Class of 1848

John Buford, Jr.: Born Mar. 4, 1826, Versailles, KY.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1844, to July 1, 1848, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut., 1st Dragoons, July 1, 1848.

Served: in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1848; on frontier duty at Ft. Scott, Kan., 1848‑49, — New Mexico, 1849‑51, — Ft. Mason,

(Second Lieut., 2d Dragoons, Feb. 17, 1849)

Tex., 1852‑53, — San Antonio, Tex., 1853, — Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.,

(First Lieut., 2d Dragoons, July 9, 1853)

1853, — and Ft. Mason, Tex., 1853; in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1854‑55; as Quartermaster, 2d Dragoons, May 9, 1855, to Aug. 4, 1858; on frontier duty, on the Sioux Expedition, 1855, being engaged in the Action of Blue Water, Neb., Sep. 3, 1855, — Ft. Riley, Kan., 1855‑56, — quelling Kansas disturbances, 1856‑57, — and on Utah Expedition, 1857‑58; on detached service, at Washington, D. C., 1859;

(Captain, 2d Dragoons, Mar. 9, 1859)

and on frontier duty, in conducting recruits to Oregon, 1859, — and Ft. Crittenden, Utah, 1859‑61.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑63: on

(Major, Staff — Asst. Inspector-General, Nov. 12, 1861)

Inspection duty, Nov., 1861, to Apr., 1862; in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., Apr. to July, 1862; in command of Cavalry Brigade, in the

(Brig.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, July 27, 1862)

Northern Virginia Campaign, Aug., 1862, being engaged in a Skirmish at  p354 Madison C. H., Aug. 9, 1862, — Passage of the Rapidan, in Pursuit of Rebels under Jackson, Aug. 12, 1862, — Action at Kelly's Ford, Aug., 1862, — Action at Thoroughfare Gap, Aug. 28, 1862, — and Battle of Manassas, Aug. 29‑30, 1862, where he was wounded; on sick leave of absence, disabled by wound, Sep., 1862; as Chief of Cavalry (Army of the Potomac), in the Maryland Campaign, Sep. to Nov., 1862, being engaged in the Battle of South Mountain, Sep. 14, 1862, — Battle of Antietam, Sep. 17, 1862, — and March to Falmouth, Va., Oct. to Nov., 1862; as Chief of Cavalry, Dec., 1862, to Jan., 1863, and in command of Cavalry Brigade, Jan. to May, 1863 (Army of the Potomac), in the Rappahannock Campaign, being engaged in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, — on "Stoneman's Raid" toward Richmond, Apr. 29 to May 8, 1863, — and Combat of Beverly Ford, June 9, 1863; in command of Cavalry Division (Army of the Potomac), in the Pennsylvania Campaign, being engaged in Skirmishes at Aldie, June 17, Middleburg, June 18, and Upperville, June 21, 1863, — Battle of Gettysburg, July 1‑3, 1863, — and Pursuit of the enemy to Warrenton, participating in numerous Skirmishes, July, 1863; in Operations in Central Virginia (Army of the Potomac), Aug. to Oct., 1863, being engaged in Actions at Culpeper, Aug. 1 and 4, 1863, — Pursuit of enemy across the Rapidan, Sep., 1863, — cutting his way to rejoin the Army north of the Rappahannock, Oct., 1863, — Reconnoissance to Culpeper, Oct., 1863, — covering movement of Army of the Potomac to Bull Run, Oct., 1863, — participating in several Repulses of the enemy, — and Combat of Bristoe Station, Oct. 14,

(Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Dec. 16, 1863)

1863; and on sick leave of absence, Nov.‑Dec., 1863.

Died, Dec. 16, 1863, at Washington, D. C.: Aged 37.

Buried, West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY.

Biographical Sketch.

Major-General John Buford was born Mar. 4, 1826, in Woodford County, Ky. His early training and education were carefully conducted, and his mental and moral development gave high promise of future usefulness. He was graduated from the U. S. Military Academy, July 1, 1848, and promoted to the Cavalry (2d Dragoons), in which arm of service he was destined to become greatly distinguished. His efficiency in his regiment was so marked that he was selected as its Quartermaster, May 9, 1855, in which capacity he energetically served on the Sioux and Utah Expeditions, and in quelling Kansas disturbances. In all of these operations his soldierly qualities were so conspicuous that Nov. 12, 1861, he was advanced from a Captain of Dragoons to be an Asst. Inspector-General, with the rank of Major.

The Rebellion, now in progress, demanded his services in a higher military sphere. Accordingly he was appointed a Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, and placed in command of a Cavalry Brigade in the Army of Virginia, where he was immediately called upon for most active service and daring deeds till disabled by a severe wound received in the Battle of Manassas. In less than a month he was again on duty as Chief of Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac in the Maryland Campaign, being distinguished at South Mountain and Antietam, after the latter battle succeeding General Stoneman on General McClellan's Staff. Upon the Cavalry re-organization, by Burnside, of the Army of the Potomac, Buford was assigned to the command of the Reserve Cavalry Brigade, in which he became conspicuous in almost every cavalry encounter, particularly at Fredericksburg, on Stoneman's raid towards Richmond, and at Beverly Ford. In the Pennsylvania Campaign, Buford commanded a Cavalry Division; was engaged, June, 1863, in various Skirmishes, and  p355 at Gettysburg began a fierce attack upon the enemy before General Reynolds's arrival, and the next day rendered conspicuous services at Wolf's Hill and the Round Top. After the defeat of the Confederate Army, he vigorously pursued it to Warrenton, and was actively engaged in the subsequent operations in Central Virginia, including the actions at Culpeper, Aug. 1 and 4, 1863. After following the enemy across the Rapidan, he boldly cut his way to rejoin the Army of the Potomac north of the Rappahannock, and, in October following, covered the retrograde movement of Meade to Bull Run, constantly doing brave battle with his daring antagonist.

A short time previous to his death, he was assigned to command the Cavalry of the Army of the Cumberland, but he was destined no longer to lead the van in pursuit or cover the retreat of an army, for sickness now ended his brief, brave, and brilliant career of noble deeds.

Buford "was a splendid cavalry officer, and one of the most success­ful in that service; was modest, yet brave; unostentatious, but prompt and persevering; ever ready to go where duty called him, and never shrinking from action, however fraught with peril. His last sickness was but brief, the effect, probably, of protracted toil and exposure. On the day of his death, and but a little while before his departure, his commission of Major-General was placed in his hands. He received it with a smile of gratification that the Government he had defended appreciated his services, and, gently laying it aside, soon ceased to breathe.

He died, December 16, 1863, at Washington, D. C., at the early age of 37, and was buried at West Point, where the First Cavalry Division erected a tasteful monument over his mouldering dust on the bank of the beautiful Hudson.