Joseph Horace Lewis
Encyclopedia
Joseph Horace Lewis was an American
lawyer, military leader and politician. He served as a brigadier general
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
, and later a U.S. Representative
from Kentucky
and justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
, the court of last resort in Kentucky at the time.
on October 29, 1824. He was the son of John and Eliza Martz (Reed) Lewis. His father was a volunteer in the War of 1812
, serving under Andrew Jackson
at the Battle of New Orleans
.
Lewis attained his early education in the local public schools. He then matriculated to Centre College
in Danville, Kentucky
, graduating in 1843. After graduation, he read law
under Judge C. C. Thompkins. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Glasgow.
Lewis married Sarah Rogers, who died in 1858. The couple had two children – John Lewis and Eliza (Lewis) Burnham.
to the Kentucky House of Representatives
in 1850. He was re-elected twice, serving until 1855. After the collapse of the Whig Party, Lewis became a Democrat
. He was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives
in 1856 and 1860.
In September 1861, Lewis volunteered for service in the Confederate Army
and was commissioned colonel
of the 6th Kentucky Infantry
. Following the Battle of Chickamauga
, he was promoted to brigadier general
for meritorious conduct. He was given command of the Orphan Brigade
and remained their commander until the end of the war.
After the war, Lewis returned to Glasgow and resumed the practice of law. He was again elected to the Kentucky House in 1868 and chaired that body's Committee on Education. In 1870, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jacob S. Golladay
. At the next general election, he was elected to a full term. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1872. In all, he served from May 10, 1870, to March 3, 1873.
After retiring from Congress, Lewis briefly returned to the practice of law. He was elected judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
in 1874. He was re-elected to subsequent terms and served until 1898. In 1883, Lewis married a widow named Cassandra F. Flournoy Johnson.
After leaving the court, Lewis moved to a farm in Scott County, Kentucky
near Georgetown
, where he died on July 6, 1904. He was interred in Glasgow Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, military leader and politician. He served as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Confederate States Army
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...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and later a U.S. Representative
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...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
, the court of last resort in Kentucky at the time.
Early life and family
Joseph H. Lewis was born near Glasgow, KentuckyGlasgow, Kentucky
Glasgow is a city in and the county seat of Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 14,200 at the 2000 census. The city is well-known for its annual Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, Barren County was named the number one rural place to live by Progressive Farmer magazine...
on October 29, 1824. He was the son of John and Eliza Martz (Reed) Lewis. His father was a volunteer in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, serving under Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
at the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
.
Lewis attained his early education in the local public schools. He then matriculated to Centre College
Centre College
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
in Danville, Kentucky
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
, graduating in 1843. After graduation, he read law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
under Judge C. C. Thompkins. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Glasgow.
Lewis married Sarah Rogers, who died in 1858. The couple had two children – John Lewis and Eliza (Lewis) Burnham.
Political career
Lewis was elected as a WhigWhig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
in 1850. He was re-elected twice, serving until 1855. After the collapse of the Whig Party, Lewis became a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the U.S. 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...
in 1856 and 1860.
In September 1861, Lewis volunteered for service in the Confederate Army
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...
and was commissioned colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 6th Kentucky Infantry
6th Kentucky Infantry
The 6th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It was part of the First Kentucky Brigade.-Service:...
. Following the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, he was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
for meritorious conduct. He was given command of the Orphan Brigade
Orphan Brigade
The Orphan Brigade was the nickname of the First Kentucky Brigade, a group of military units recruited from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to fight for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The brigade was the largest Confederate unit to be recruited from Kentucky during...
and remained their commander until the end of the war.
After the war, Lewis returned to Glasgow and resumed the practice of law. He was again elected to the Kentucky House in 1868 and chaired that body's Committee on Education. In 1870, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jacob S. Golladay
Jacob Golladay
Jacob Shall Golladay was a 19th century politician from Kentucky. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate, followed by two terms as a United States Representative for the 3rd congressional district....
. At the next general election, he was elected to a full term. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1872. In all, he served from May 10, 1870, to March 3, 1873.
After retiring from Congress, Lewis briefly returned to the practice of law. He was elected judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
in 1874. He was re-elected to subsequent terms and served until 1898. In 1883, Lewis married a widow named Cassandra F. Flournoy Johnson.
After leaving the court, Lewis moved to a farm in Scott County, Kentucky
Scott County, Kentucky
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 47,173 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Georgetown.Scott County is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
near Georgetown
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
, where he died on July 6, 1904. He was interred in Glasgow Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals