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Vol. II |
(Born Ky.) |
John Buford |
(Ap'd Ill.) |
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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 (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 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. |
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Page updated: 16 Oct 13