Civil War Union Brigadier General. A native of Boyle County, Kentucky, he graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1838 and completed his law studies at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. He became a successful lawyer in Boyle County and argued for the emancipation of slaves as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1849. When the Civil War began, he declared his allegiance to the Union and joined the Volunteer Army. He became a Brigadier General on November 9, 1861 and was assigned to command the 11th Brigade in the 5th Division of the Army of the Ohio. He led his brigade at the Battle of Shiloh and was later appointed as the Military Governor for the Department of Kentucky. He resigned in 1864 and moved to Louisville, Kentucky where he became engaged in the development of city transportation. He became the president of the Louisville City Railway Company in 1865. He later became president of the Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad from 1866 until his death in 1871. He was the son of Chief Justice John Boyle, for whom Boyle County was named. He was the father of the Union Army's youngest Colonel, William O. Boyle, known as the "Boy Major", who was killed in battle in 1864. He was also the brother-in-law of United States Congressman William C. Anderson.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. A native of Boyle County, Kentucky, he graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1838 and completed his law studies at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. He became a successful lawyer in Boyle County and argued for the emancipation of slaves as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1849. When the Civil War began, he declared his allegiance to the Union and joined the Volunteer Army. He became a Brigadier General on November 9, 1861 and was assigned to command the 11th Brigade in the 5th Division of the Army of the Ohio. He led his brigade at the Battle of Shiloh and was later appointed as the Military Governor for the Department of Kentucky. He resigned in 1864 and moved to Louisville, Kentucky where he became engaged in the development of city transportation. He became the president of the Louisville City Railway Company in 1865. He later became president of the Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad from 1866 until his death in 1871. He was the son of Chief Justice John Boyle, for whom Boyle County was named. He was the father of the Union Army's youngest Colonel, William O. Boyle, known as the "Boy Major", who was killed in battle in 1864. He was also the brother-in-law of United States Congressman William C. Anderson.
Bio by: K Guy
Family Members
Advertisement
