Background
Thomas Leonidas Crittenden was born on May 15, 1819 in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky. He was the second son of John Jordan Crittenden and Sally (Lee) Crittenden, and a brother of George B. Crittenden.
Thomas Leonidas Crittenden was born on May 15, 1819 in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky. He was the second son of John Jordan Crittenden and Sally (Lee) Crittenden, and a brother of George B. Crittenden.
He received an education as good as could be obtained outside of a college, and early began the study of law under his eminent father.
He was admitted to the bar in 1840 and two years later was elected commonwealth’s attorney for his district.
At the outbreak of the Mexican War he enlisted, was appointed aide to General Zachary Taylor, a kinsman, and was present at the battle of Buena Vista. A few months later when the 3rd Kentucky Infantry was organized he was made its colonel, with John C. Breckinridge serving as a major under him. He was mustered out of the service in 1848.
When Taylor became president he appointed Crittenden consul at Liverpool, where the latter remained until 1853, in that year returning to Kentucky to begin the practise of law in Frankfort. After a few years he removed to Louisville and became a merchant.
When the state’s militia laws were reorganized in 1860 and the state guards were set up under the control of Simon B. Buckner, Crittenden was commissioned major-general.
Following in the footsteps of his father, he opposed secession, and, on September 18, after Buckner had led most of the state guards to the Confederacy, was given command of the state forces.
The Kentucky troops were soon mustered into the Federal service, however, and Crittenden joined the Union army, being made a brigadiergeneral on October 27, 1861.
He commanded a unit in the march south through Kentucky and in the invasion of Tennessee. He especially distinguished himself at Shiloh, for which service he was promoted major-general. He was with Rosecrans at Murfreesboro and at Chickamauga, commanding the left wing in the former battle and the 216t Army Corps in the latter.
At Chickamauga he was driven back after having weakened his forces to refinforce General Thomas. He was relieved of his command and his conduct investigated.
On December 14, 1863 the Kentucky legislature demanded of President Lincoln a rehearing. In February following, Crittenden was honorably acquitted by a court of inquiry at Louisville. He was now transferred to the Army of the Potomac in Virginia and on December 13, 1864 resigned from the service.
In January 1866 he was appointed state treasurer for Kentucky but on November15, 1867, having been offered a colonelcy by President Johnson, he resigned his civil office to reenter the army.
He was stationed at various posts in the West, and finally at Governors Island where he remained until he was retired in 1881.
He died at Annandale on Staten Island, twelve years later, and was buried in the Frankfort cemetery.
He married Kittie Todd of Frankfort.