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Appendix A.
Provisional government of Kentucky.
On the 18th of November, 1861, a sovereignty convention was held in
Russellville, Kentucky, at which two hundred members were present, for the purpose of forming a State government favorable to a union with the Southern Confederacy.
It remained in session three days and adopted a constitution which provided for a provisional government, vesting all executive and legislative powers in a council of ten, the council to fill vacancies.
The existing constitution and laws were declared to be in force except where inconsistent with the acts of that convention and of the legislative council.
George W. Johnson, of
Scott county, was elected governor;
Robert McKee, of
Louisville,
secretary of state, and
Orlando F. Payne,
assistant secretary of state;
Theodore L. Burnett, of
Spencer county, treasurer, who resigned December 17th, and
J. B. Burnham, of
Warren county, was appointed in his place;
Richard Hawes, of
Bourbon county, auditor, who resigned, and
Joshua Pillsbury was appointed in his place.
A. Frank Brown, of
Bourbon county, was chosen clerk of the council;
John B. Thompson, Jr., of
Mercer county, sergeant-at-arms, and
Walter N. Haldeman, of
Louisville, State printer.
An ordinance of secession was adopted, and
Henry C. Burnett,
William E. Simms and
William Preston were sent as commissioners to
Richmond, and on the 10th day of December, 1862, the Confederate Congress admitted
Kentucky as a member of the
Confederate States.
Bowling Green was made the new seat of government.
The following executive council was chosen:
Willis B. Machen, president;
John W. Crockett,
Philip B. Thompson,
James P. Bates,
James
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S. Chrisman,
Elijah Burnside,
H. W. Bruce,
E. M. Bruce,
James M. Thorn, and
Geo. B. Hodge, who resigned and was succeeded by
Samuel S. Scott. 1
The following were elected representatives in the Provisional Congress from the several districts: First,
Henry C. Burnett; Second,
John Thomas; Third,
Theodore L. Burnett; Fourth,
Geo. W. Ewing; Fifth,
Daniel P. White; Sixth, Thomas Johnson; Seventh,
Samuel H. Ford; Eighth,
Thomas B. Monroe, Sr; Ninth,
John M. Elliott; Tenth,
Geo. B. Hodge.
The council divided the
State into twelve districts and provided for an election by the
State at large of persons to represent these districts in the first permanent Congress of the Confederate States.
On the designated day voting places were fixed and the election was held in all the counties within the lines of the Confederate army, resulting in the choice of the following: First district,
Willis B. Machen; Second district,
John W. Crockett; Third district,
Henry E. Read; Fourth district,
Geo. W. Ewing; Fifth district,
James S. Chrisman; Sixth district,
Theodore L. Burnett; Seventh district,
H. W. Bruce; Eighth district,
George B. Hodge; Ninth district,
E. M. Bruce; Tenth district,
James W. Moore; Eleventh district,
Robert J. Breckinridge, Jr.; Twelfth district,
John M. Elliott.
These gentlemen served in the first regular Confederate Congress.
Of the number,
Messrs. Burnett,
H. W. Bruce and
Breckinridge survive, 1898.
Mr. Machen was afterwards
United States senator, 1873;
John M. Elliott, judge of the court of appeals, 1878, and
H. W. Bruce, circuit judge of the
Louisville circuit court, 1868-73, and chancellor of the
Louisville chancery court, 1874-80, while
Geo. B. Hodge and
Robert J. Breckinridge served as State senators, and
James S. Chrisman as representative.
In 1863 the following were elected and sent as members of the second permanent Congress: First district,
Willis B. Machen; Second district,
Geo. W. Triplett: Third
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district,
Henry E. Read; Fourth district,
Geo. W. Ewing; Fifth district,
Jas. S. Chrisman; Sixth district,
Theodore L. Burnett; Seventh district,
H. W. Bruce; Eighth district,
Humphrey Marshall; Ninth district,
E. M. Bruce; Tenth district,
James W. Moore; Eleventh district,
Ben. F. Bradley; Twelfth district,
John M. Elliott.
Mr. Bradley afterwards served as State senator.
The legislative council, upon the admission of the
State, elected
Henry C. Burnett and
William E. Simms senators to the Confederate Congress, and they served through the war. Upon the death of
Gov. George W. Johnson, who fell on the second day at
Shiloh, while fighting in the ranks, the legislative council elected
Hon. Richard Hawes his successor.
While the
State was occupied by the Confederate army under
General Bragg,
Governor Hawes was inaugurated with due formality, and he delivered an inaugural address in the
capitol at
Frankfort, October 4, 1862, but the evacuation of the place the same afternoon prevented his performance of any of the functions of governor except the occupation of the executive mansion for a few hours.
After the war he was county judge of
Bourbon county for many years.
