attorney general
of Tennessee from 1849 to 1860.
He was elected as a Unionist
to the Thirty-seventh Congress, but he was arrested by Confederate
troops while en route to Washington, D.C.
and taken back to Tennessee. He was held prisoner for more than a year before he made his escape and went to Washington, D.C.
, and assumed his duties. He was qualified and took his seat in the House of Representatives on February 25, 1863, serving until March 3, 1863.
He enlisted in the Union Army
as a captain on August 25, 1863. He was mustered in as a lieutenant colonel
in the 10th Tennessee Cavalry
on February 23, 1864, and he was discharged on December 29 of that year. He was elected circuit judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Tennessee in 1866 and served for about one year. He died in Athens, Tennessee on March 16, 1873 and was interred
in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the 3rd congressional district
Tennessee's 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of Tennessee is a congressional district in Tennessee. It currently includes a north-south strip in the eastern part of the state. Current Republican Representative Chuck Fleischmann has served since 2011....
of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Biography
He was born in Charleston, TennesseeCharleston, Tennessee
Charleston is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 651 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in Bradley County. He attended East Tennessee University
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1848. He commenced practice in Athens, Tennessee
Athens, Tennessee
Athens is a city in McMinn County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of McMinn County and the principal city of the Athens Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Chattanooga-Cleveland-Athens Combined Statistical Area. The population was 13,220 at the 2000...
in McMinn County. He was the attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Tennessee from 1849 to 1860.
He was elected as a Unionist
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
to the Thirty-seventh Congress, but he was arrested by Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
troops while en route to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and taken back to Tennessee. He was held prisoner for more than a year before he made his escape and went to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and assumed his duties. He was qualified and took his seat in the House of Representatives on February 25, 1863, serving until March 3, 1863.
He enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as a captain on August 25, 1863. He was mustered in as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the 10th Tennessee Cavalry
10th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry
The 10th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Tennessee Cavalry was organized August 25, 1863 in Nashville, Tennessee and mustered in for a three year enlistment under the command of Lieutenant...
on February 23, 1864, and he was discharged on December 29 of that year. He was elected circuit judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Tennessee in 1866 and served for about one year. He died in Athens, Tennessee on March 16, 1873 and was interred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in Cedar Grove Cemetery.