(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
This book was originally published prior to 1923, and represents a reproduction of an important historical work, maintaining the same format as the original work. While some publishers have opted to apply OCR (optical character recognition) technology to the process, we believe this leads to sub-optimal results (frequent typographical errors, strange characters and confusing formatting) and does not adequately preserve the historical character of the original artifact. We believe this work is culturally important in its original archival form. While we strive to adequately clean and digitally enhance the original work, there are occasionally instances where imperfections such as blurred or missing pages, poor pictures or errant marks may have been introduced due to either the quality of the original work or the scanning process itself. Despite these occasional imperfections, we have brought it back into print as part of our ongoing global book preservation commitment, providing customers with access to the best possible historical reprints. We appreciate your understanding of these occasional imperfections, and sincerely hope you enjoy seeing the book in a format as close as possible to that intended by the original publisher.
Church And Turf.: Lecture By Gen'l A. Buford Delivered In Campbell-Street Church, Louisville, Ky., April 30th 1882.
(Originally published in 1882, this is a lecture by Confed...)
Originally published in 1882, this is a lecture by Confederate General Abraham Buford from Kentucky, who, after the Civil War was a racehorse owner and breeder.
Abraham Buford was an American Confederate soldier and stock-raiser. He is noted for his service during the Mexican–American War and during Western Theater of the American Civil War. He was also a well known Kentucky horse breeder.
Background
Abraham Buford was born on January 18, 1820 in Woodford County and belonged to a family which was originally of French origin and which later held large estates in England and Scotland. The first American Bufords settled in Virginia, descendants later migrating to Woodford County, Kentucky, where William B. Buford, formerly of Culpeper County, Virginia, became noted as a breeder of blooded horses and cattle. Abraham Buford, the son of William B. and Frances Walker (Kirtley) Buford.
Education
Abraham received his earlier education under Verpyle Payne, a teacher of some note, and at Centre College; and was graduated from the Military Academy at West Point in 1841, with such men as D. C. Buell, Z. B. Tower, H. G. Wright, A. P. Howe, and Thomas J. Rodman.
Career
Upon graduation, young Buford was assigned to the First Dragoons, and saw immediate service in Kansas and Iowa, then part of the frontier. Promoted to a first lieutenancy in 1846, he participated in the war with Mexico, and was brevetted captain for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Buena Vista. From the years 1848 to 1851 he was stationed in New Mexico; and, after being promoted to captain in 1853, was assigned to duty the year following at the cavalry school for practise at Carlisle.
His resignation from the army followed, October 22, 1854, and he retired to his stock farm, Bosque Bonita, near Versailles, Kentucky, where for some years he specialized in the breeding of thoroughbred horses and short-horn cattle.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, he was appointed in 1862 a brigadier-general in the Confederate army. His command of Kentucky troops covered the retreat of Gen. Bragg to Knoxville, Tennessee, and thereafter he commanded a brigade of Loring's division until the spring of the year 1864. He was then assigned to a cavalry brigade of General Forrest's command, consisting of the 3rd, 7th, and 8th Kentucky Cavalry, and participated with this noted leader in numerous engagements and raids.
He was severely wounded at Lindville, December 24, 1864, and was unable to resume active command until the spring of 1865. After the war, he returned to his stock farm, which became a great social-center in the Blue-Grass region, where he became one of the best known turfmen in Kentucky. He acquired ownership of the celebrated horses, Crossland, Nellie Gray, Selena, Inquirer, Hollywood, Marion, and Versailles, and delighted in lavish entertaining of noted sportsmen from all over the country.
With the loss of this son, and the loss of his wife afterward, came severe financial reverses also, resulting in the eventual loss of his home. Crushed by grief and advancing years, Buford ended his life by his own hand at Danville, Indiana.
(Originally published in 1882, this is a lecture by Confed...)
Personality
Himself a man of marked force of character and mentality, with magnificent physique, he took a deep interest in politics; and although originally strongly espousing state rights and having reluctantly yielded to secession, he subsequently used his best efforts for a united country.
Connections
In the year 1845, he had married Amanda Harris of New York, from which union he had one son William, who died in 1872.
He lost his wife Amanda Harris Buford in 1879 and on March 26 of that same year, his brother, Colonel Thomas Buford of Henry County, Kentucky, shot and killed Judge John Milton Elliott in Frankfort, Kentucky. Tom Buford surrendered to police and was jailed pending trial. Abe Buford came to his brother's aid and spent a great deal of money on legal fees for his defense. On appeal of a guilty verdict, Thomas Buford would eventually be found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to the Anchorage, Kentucky psychiatric hospital.