Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-09-06
Good Fortune OF a Confederate General
"A Romance

III would appear as II q KIND Provl-
dence had specially interviewed to pro-
tect from poverty, misfortune, and the
other ills of life those true and gallant
officers who risked their all in the strug-
gle for the independence of the South
ern States. We know few of them who
have not improved their worldly condi-
ton since the war, or who are not now
in better circumstances than they were
previous to that event. 1t is an agreea-
bic reflection that, in this as in other
acts of devotion to duty and patriotism,
honesty has proved the best policy.
The instance of General S. B. Buck
ner is a striking and cheerful one. Gen.
Buckncr lived in a State which never
seeded, and a majority Of its people
were opposed to the movement. All
his own and his wile's property must be
left to the tender mercies Of the enemy,
in case he should join the Confederates.
1t was a magnificent property, the large
income OF which enabled the General to
live in style suited to his refined and
elegant tastes And yet all this herisk-
cd when, impelled by the sympathles
and convictions, he abandoned his beau
tiful home, joined the Confederates and
fought through the war with distin-
cuished eallantry and unflinching tidel-
ity. At the close of the war the Gen.
Buckncr found himself stripped Of ev
erything.
Locating in this city, he set to work
first as a journalist on the Crescent,and
afterwards engaged in the business OF
life insurance, wherein he achieved q
brilliant success. He then took meas
ures to recover his property in Ken
lucky and his wiies property in Chlca-
90. There were serious obstacles to
the success of these efforts Large suits
had been brought against him for dam
aces inflicted by the Confederate forces
under his command On these suits his
property had been attached and much
of it sold 1t was q severe, tedious and
expensive litigation, in which he be
came involved; but his efforts were II
nally crowned with victory. His prop
crty was restored to him,and the claims
for damages against him were all dc
featcd
Next he instituted proceedings to re
cover his witc's property. And here
was developed an intensely interesting
romance. Mrs. Buckner had, before
Joining her husband in the Confectionery,
conveyed her property to her brother,
under q deed of trust. The obligation
rested upon his honor to preserve ana
reconyey the property to her after the
war In the progress Of the war tins
brother married and accepted com
mission in the Federal service. Fur
ther to complicate affairs he became
father. In case he should prove faith
less to his obligation to his sister this
child would inherit large fortune.
Here was Il great temptation to the
vounr man whose natural affections Tor
his sister were antagonized by his ar
dent hostility to the cause which she
was identified, and to his patenal IN
! stincts and affections. 1t was for HIM
alone to determine whether this large
rroperty should accrue to the wife OF
rcbelin preference to his own offspring.
Honor and brothcrly affection, it IS
true. demanded a certain course; but
how rarely, in these selfish and matera,
listic times, DO these principles control
! the acts of men
THIS young an,however, recognized
their obligation, and on the eve OF bat
tie, he made his will, reconvcylng to
his sister the property which she had
confded to him. After making one OF
these wills he went forth with the in
trepidity of a man conscious Of an act
of hiph sclfcontrol to encounter the
enemy, and met the fate of brave sol
der at the battle of Sharpsburg. The
general of his corps knew well OF the
will he had madc-all honor to him
that he kept the sccret-and after the
war, communicated to his old comrade
in arms-his recent foe, but now his
friend and brother, the facts, and gave
every aid to recover the instrument.
This was General Burnside.
by his generous assistance and thro
the interchangeable devotion and energies
O one of General Buckner's staff, the
gallant and gifted Colonel Wooley, Of
Lexington, Kentucky, the testamentary
proofs were procured, and the title of
Mrs. Bucnncr to her patrimony was
fully established, and after a legal con
test. she was reinvested in the same,and
now isin full, undisturbed enjoyment OF
q MAGNIFICENT estate, and no couple