John W. Caldwell
Encyclopedia
John William Caldwell was a U.S. Representative
from Kentucky
.
on January 15, 1837. He was the son of Austin and Louisa (Harrison) Caldwell. Austin Caldwell died in 1843, leaving John Caldwell as his only living child. With the duties of caring for his father's estate, Caldwell was only able to attend the common schools of Logan
and Christian
Counties until age fourteen. In 1850, he moved with his uncle, Dr. Robert Peyton Harrison, to Texas
, where he worked on a farm, as a clerk, and as a surveyor.
At age nineteen, Caldwell returned to Kentucky. He studied law with William Morton, a well-known lawyer in his family. In 1856, he matriculated to the University of Louisville School of Law, completing a junior year course of study with honors. He graduated from the university in 1857, was admitted to the bar
in 1858, and commenced practice in Russellville, Kentucky
.
Caldwell married Sallie J. Barclay, and the couple had one son and two daughters.
, Caldwell volunteered as a private
in the Confederate States Army
in 1861. He was immediately elected captain of the "Logan Grays", a Confederate company
being recruited in Logan County. When Confederate forces under Simon Bolivar Buckner entered Kentucky, Caldwell led the Grays to Bowling Green
, where they were assigned to Company A of the 9th Kentucky Infantry
under John C. Breckinridge
. After Albert Sidney Johnson's retreat from Bowling Green, Caldwell commanded the 9th Kentucky until relieved by Thomas H. Hunt on his return from New Orleans, Louisiana
.
At the Battle of Shiloh
, Caldwell received several wounds, including a badly broken left arm. Sixty-five percent of his company was killed or wounded in the battle. After the battle, he was promoted to major
, and when the 9th Kentucky was reorganized six weeks later, he was elected its lieutenant colonel
. Following the resignation of Thomas H. Hunt in 1863, Caldwell was promoted to colonel
and given command of the unit. He also sometimes commanded the Orphan Brigade
.
Caldwell again broke his left arm at the Battle of Chickamauga
. Following this injury, the Board of Army Surgeons offered him a medical retirement, but he declined, rejoining his regiment in Dalton, Georgia
two weeks later. At the end of the war, he surrendered his forces at Washington, Georgia
and was parole
d as a prisoner of war
on May 6, 1865.
to represent the Third District
in the U.S. House of Representatives
. He served in the Forty-fifth
, Forty-sixth
, and Forty-seventh
Congresses (March 4, 1877-March 3, 1883). During his tenure, he was known as an advocate of home rule
, tariff reform, hard money
, and conservatism in public expenditures. Due to ill health, he declined to be a candidate for reelection although he faced no Republican opposition for the seat.
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...
.
Early life and family
John W. Caldwell was born in Russellville, KentuckyRussellville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
on January 15, 1837. He was the son of Austin and Louisa (Harrison) Caldwell. Austin Caldwell died in 1843, leaving John Caldwell as his only living child. With the duties of caring for his father's estate, Caldwell was only able to attend the common schools of Logan
Logan County, Kentucky
Logan County is a county located in the southwest area of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 26,573. Its county seat is Russellville...
and Christian
Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1797. As of 2000, its population was 72,265. Its county seat is Hopkinsville, Kentucky...
Counties until age fourteen. In 1850, he moved with his uncle, Dr. Robert Peyton Harrison, to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where he worked on a farm, as a clerk, and as a surveyor.
At age nineteen, Caldwell returned to Kentucky. He studied law with William Morton, a well-known lawyer in his family. In 1856, he matriculated to the University of Louisville School of Law, completing a junior year course of study with honors. He graduated from the university in 1857, was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1858, and commenced practice in Russellville, Kentucky
Russellville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
.
Caldwell married Sallie J. Barclay, and the couple had one son and two daughters.
Civil War service
Although he opposed secessionSecession in the United States
Secession in the United States can refer to secession of a state from the United States, secession of part of a state from that state to form a new state, or secession of an area from a city or county....
, Caldwell volunteered as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
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...
in 1861. He was immediately elected captain of the "Logan Grays", a Confederate company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
being recruited in Logan County. When Confederate forces under Simon Bolivar Buckner entered Kentucky, Caldwell led the Grays to Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
, where they were assigned to Company A of the 9th Kentucky Infantry
9th Kentucky Infantry
The 9th 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:...
under John C. Breckinridge
John C. Breckinridge
John Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
. After Albert Sidney Johnson's retreat from Bowling Green, Caldwell commanded the 9th Kentucky until relieved by Thomas H. Hunt on his return from New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
At the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, Caldwell received several wounds, including a badly broken left arm. Sixty-five percent of his company was killed or wounded in the battle. After the battle, he was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, and when the 9th Kentucky was reorganized six weeks later, he was elected its 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...
. Following the resignation of Thomas H. Hunt in 1863, Caldwell was promoted to 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...
and given command of the unit. He also sometimes commanded 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...
.
Caldwell again broke his left arm at 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...
. Following this injury, the Board of Army Surgeons offered him a medical retirement, but he declined, rejoining his regiment in Dalton, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
two weeks later. At the end of the war, he surrendered his forces at Washington, Georgia
Washington, Georgia
Washington is a city in Wilkes County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Wilkes County...
and was parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
d as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
on May 6, 1865.
Political career
Caldwell resumed the practice of law in Russellville in 1865. He was elected judge of the Logan County Court in August 1866 and reelected in 1870, serving eight years in all. Two years after his retirement from the bench, he was elected as a DemocratDemocratic 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...
to represent the Third District
Kentucky's 3rd congressional district
Kentucky's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky encompassing nearly the whole city of Louisville, which, since the merger of 2003, is contiguous with Jefferson County...
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...
. He served in the Forty-fifth
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
, Forty-sixth
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
, and Forty-seventh
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
Congresses (March 4, 1877-March 3, 1883). During his tenure, he was known as an advocate of home rule
Home Rule in the United States
In the United States, the legislative authority granted to local governments varies by state. In some states, known as Home Rule States, an amendment to the state constitution grants cities, municipalities, and/or counties the ability to pass laws to govern themselves as they see fit...
, tariff reform, hard money
Hard money
Hard money may refer to:* Hard currency, globally traded currency that can serve as a reliable and stable store of value* Hard money donations to candidates for political office* Hard money currency policies...
, and conservatism in public expenditures. Due to ill health, he declined to be a candidate for reelection although he faced no Republican opposition for the seat.