John Buford, Jr. was an American Union soldier. He is remembered as one of the Civil War's best known cavalry commanders.
Background
John Buford, Jr. was born on March 4, 1826 in Woodford County, Kentucky. He was eighth in descent from Richard Beauford, who came from England in 1635, at the age of eighteen, and settled in Lancaster County, Virginia. Members of the family became extensive landowners, devoted themselves to horse raising and the cultivation of tobacco, and furnished many soldiers in the early Indian wars and in the Revolution. A change was made in the spelling of the name as a result of the troubles with the mother country. John was the son of John and Anne (Bannister) Watson Buford, widow of John Watson.
Education
John was appointed to the West Point Military Academy from Illinois, and graduated in 1848, standing sixteenth in a class of thirty-eight members.
Career
After a year as brevet second lieutenant he was promoted to second lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons, and to first lieutenant on July 9, 1853. He saw frontier service in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas and was appointed regimental quartermaster in 1855 at the time when the Sioux expedition was organized to punish the Indians who had massacred Lieutenant Grattan's party.
In the winter campaign which followed, ending with the defeat of Little Thunder's band, near Ash Hollow, Nebraska, on September 3, he won the approval of Colonel Philip St. George Cooke, the commanding officer. The expedition was broken up in July 1856, and the troops hastened to a new field of action in the Kansas troubles of that year. Just then the danger point shifted to the difficulties with the Mormons in Utah.
The 2nd Dragoons were recalled in haste from duty in Kansas, on three or four days' notice, and ordered to make a march of 1, 100 miles in the dead of winter through an uninhabited wilderness, under the conditions of war. During this march the quartermaster was the hardest-worked man in the command, and Colonel Cooke reported Buford as a "most efficient officer. " Next came the troublous times of 1861.
The regiment marched overland for sixty days to Fort Leavenworth, and made its camp in Washington in October 1861. More than a year after the war began, General Pope came to Washington to take a high command. He was surprised to find Buford there in an unimportant position, and at once asked for his advancement.
Buford was accordingly promoted brigadier-general on July 7, 1862. Two days later he took command of the reserve brigade of cavalry and within less than ten days was in action at Madison Court House.
Pope's movement had been delayed too long and Lee's Manassas Campaign had begun. Finding the enemy on his front, flank, and rear, Buford extricated his command and retreated toward Sperryville.
When Jackson appeared in Pope's rear on August 28, McDowell sent Buford beyond Thoroughfare Gap for observation. Buford captured fifty of Jackson's stragglers, struck the head of Longstreet's column, delayed him for several hours, and counted seventeen regiments of infantry, five hundred cavalry, and a battery of artillery.
He then made his report, retreated, and acted as rear guard for Ricketts's Division. When Pope's army retreated to Centerville on the 30th, Buford's brigade covered the withdrawal across Bull Run at Lewis Ford, on the extreme left. The pursuing cavalry attacked, and Buford was so severely wounded that he was at first reported to be dead. The Confederate commander claimed a victory.
Buford was disabled by his wound and on sickleave until September 10, 1862, when he was announced as chief of cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. The position had only nominal importance on the staff of the commanding general. Buford seems to have still been suffering from his wound, as he served in this minor capacity under McClellan and Burnside at the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg.
When General Hooker in February 1863 consolidated the cavalry into an army corps, Buford resumed command of the reserve brigade, and rendered effective service both in Stoneman's raid toward Richmond and in covering the retreat of Hooker's army after Chancellorsville.
When Lee began his second invasion of the North, well covered by Stuart's cavalry on his right, the efforts of the Federal cavalry to penetrate the screen brought on daily combats and considerable actions at Aldie Gap, Upperville, Middleburg, and Ashby's Gap. Buford, now in command of a division, crossed the Potomac on June 27, reached Gettysburg on June 30, and drove back the advance of Hill's corps which was approaching from Cashtown.
On July 1 the Confederate advance on the Cashtown road was opposed by a single brigade of Buford's cavalry, dismounted at about one man to a yard of front, with one battery against two of the enemy. Hill was delayed for about two hours, at the end of which time Buford was relieved by the arrival of Reynolds's corps.
Later in the afternoon the cavalry was withdrawn to Seminary Ridge where it was opposed to McGowan's South Carolina brigade. Meanwhile Buford's other brigade was doing equally good work on the other roads which entered Gettysburg further to the north and east; it reported the advance of Ewell's corps, and held its ground until relieved by Howard's corps.
On July 3 Buford was sent to Westminster ostensibly to guard the trains but more probably to relieve the fears of Washington concerning an enemy raid. His absence from the battlefield gave Longstreet the opportunity to surprise and defeat Sickles's corps on the 3rd.
From Westminster Buford was sent to Williamsport on the Potomac to capture Lee's retreating trains, but when he arrived on July 6 he found the Confederates there, with cavalry, infantry, and artillery, trains parked and intrenched. Cavalry actions were fought at Westminster, Boonsboro, Beaver Creek, and Funkstown. When the opposing armies got back into Virginia a season of maneuvering began and lasted for months.
Buford's division was heavily engaged at Manassas Gap, Chester Gap, Morton's Ford, and Rixeyville. Toward the latter part of November, Buford received leave of absence owing to failing health. He went for treatment to Washington where he died on December 16. His commission as major-general was put in his hands just before his death.
He was buried at West Point. On December 20, memorial services were held at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, a church on the corner of H. Street and New York Avenue in Washington, D. C. President Lincoln was among the mourners.
Achievements
John Buford has been listed as a noteworthy army officer by Marquis Who's Who.
In his religious affiliation John Buford was a Presbyterian.
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Major General John Watts de Peyster on Buford's Dragoon tactics:
"The hero at Oak Ridge was John Buford. .. he not only showed the rarest tenacity, but his personal capacity made his cavalry accomplish marvels, and rival infantry in their steadfastness. .. Glorious John Buford!"
Theo. F. Rodenbough, Brevet Brigadier General:
"Buford despised the false flourish and noisy parade of the charlatans of his service. He avoided too, perhaps, the proper praise due his glorious actions, his bravery and dash, without ostentation or pride, his coolness and able management and above all, the care of his men endeared him to all. "
The officers of his staff published a resolution that set forth the esteem in which he was held by those in his command:
". .. we, the staff officers of the late Major General John Buford, fully appreciating his merits as a gentleman, soldier, commander, and patriot, conceive his death to be an irreparable loss to the cavalry arm of the service. That we have been deprived of a friend and leader whose sole ambition was our success, and whose chief pleasure was in administering to the welfare, safety and happiness of the officers and men of his command.
. .. That to his unwearied exertions in the many responsible positions which he has occupied, the service at large is indebted for much of its efficiency, and in his death the cavalry has lost firm friend and most ardent advocate. That we are called to mourn the loss of one who was ever to us as the kindest and tenderest father, and that our fondest desire and wish will ever be to perpetuate his memory and emulate his greatness. "
On December 16, Stoneman initiated the proposal that Buford be promoted to major general, and President Abraham Lincoln assented, writing as follows: "I am informed that General Buford will not survive the day. It suggests itself to me that he will be made Major General for distinguished and meritorious service at the Battle of Gettysburg. "
Upperclassmen during Buford's time at West Point included Fitz-John Porter (Class of 1845), George B. McClellan (1846), Thomas J. Jackson (1846), George Pickett (1846), and two future commanders and friends, George Stoneman (1846) and Ambrose Burnside (1847).
