Posted on 09/23/2004 11:55:07 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Gen. John Buford's bravery at the battle of Gettysburg was little noted nor long remembered in his native Kentucky.
"He is one of those all but forgotten heroes," said John Trowbridge, director of the Kentucky Military Museum in Frankfort. "But we would never have won the battle without Buford's quick thinking and quick action on the first day."
Rebel infantry outnumbered and outgunned Buford's Yankee cavalry. Even so, the horsemen in blue stalled the Confederates long enough for Gen. George G. Meade's Union Army of the Potomac to organize a defense and ultimately to win the Civil War's bloodiest battle.
A bronze statue at Gettysburg National Military Park commemorates Buford's stand. "There are no monuments to John Buford in Kentucky that I know of," Trowbridge said.
Buford was born near Versailles, Ky., the Woodford County seat, in 1826. A state historic marker in Versailles names Buford and five other county natives who were Civil War generals. "It is amazing that six could come from one small county," Trowbridge said.
A pair of generals on the marker were Buford kin. His half brother, Gen. Napoleon Bonaparte Buford, also fought for the Union. Their cousin, Gen. Abraham Buford, donned Rebel gray.
John Buford moved with his parents to Rock Island, Ill., in the 1840s. He graduated from West Point in 1848.
The mustachioed, pipe-puffing Buford had little use for fancy uniforms and military spit and polish. "He don't put on so much style as most officers," one of his men said.
Though popular with his own troops, Buford was tough on the enemy. He hanged a Confederate guerrilla to a tree with a sign that warned, "This man to hang three days; he who cuts him down before shall hang the remaining time."
At Gettysburg, Buford's 2,700 horse soldiers were the first Yankees to make contact with Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. They galloped into town on the evening of June 30 in time to skirmish with some of Lee's advance units. Buford correctly figured the whole Southern army would attack the next day.
On the morning of July 1, Buford deployed his men on high ground west of Gettysburg. More than 7,000 Rebels assaulted Buford's dismounted troopers around 9 a.m. "The two lines became hotly engaged, we having the advantage of position, he of numbers," the general reported.
His soldiers held on until Gen. John F. Reynolds' infantry arrived around midmorning. The Union troops fell back through Gettysburg to higher ground, including Cemetery Ridge, where the Yankees stopped Gen. George Pickett's storied charge on July 3 and won the battle.
Buford, who was badly wounded and left for dead after the 1862 battle of Second Bull Run, Va., did not survive the Civil War. The general succumbed to typhoid fever on December 16, 1863, and was buried at West Point.
Buford, described by a Yankee colonel as "decidedly the best cavalry general" in the Army of the Potomac, was featured in "Gettysburg," the 1994 movie and TV miniseries. Sam Elliott sported a Buford-style mustache in portraying the Kentucky general who, according to the colonel, could "always be relied on in any emergency."
His "Got Slaves?" comment.
Implying I am racist because I admire Forrest.
Robert E Lee was teh better general, want to know why?
After teh war he told his vengeful men to get on with their lives and live as Americans.
That's the mark and make of a good man.
You attacked first.
Yes. This I would agree with, although it still leaves my throat feeling somewhat rancid:
Does the fact that Rommel fought for the bad guys make him any less a great strategic mind?
The discussion isn't about his personal faults, but his leadership and ability as a strategist.
Lots of people made their fortunes on that peculiar institution, or benefitted from it - including many founding fathers.
I see no reason to color every discussion of Jefferson et al with bringing up slavery.
No, that is merely a fact.
Remember one of the reasons for the war between the states?
Or does this have to be History 101 all over again?
Slavery is wrong no matter what, or don't you understand that?
The 'got slaves' was in response to your "Not necessarily wrong" comment.
I disagree.
Fascinating quote, and very revealing if they were indeed his true sentiments.
Do you have a link to a source?
Putting it that way, is better.
RJ: Extending the hand.
But the Kerry reference was dishonorable to me, too.
It was a play out of the liberal handbook - when you're losing an argument, accuse the other side of racism.
I won't stand for it nor will I be cowed by it, no matter who plays that card.
Read back through your comments.
You come across as bitter.
And not at all objective.
The tactic of blockading the south and penning it in was brilliant.
And such a tactic has been used in war since.
And recently too.
I accept your hand and I sincerely apologize for the Kerry remark.
:)
You can disagree all you want.
That is your right.
Jeesh and I wuz just gonna watch! Now I'm in it.
I've never gotten around to reading Mosby's memoirs.
No.
He didn't say you were racist.
Did he?
Quote his claim of racism.
Friendly gestures - thanks. Now let's get on with our discussion about cavalrymen, tactics, and the like!
This is the first place I could find to copy and paste it from.
Read it originally in a book - forget which.
http://www.nbforrest.org/
"How does an objective statement about whether or not you own slaves questioning your stand on racism"?
Your claim of objective statement can fit here as well.
;-)
Apology made. All hands stand down.
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