Tyrant

Burbridge suppressed dissent, interfered in state and local elections, imposed unpopular controls on Kentucky’s economy, and jailed or banished critics of the war and the Lincoln administration. The people on the receiving end of these actions were mostly fellow Unionists who found the decision to enlist black troops—and the entire emancipationist turn of war policy—repugnant. They rallied white Kentuckians to oppose the decision, petitioned the Administration to suspend it, and campaigned for George McClellan when it became evident that Lincoln was not listening. Burbridge treated such critics harshly. Emancipation changed the nature of what it meant to be loyal to the Union, and Burbridge enforced the new definition rigorously.