Jun 29, 20 born in kentucky in 1826, john buford was descended from a long line of soldiers. Lee, who graduated second, nor as ignominious as that of the two georges, custer and pickett, each of whom finished last. In 1835, his mother died from cholera and the family moved to rock island, il. The freeper foxhole remembers general john buford at. He saw action at second bull run, where he was wounded, antietam, fredericksburg, and brandy station. Comparison horse, is the riderless horse with boots reversed in stirrups just some added thoughts about john buford, who died at the tender age of 37. Born in kentucky in 1826, john buford was descended from a long line of soldiers. March 4, 1826 december 16, 1863 was a united states army. When eric wittenbergs awardwinning book the devils to pay.
Buford was commissioned a second lieutenant in the. This book does a good, solid job of introducing readers to general buford. This was the obituary of buford that ran in the new york times the next day. Jun 22, 2015 one of these more effective union cavalry commanders was brigadier general john buford.
John thomas buford 17071787 wikitree free family tree. Here we have the life of civil war union general john buford, perhaps best known to modern day folks through the portrayal of him by actor sam elliot in the movie gettysburg. Buford is best known for having played a major role in the first day of the battle of gettysburg on july 1, 1863, by obtaining the high ground while in command of a division buford. Military academy at west point, new york and graduated in the middle of his class in 1848. As the war proceeded, better union commanders emerged and the tactics and capabilities of the federal cavalry improved until it matched or exceeded its southern counterpart. I do believe his claims of service based on my own research, wither he was 810 years old, or 1214. But, as my wife is fond of saying, its not the years, but the miles, and john buford had seen more than his share of hardship and hard living in the antebellum regular army and then during his civil war service. The inkwell autograph gallery, civil war autographs. John buford 18261863 a west pointer 1848, served on the western frontier and in the troubled territories of utah and kansas before becoming assistant inspector general of the union army in november 1861. General john buford and general napolian buford connection. Buford distinguished himself at the second battle of manassas and later held several important cavalry positions in the army of the. John buford and his first cavalry division troops, there is.
John buford is perhaps best known for his aggressive actions on the first day of the battle of gettysburg. The two generals met to plan their advance on a 17 mile long confederate wagon train of wounded in williamsport, maryland, where the wagons were trapped by the rising waters of the potomac river. Union brigadier general john buford autograph letter signed. He fought for the union as a brigadier general during the american civil war.
Apr 21, 2008 general buford s horse grey eagle to whom buford rode in the battle of gettysburg, was the comparison horse, at his funeral. Captain myles was at general bufords deathbed, at general stonemans house when, the papers for his promotion came, president lincoln insisting and stanton dragging his heelsonly obeyed lincoln when it was sure buford was not going to liveto promote buford, back dated to july 1, the. The confederates, whose forces on the scene soon included ewells corps in fact, all of the confederate corps were converging at gettysburg, attacked them. Major general john buford, usa the campaign for the. The killer angels details the events around four days in late june and early july, 1863, the story follows four men as they march into the field for what will become the bloodiest three days in american history.
After attending knox college in galesburg, illinois for one year, buford entered the u. John fulton reynolds september 20, 1820 july 1, 1863 was a career united states army officer. Rooney lee born at arlington in 1837, william henry fitzhugh lee was the second son of robert e. General bufords short biography by longacre tells his story prior to and after the battle at gettysburg. General john buford caught my attention while reading the killer angels shaara.
John buford and his staff set out for boonsboro, maryland, where judson kilpatricks command was camped. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. His is a story of an incomplete life accompanied by intriguing whatifs. John buford 18261863 within six months of his having played a key role in the opening of the battle of gettysburg, cavalryman john buford was dead of typhoid fever. Buford was one of six sons of john and judith early beaufort buford, all of whom served with distinction as officers during the american revolution. The film gettysburg introduced the general public to union cavalry leader john buford and his key role on the first day of the battle. General buford could have become one of the great generals of the civil war, if his life had not been cut short. Framed and matted with a modern reproduced black and white image of reynolds, along with a simulated brass plaque with info.
Though john buford was raised in rock island, illinois, he was actually born in kentucky in woodford county. John buford was born in kentucky in 1826 but was raised in illinois. The paperback of the general john buford by edward g. Although many books on gettysburg have addressed the role played by brig. Union brigadier general john buford autograph letter. March 4, 1826 december 16, 1863 was a union cavalry officer during the american civil war, with a prominent role at. Union brigadier general john buford autograph letter signed jno buford. Though from a slaveholding family in kentucky, he elected to remain loyal to the union when fighting began in 1861. Its not my intention here to defend the claims of his age. I am often asked what drew me to study the battle of gettysburg. John buford was born on 4 march 1826 near versailles, kentucky, into a family with a proud military heritage.
Inquire about clipped autograph of famous 7th cavalry member myles keogh. General john bufords report on his cavalrys action at. Buford is best known for having played a major role in the first day of the battle of gettysburg on july 1, 1863, by obtaining the high ground while in command of a. Longacre adds to his status as a leading authority on civil war cavalry the cavalry at gettysburg. All john buford artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30day moneyback guarantee. Under the leadership of general buford, gambles men employed a successful defense in depth delaying tactic until general john f.
As colonel, commanded general john buford s 2nd cavalry brigade during the gettysburg campaign, rose to major general, commanding the first cavalry division under general. The inkwell autograph gallery offer an impressive collection of 100% authentic civil war and other autographs, museum framed for preservation and display. Serving on the western frontier, he decided that whether cavalry fought mounted or on foot in a given instance. Major general john buford autograph letter signed 12141861 item 306812. His father was actually an opponent of abraham lincoln. His cavalry forces repulsed the first confederate attack by two of general henry heth s brigades archers and davis. His pedigree included lighthorse harry lee and martha washington. Two pages, 5 x 8, september 7, 1863, available at 20 october 17 18. However, he merits more consideration than for one days worth of sound generalship.
