South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-10-17
Good Fortune of a Confederate
General.


The instance Of General S B. Buckuer
Is striking and cheerful one. General
BucGoer lived 10 State which never Sc
ceded, and a majority Of its people were
opposed to tho movement. All bis own
and his wife's property must be left to the
tender mercies Of the enemy IN case be
should join The ConfedeTates. IL was n
magnificent property, the large Income of
which enabled the general to live 10 a style
suited to his refined and elegant tastes. -
Aud yet oil this be risked when, impelled
By his sympathies aud convictions, he a
baudoned bis beautiful home, joined the
Confederates, and fought through the war
with distinguished gallan,ry and unfinch.
ing fidelity. AT the close OF tue war Cen
eral Buckner found himself stripped Of
everything.
Locating in this city, he set TO work first
as a journalist or the Crescent, and after.
wards engaged in the business of life insu-
rance, wberin be achieved brilliant sue
cess lie then took measures TO recover
his property IN Kentucky aud his wifo's
property in Chicago. There were serious
obstacles TO ;he success of these efforts -
Large suits had been brought against him
fer damages inflicted hy the Confederate
forces under bis command. On these suits
his property had been attached and much
Of it sold. IL was a severe, tedious and
expensive litigation, in which he became
involved; hut his efforts were finally crown
ed with victory. His property WAS restor.
ed to him, aud the claims for damages a
gainst him were all defeated.
Next, he Instituted proceedings TO recov-
er his wfe's property. Aud here was de-
Veloprd an intensely interesting romance.
Mrs Buckner bad, before joining her hus-
band in the COulederacy, convey Cd her pro-
perty to her brother under deed of trust
The obligation rested upon his honor TO
preserve and re-convey the property to her
after the war. la Tue progress Of the war
this brother married aud accepted a com
mission III the Federal service. Further
to complicato affairs, he became q father -
In case tie should prove fai,hIess TO his oh
legation to hs sister this child would in.
hert large fortune.
Here was a great ptation to the young
man, whose natural affections for his sister
were antagonzed by his ardent hostility to
the cause with which she was identified and
TO his parental instincts and affections. l.
was for him alone to determine whether
this large property should accrue to the
wife Of rebel in preference to his own
offspring. Honor and brotherly affection,
it is true, demanded certain course but
how rarely, in these selfish and Materials
tic times, do these principles control the
acts Of men
This young ma0, however, recognized
their obligation, and on tho eve OF bat
tie he made his viii, re conveying to his
sister the property which she had copfded
to him After making one Of these wills
he went forth with the intrepidity of man
conscious of au act Of high selfcoutrol to
encounter the enemy, aud met tho fate of
brave soldier at the battle of SharpsSurg.
The general of his corps knew Of the will
he had made-al honor 10 him that he
kept the secret-and after the war e0mmu-
nicated to his old comra1c-in-arms-his re-,
cent foe, but now bis friend and brother
the facts, and gave every aid to recover the
instrument. This was General Burnside.
by his generous assistance and through
the indefatigabe devotion end energies of
one Of General Buckner's staG-the gallant
and gifted Colonel Wooloy, of Lexington