to General William Nelson at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, in August, 1861. Becoming staff aide to General George H. Thomas, he served through the siege of Corinth, and became second lieutenant of Artillery, April, 1862. While at Pensacola and Fort Banancas, Florida, he performed the duties of aide on the staff and was put in command of several boat and scouting expeditions. Promoted first lieutenant, August 1, 1863, he was engaged in the Atlanta campaigns in 1864; was captured and imprisoned at Macon, Georgia, and later at Charleston, South Carolina. For service in this campaign, he was promoted to the brevet rank of captain. His exchange did not take place until September, 1864. In January, 1865, he was appointed mustering officer of the eastern district of Kentucky. Brevetted major in March, 1865, "for meritorious conduct," in September of that year, he was ordered with his regiment to California. Then followed some months when he served again as aide-de-camp on the staff of General H. W. Halleck. He was appointed to recruiting service and was later given leave of absence in 1868. From 1870-74, he was adjutant at the Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia; and during 1871 and 1872 he pursued a post-graduate course of study at the same institution. Promoted captain in June, 1874, he was stationed at Fort Foote in Maryland, for the next three years. In 1876 he was ordered to Petersburg, Virginia, from Fort Foote; and in 1877, with his company he was sent to assist in quelling the strikes and riots at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. From 1878-81, he was attached to the arsenal at Washington, District of Columbia. He was promoted to major in the regular army, and became assistant inspector-general, January 19, 1881; lieutenant-colonel and inspector-general, February 5, 1885; colonel, September 22, 1885; brigadier-general, January 30, 1889, and major-general of the United States army. May 4, 1898. In June, 1898, he was made inspector-general on the staff of General Miles. At his own request, he was retired with the rank of major-general, November 30, 1898.
General Breckinridge has held the office of elder in the Presbyterian church. He is a member of many patriotic societies; of the Sons of the American Revolution; of the Army of Santiago; of the Army of the Cumberland and Tennessee; of the Society of the American Wars; of the Loyal Legion, and of the Metropolitan club of Washington, District of Columbia. He has been commander of the Society
