Background
Don Carlos Buell was born in 1818 in Lowell, Ohio, United States.
Don Carlos Buell was born in 1818 in Lowell, Ohio, United States.
Don Carlos Buell graduated at West Point in 1841.
As a company officer of infantry he took part in the Seminole War of 1841-42 and the Mexican War, during which he was present at almost all the battles fought by Generals Taylor and Scott, winning the brevet of captain at Monterey, and that of major at Contreras-Churubusco, where he was wounded.
From 1848 to 1861 he performed various staff duties, chiefly as assistant-adjutant-general.
He aided efficiently in organizing the Army of the Potomac, and, at the instance of General McClellan, was sent, in November 1861, to Kentucky to succeed General William T. Sherman in command.
In the spring of 1862 Buell followed the retiring Confederates under Sidney Johnston, and appeared on the field of Shiloh at the end of the first day's fighting.
On the following day, aided by Buell's fresh and well-trained army, Grant carried all before him.
Buell subsequently served under Halleck in the advance on Corinth, and in the autumn commanded in the campaign in Kentucky against Bragg.
After a period of manoeuvring in which Buell scarcely held his own, this virtually ended in the indecisive battle of Perryville.
The alleged tardiness of his pursuit, and his objection to a plan of campaign ordered by the Washington authorities, brought about Buell's removal from command.
The complaints made against him were investigated in 1862-1863, but the result of the investigation was not published.
Following the war Buell lived again in Indiana, and then in Kentucky, employed in the iron and coal industry as president of the Green River Iron Company. From 1885 to 1889, he was a government pension agent.
Some Unionists suspected that Buell was a Confederate sympathizer because he was one of the few U. S. Army officers who was a slaveholder, although he inherited the slaves from his wife's family. Suspicions continued as Buell enforced a strict policy of non-interference with Southern civilians during his operations in Tennessee and Alabama.
Don Carlos Buell was married to Margaret Hunter.