Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-17

Phiadelphiai 70 m...................i5O isC 1901
New YORK p m. ~ "a isSii
Philadelphia, p. m.................'''.S @i"o4
Philadelphia, 2p. 'ieCsa
Philadelphia, p m...................'ioos
IEATH OF MAJOR oENERAL JoHE
BUFORD.
Yesterday the United States army and the
whole country experienced q severe loss In the
desth of General John Buford, who expired at
twenty. five minutes past two O'Clock p. M,
yesterday, December 10th, at the residence OF
his friend end compatriot in arms, Major Cen
cral stoneman, in this city. Gen. Buford was
born in Kentucky, where the family of his name
have won high houors and enjoyed universal
esteem and respect among their fellow citizens.
John Buford was made cadet in theWest Point
Military Academy in 1874. He received the ap
pointment OF second lieutenant Of the LIST L. 8.
dragons July /, lS4s, and was attached to the
Cd dragons in February, 1s+9. He was serv-
ing as captain In the latter regiment, on the
frontiers, when the war Of the rebellion broke
out, when he was promoted to major and de-
tailed to duty in the Inspector Generals De-
partment.
In 1862 lie was promoted to the rank of Brig
adler of volunteers and assigned to the com.
mand of cavalry brigade In McClcllan's army
under Gen. Stoneman. he commanded the
cavalry under Gen. Pope In Virginia and rem
dered distinguished services in Popc's cam
paign.
When Gen. stoncman was appointed Chief
Of Cavalry in the Army Of tb" Potomac. h"
asked for Burord and he was given comman
under him.
He distinguished himself all along in the va
rious campaigns in which he served. At the
battle OF Culpeper his gallantry shone forth
consplruously; and at Gettysburg, especially,
he won imperishable renown in the memorable
commencement of the battles, on the LIST July,
1863. In this battle he commanded the advance
and came In collision with A. p. Hills corps,
when the brave Reynolds, coming to his sup
port, lost His own life.
Some weeks since Gen. Buford was attacked
nv the malarious fever that has wasted SO much
Of the strength of our armies in Virginia, and
reluctantly came to Washington. 1t was with
the greatest difficulty that General stoneman
persuaded him to forego his duties in the field
and attend to his own physical condition. He
took, up his quarters at General ttoneman's
house, where the best medical treatment failed
to arrest the progress of his disease.
Dysentery and typhoid brought him so low
that his life was despaired Of two or three day.
ago, and his wife in Kentucky was sent for
ing that he should recover. Mrs. Buford, VIII
is the sister of the wife Of Hon. Green Cla
Smith, of Kentucky, was expected here yes,er
day, but had not arrived this morning.
Yesterday severA Al of Gen. Buford's friends In
terested themselves in procuring his promotion
to the rank of Major General. Gen. Stoueman
with the hearty approval of Gen. Halleck waite
npon the Secretary Of War in the forenoon, an
Mr.. Stanton very cheerfully and promptly canse
10 lie made out a commission of Major Genera
of volunteers. for gallant and mrritorious sci
vices at Gettysburg, to date from July LIST s8a
At halfpast eleven O'Clock, General Stone
man went to General Buford's bedside with tn
commission, snd said, John, do you see this
you are Major General" A smile of satsia'
ton lit up his pale face but he said nothing
Half an hour before he died his attention wa
again called to 1t, and he said, I" Is the Pres
dent then in earnest % When he was assure
not fully comprehended before, he said, as If con
scious that the hand Of death was upon him, " on
WisL werc uell againt' These were the las
words he uttered, and when he finally expire
it was with such quetness that his physician
and friends could not fix the moment when h
ceased to live.
He was ore of the ablest and bravesl soldier
in all our armies. His character was one O
great simplicity, purity and modesty, and hi
loss will he most deeply felt and deplorcd by tn
Army of the Potomac and the whole country.
Major General Buford was 81 years old at tn
time Of his death.
At about the time the Secretary of War wa
authorizing the promotion of Gen. Buford, IL
President, in note to Secretary Stanton, W,
requesting the very same thing to he don
Republics are not ungrateful.
cOMPLIM ENTARY DINNER r
SPEAKER COIFAx.
The Hon. Schuyler Colfax being the fir
newspaper man elected to the Speakership, Il
journalists in Washington are about to tend
him complimentary dinner,-Cincinnon a
sstts.
We believe Mr.. Colfax is the first gentlema
who has been called to Ill the Speakers cha
who II practical printer as well as publish
and editor but he is not the first editor clcct
Speaker. Mr.. Banks (now major geueralJ W
formerly au editor.
AT one time he conducted paper in W
burn, Mass at ano,hcr time he edited pap
In Waltham, Mass; and was afterwards ass
ciate editor of the Boston Daily Times, VIII
that paper was one Of the Democratic orga