The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1882-11-02
GENERAL A. IsUFORp.

We present to our readers the fol-
lowing memoir of Gen. A. Buford:
Abraham Buford, the sixth son OF
William and Francis Walker Buford,
was born in Woodford county, KY,
on the 18th of January, 1920.
After going to school in the neigh
borhood of Woodburn, the family
residence, he became a student, in
1856, at Centre College, Danville.
KY, where he was classmate OF
John G. Breckenridge.
In 1887 he received the appoint
ment of cadet at West Point, where
he reported for duty in June of that
year, and graduated in 1S4l, with a
moderate standing, in class with
RoamanW, Aria f5tnefRs Known 4f Is faae.
At West Point, he displayed great
skill in Workmanship, and was distin-
guished as tactician, especially in
cavalry. After graduating, he was
assigned to duty in the First Regi-
ment Of Dragons as Lieutenant of
Company f, commanded by Capt.
Nathan Boone, son of the renowned
"backwoodsman of Kentucky"
In 1912 he accompanied Captain
Boone in his memorable march in
search of the great salt plains on the
Big Red fork of the Arkansas river.
On this expedition young Buford be-
came the favorite Of Capt, Boone in
consequence of his daring horseman-
ship and skill in hunting buffalo. He
rode thoroughbred horse, the gift of
his father, then the most prominent
breeder of thoroughbred horses in
Kentucky, having in 1885 purchased
the celebrated Medoc for $4,000.
From this circumstance he was famil-
iarly called Medoc by his brother
cavalry officers.
On the return of Boone's command
from this expedition the hunting re-
port of all the young officers was
summed up and it was seen that
Buford was theYmost successful, hav-
ing bagged 81 buffalo, 4 deer, 2 elk,
besides small game. Boone, with his
company, remained on duty in the
West until the Mexican war, when
being upward of seventy years old, he
accepted an indefinite leave of abb
sence, and Lieut.. Buford, i'll command
of the company, was ordered, with
the other companies of the First ORA
goons, to report to Gen. Wool, at San
Antonio, Texas, and marching with
that Generals column into Mexico, he
joined Gen. Taylor at Saltillo, Just
before the battle of Buena Vista, in
which Buford engaged with credit
and distinction. There he was wound
ed and brevetted Captain for gallant
and meritorious service on the battle
field.
Capt. Buford remained with Gen.
Taylor till the close Of the war, when
he went with his company to New
Mexico, where he continued in the
field till 1854, when he resigned his
commission in the army and purchas-
ed in Woodford county, in the Blue
grass reginn of Kentucky, beautiful
home, known as Bosque Bnnita pret-
ty woods).
There he turned his attention to the
breeding and raising of thoroughbred
horses and Attorney cattle. From
imp. Sovereign, the first stallion that
he purchased, were descended many
of the best race-horses of the day
Runic, Prioress, Ann Dunn, and Co
lossus being among them. Revenue
made several seasons at Bosque
Bonita.
About the time the get of Sover-
eign was ready for the turf, and when
Capt. Buford was absorbed in their
success, the Confederate war broke
out, and, though he exerted every in
fluence he possessed to avert it, yet
when it became inevitable he took the
side of the South.
There was a memorable dinner
party at Gen. SCOTS headquarters, in
Washington City, just before the
battle Of Bull Run. The party was
Gen. Scott; his Adjutant General, Col.
Dunn; his Assistant, Schuyler Ham
lton, a roommate and class mate of
Gen. b,.ford az West Point; Gov