William Campbell Preston Breckinridge, Commanding Officer of the 9th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, Confederate States of America, (grandson of John Breckinridge, uncle of Levin Irving Handy, and grand-uncle of John Bayne Breckinridge)a representative from Kentucky; born in Baltimore, Maryland, 28 August 1837; attended the common schools, Jefferson College, Chambersburg, Pa., and Pisgah Academy, Woodford, County, Kentucky; was graduated from Centre College, Danville, Kentucky in 1855 and from the law department of the University of Louisville in 1857; was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in Lexington, Kentucky. Entered the Confederate Army in 1861 as a captain and was subsequently promoted to the rank of colonel in the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry; was in command of the Kentucky cavalry designated to act as bodyguard for President Jefferson Davis and the members of his cabinet at the close of the Civil War; returned to Lexington, Kentucky and was attorney for Fayette County; edited the Lexington (Ky.) Observer and Reporter 1866-1868; professor of equity and jurisprudence in the University of Kentucky at Lexington; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1876 and 1888; elected as a Democrat to the Fourty-ninth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885 - March 3 1895); unsuccessfull candidate for election in 1896 to the Fifty fifth congress; resumed the practice of law and aslo edited the Lexington Herald; died in Lexington, Kentucky, November 18, 1904; interment in Lexington Cemetery.
SCOURCE: Congressional biography using DAB, Klotter, James C. "The Breckinridges of Kentucky 1760-1981". Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 1996.
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Breckinridge, William Campbell Preston (1837-1904) - also known as William C. P. Breckinridge - of Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Grandson of John Breckinridge; nephew of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge; son of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge; son-in-law of Thomas Hart Clay; cousin of John Cabell Breckinrdge; brother of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, Jr.; uncle of Levin Irving Handy; granduncle of John Bayne Breckinridge. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, 28 August 1837. Democrat. Colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1876; U. S. Reprentative from Kentucky 7th District, 1885-1895. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar. In 1894, he was successfully sued for breach of promise by a former mistress; he acknowledged the affair, but the scandal ended his political career. Died in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, November 18, 1904. Interment at Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky.
SCOURCE: The Political Graveyard.
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W.C.P. Breckinridge was married twice, first to Miss Lucretia Clay, daughter of Thomas H. Clay and granddaughter of Henry Clay. Second he was married to Miss Issa Desha, daughter of Dr. J. R. Desha of Lexington by whom he had several children: [1] Sphonisba P., April 1, 1866 at Lexington, Kentucky [2] Desha, August 5, 1867 at Lexington, Kentucky.
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Enlisted Monday 15 July 1861 at Georgetown, Scott Co., Kentucky as a Colonel and commissioned into Field and Staff, Kentucky 9th Cavalry.

Sunday, December 28, 1862 at Muldraugh Hill - Ft. Sands and Ft. Boyle - Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Friday, January 23, 1863 thru Thursday June 11, 1863 - Alexandria, Liberty and Snow Hill, TN.

November 1863 - Bennett's Cavalry (9th TN Cavalry) was assigned to William Breckinridge's Brigade when they took part in a skirmish in Lebanon, TN on Wednesday, November 11th, 1863.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 5th, 6th and 7th 1864 at Dug Gap and Snake Creek Gap and withdrawal to Resaca-Dalton, Georgia.

Sunday, July 10, 1864, W.C.P. Breckinridge's regiment assigned to Army of Tennessee, Joe Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Major-General William T. Martin's Division, Brig.-General John S. Willim's Brigade.

Sunday, October 2m 1864, Saltville, Virginia.

Friday and Saturday, March 18 & 19, 1865, Bentonville, North Carolina.

Sunday, April 10, 1865 - President Jefferson Davis arrived at Charlotte, North Carolina escorted by the cavalry brigades of General Dibrell and Col. W.C.P. Breckindridge. In the course of a speech made by Mr. Davis to the soldiers and citizen who assembled to greet him, he was handed a dispatch announcing the assassination of President Lincoln. ("Reminscenses of General Basil W. Duke, C.S.A.", page 383)

Wednesday, April 13, 1865 - President Davis and his cabinet with the five brigades commanded respectively by General Dibrell, General Ferguson, General Vaughn, Colonel Breckinridge and myself (General Basil W. Duke), as an escort all under the command of General John C. Breckinridge left Charlotte and marched in the direction of Washington, Georgia (Duke, pg. 385)

Surrendered 15 May 1865 at Augusta, Georgia. (estimated day of surrender)