Civil War Confederate Brigadier General, U.S. Congressman, Judge. A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, he graduated from Centre College in 1843. He completed his law studies, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and practiced as an attorney in Glasgow. He became a member of the Kentucky legislature from 1850 to 1855 and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Congress in 1857 and 1861. After the Civil War began, and Kentucky was no longer a neutral state, Lewis supported the Confederacy and established a camp near Cave City, Kentucky to recruit and train volunteers for the army. The recruits were combined with Martin H. Cofer's camp to form the 6th Kentucky Infantry in September, 1861. Lewis was elected as Colonel to command the regiment. The regiment participated in major engagements at the Battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga. He was promoted to Brigadier General in September, 1863 and assigned to command the 1st and 2nd Brigades in General Bates' Division. Lewis commanded the "Orphan Brigade" (as they came to be known) at Missionary Ridge and during the Atlanta Campaign. The brigade was comprised of five Kentucky infantry regiments and two artillery batteries. Two of Lewis' sons, Jack and Asa, were also members of the brigade. After the war, Lewis returned to Glasgow and resumed his law profession. He became a member of the Kentucky legislature again in 1869 and 1870. On May 10, 1870, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jacob S. Golladay. Representing Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District, he was reelected in 1870 and was not a candidate for reelection in 1872. He resumed his law practice until he became a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge in 1880. He was appointed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1882 until he resigned and retired in 1899. He was the Chief Justice of the Court in 1882, 1887, and 1897. He purchased a farm in Scott County, Kentucky near Georgetown where he spent the remaining years of his life.
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General, U.S. Congressman, Judge. A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, he graduated from Centre College in 1843. He completed his law studies, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and practiced as an attorney in Glasgow. He became a member of the Kentucky legislature from 1850 to 1855 and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Congress in 1857 and 1861. After the Civil War began, and Kentucky was no longer a neutral state, Lewis supported the Confederacy and established a camp near Cave City, Kentucky to recruit and train volunteers for the army. The recruits were combined with Martin H. Cofer's camp to form the 6th Kentucky Infantry in September, 1861. Lewis was elected as Colonel to command the regiment. The regiment participated in major engagements at the Battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga. He was promoted to Brigadier General in September, 1863 and assigned to command the 1st and 2nd Brigades in General Bates' Division. Lewis commanded the "Orphan Brigade" (as they came to be known) at Missionary Ridge and during the Atlanta Campaign. The brigade was comprised of five Kentucky infantry regiments and two artillery batteries. Two of Lewis' sons, Jack and Asa, were also members of the brigade. After the war, Lewis returned to Glasgow and resumed his law profession. He became a member of the Kentucky legislature again in 1869 and 1870. On May 10, 1870, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jacob S. Golladay. Representing Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District, he was reelected in 1870 and was not a candidate for reelection in 1872. He resumed his law practice until he became a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge in 1880. He was appointed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1882 until he resigned and retired in 1899. He was the Chief Justice of the Court in 1882, 1887, and 1897. He purchased a farm in Scott County, Kentucky near Georgetown where he spent the remaining years of his life.
Bio by: K Guy
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