The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-05

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The instance of General s. b. Buckner Is
q. striking and cheerful one: General, Buck.
ner lived III a State, which never seeded,
aud d ma1ority of its people were opposed;to
the movement AL his own and. his Wife's
property. must be LETT to the tehdelsmercies
Of the enemy ifrcase he should join the Con.
federates. IT WasEa magnificent property,
the large income OF which enabled the Gene
raEto livein O style! suited TO his refined and
elegant tastes. AND yet all this he 1risked
when, impelled by his ssmpathies and fcbn.
victions, he abandoned his beautiful home,
joined the Confederates, and fought through
the war with distinguished gallantry and
unfinching fidelity. At the close of the war
General Buckner found himself stripped of
everything.
Locating in this city, lie set to work first
asa journalist on the Crescent, and after
wards engaged in the business of life in
srrance, wherein he achieved brilliant sue
cess. He then took measures to recover his
property In Kentucky and his wife's pro-
perry in Chicago. There were serious OBJ
Stacles TO the success Of these efforts. Large
suits had been brought against him for
damages inflicted by the Confederate forces
under his command. On these suits, his pro-
perty had been attached and much of it sold.
II was severe. tedious, and expensive liti-
CATION, in which he became involved: but
his efforts were finally crowned with victory.
His property was restored to him, and 'the
claims for damages against him were all de-
icltcd. 81. - >.,g rr. -. ~
Next, he instituted proceedings to recover
his wifc's property. And here was devel.
oprd an intensely interesting romance. Mrs.
Buckner had, before joining her husband in
the Confcderacy, conveyed her property 10
her brother under Il deed Of trust. The
obligation rested upon his honor to preserve
and reconyey the property to her after thc
war. In the progress Of the war this bro
Their married and accepted a commission in
the Federal service. Further to compllcate
affairs, he became fIthcr. In case be- should
prove laithless TO his obligation TO his sister
this child would inherit large fortune.
Here was great temptationto the young
man, whose natural affections for his sister
were antagonizrd by his ardent hostility to
the cause with which she was identified auJ
to his parental instincts and affections. 1t
was for him alone to determine whether this
hargc property should accrue to the wife OF
rebel in preference to his own offspring.
Honor and brotherly affection. il is true, de-
manded Il certain course; but how rarely.
in these selfish aud matcralistic times, do
these principles control the acts Of men!
This young man, however, recognized
their Obligation, and ON the eve of battle he
made his will, reconvcyns to his sister the
property which she had conGded to him.
After making one Of these wills he went
forth with the intrepidity Of Il man conscious
of an act of high sell-control to encounter
the enemy, and met the fate of brave SOL
dier at the battle of Sharp>burg. The gen.
eral of his corps knew of the will he had
made-all honor TO him that lie kept the Sc
cret-and after the war communicated TO
his old comnde-u-arnls his recent foe.
but now his friend and brothcr-the facts,
and gave every aid to recover the inStru-
menf. This was General Burnside.
By his generous assistance and through
the interchangeable devotion and energies OF
one of General Buckner's Statt-the gallant
and gifted CoIouel Wooley, of Lexington.
Kv.-the teStamentary proofs were procured.
and the title of Mrs. Buckner 10 her patrl-
muny was fully established. and after legal
contest she was reinvestcd with the same,
and now is in full, undisturbcd enjoyment
of 4 magnificent estate; and no couple ever
more Justly merited the happy tortune-t this
victory over the most formidable difficulties
and perilS which could arise in the path OF
duty and honor, but which never for mo-
ment dsnIayed or swcrved them from the
line which patriotism aud conscience had
| marked out for them.