John buford, who died at washington yesterday, was a graduate of the west point military academy, and in the regular army held the rank of major in the inspectorgenerals department. John buford was born on month day 1828, at birth place, kentucky, to john buford and ann, bannister buford. Longacres most popular book is general john buford. The union cavalry commander, whose decision to hold the high ground on. General john buford the union cavalry commander, whose decision to hold the high ground on the first day of the battle of gettysburg may have saved the union. John buford wardate autograph letter signed extremely rare wardate autograph letter signed dated 12141861 written as assistant inspector general from louisville, kentucky to col.
He was appointed brigadiergeneral of volunteers on the 27th of july, 1862, and assigned to the command of a cavalry brigade under gen. The court recommended john ragsdale, of bears element creek, for justice of peace. Buford, the son of a kentucky slave owner, stayed loyal to the union, as did his halfbrother, major general napoleon buford. Note that it will be impossible to comment on this, or actually any, biography without giving spoilers. General john buford july 1st battle of gettysburg battle of. The union cavalry commander, whose decision to hold the high ground on the first day of the battle of gettysburg may have saved the union, prepares to inspect the 9th pennsylvania cavalry in the first year of the war. Thomas casimer devin 18221878 find a grave memorial. Brief biography of john buford by eric wittenberg john imboden v john buford at williamsport by eric wittenberg john buford and the gettysburg campaign by eric wittenberg. Their civil war descendants included union major generals john buford, who distinguished himself at the battle of gettysburg, and napoleon bonaparte buford and confederate general abraham buford. We asked him to share a few thoughts in advance of his talk. As colonel, commanded general john bufords 2nd cavalry brigade during the gettysburg campaign, rose to major general, commanding the. The kentuckyborn soldier had moved to illinois before being appointed to west point.
Eric wittenberg, author of the devils to pay, talks about union general john bufords gettysburg defense. His father was a militia officer, his paternal grandfather fought in the revolutionary war with col henry light horse harry lee, and his older halfbrother, napoleon bonaparte buford, graduated from west point in 1827. This talk is a part of a symposium hosted by the emerging civil war blog. Dear mt155, captain myles keogh was general john bufords friend as well as staff on his cavalry unit. John buford historical records and family trees myheritage. A west point graduate in the class of 1848, buford spent the years before the civil war serving on the great plains and in the west. Knowing that his talents were being wasted, mg john pope, commander of the newly formed army of virginia, rescued buford from his administrative job in july 1862, promoted him to brigadier general, and gave him command of a cavalry brigade. Raised the first company of cavalry from new york city to defend washington at the start of the civil war.
John gibbon, a north carolinian facing the same dilemma, recalled in a postwar memoir the evening that john buford committed himself to the union. John was the first son of his fathers john buford, sr. General john buford at the outset of the civil war, confederate cavalry was generally superior to union cavalry in terms of both commanders and tactics. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. He entered west point in 1844, graduating four years later, 16th in his class of 38 a ranking neither as impressive as that of robert e.
The film gettysburg introduced the general public to union cava. Doublematted and framed with a biographic plaque to an overall size of 20 12x22 12. Mounted raids of the civil war with this definitive biography of one of its key leaders. Though hardly the most famous member of his family, rooneyas he was known. John buford was born march 4, 1826, near versailles, ky and was the first son of john and anne bannister buford. Most of the signed books we offer are obtained inperson by the owner of the inkwell autograph gallery. Shop for john buford art from the worlds greatest living artists. Portrait of general john buford american civil war. I truly believe john salling of scott county, virginia, was the confederacys last peter monkey. Eric will be speaking on that subject at the fourth annual emerging civil war symposium at stevenson ridge aug. He fought for the union as a brigadier general during the. March 4, 1826 december 16, 1863 was a united states army cavalry officer.
General buford could have become one of the great generals of the civil war, if. John buford and his first cavalry division troops, there is not a single book length study devoted entirely to the critical delaying actions. John buford at gettysburg came out in 2014, it made quite a splash. Descended from a long line of military men, the young buford soon proved himself a skilled rider and a gifted marksmen. One night after the arrival of the mail we were in his bufords room, when buford said in his slow and deliberate way i. On the morning of july 1, 1863, just west of gettysburg, union cavalry under general john buford ran smack into confederates of gen. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Major general john buford was a noted cavalry officer in the union army during the civil war.
General john buford july 1st battle of gettysburg battle. Eventually, this task was placed in the hands of john r. Buford attended college in galesburg, illinois at knox college for only year. Cavalry general john buford is the man on the spot, and heroically holds lees army back while the rest of the union troops move into position on the valuable and crucial high ground of cemetery ridge. Our specialty is books on the outdoors, in the widest possible definition of the term, with books on everything from golf to sailing. Historical records and family trees related to john buford. Longacre has 32 books on goodreads with 1521 ratings. He was then accepted into west point for the class of 1848. Burford books is an independent book publisher based in ithaca, ny, in new yorks finger lakes. Choose your favorite john buford designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more. John ragsdale, gentleman, produced commission appointing him captain of the militia, and.
Major general john buford autograph letter signed 12141861. Portrait of general john buford american civil war message. Enter a personalized message or signature only below. Chapter 9 this poem, general john buford july 1st, focuses on bufords actions on july 1st, 1863 at the battle of gettysburg. Major general john buford autograph letter signed 1214.