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

of this memoir and others. The great
question of the coming war was dis
cussed with excitement that increased |
toward the close of the dinner. At
length Gov. Andrews turned to Capt.
Buford and said:
81 would like to know, Captain,
what Kentucky will do in case of
trouble"
The Captain replied that if the OBJ
ject of the war was abolition OF slavery |
Kentucky would resist; if the preser-
walton Of the Constitution and the |
Government as it stood, she would
fight for it.
The Governor answered that the
object of the war was not the aboli-
ton of slavery, but that would doubt
less be one of its results.
The Captain replied: at makes
no difference with me whether l lose
my rights by an object or result. I
will resist"
This broke up the dinner party.
Captain Buford came home and sub
sequently entered the Confederate
army, accepted commission as
Brigadier General, and raised com
mand Of 5000 cavalry, joined Gen'l
Bragg in his march through Ken
lucky. In that war he rendered illus
trious service and commanded a
division at its close. The success of
the Confederate arms at the battle of
Guntown was in great measure the
result of his Generalship. He was the
hero of the battle of Tishomingo Creek
He signally distinguished himself at
the disastrous battle Of Bakers Creek,
and helped to save 5000 men from
capture.
He planned the location Of the
batteries on the Tennessee River
when the gunboat and transports were
captured. Gen. Forrest placed great
reliance upon his military skill and
his invariably admirable conduct in
the face Of the enemy. He had all
the instincts and sagacity of a great
soldier. He exhibited many splendid
examples of personal gallantry, par
ticularly in hand-to-hand encounters
with the enemy while covering the
retreat of Hood from Nashville. On
one occasion he threw his arm around
the neck Of a Federal Major and I'M
horsed him. In this retreat he was
wounded, but upon his recovery re-
joined Forrest, and fought till the last
powder of the war was burned
On the bridge over the Chattahoo-
chez, at Columbus, Ga, while oppos-
ing, with small force, the Federals
in overwhelmingly superior numbers,
; a Federal sergeant seized Gen. Blu
ford's horse by the bride and com
manded ''the big rebel" to surrender,
striking him at the same time over
the head with his saber; but the Gen
eral fired a pistol at his head, when he
let 90 the bride and the General
made his escape across the bridge
amid shower of bullets. After the
war, this Sergeant and the General
met and talked of their encounter
over a glass Of wine.
Gen. B. was married on December
Is, 1885,, to Miss Amanda Harris, a
very beautiful and accomplished lady.
son lMy Al BHf2yd Yl ag the ea fruit i g
b., with this boy, their only child, re-
manned on the farm and displayed
great skill in its management and the
preservation of the blooded stock upon
it from the depredations of both
; armies. There the General returned
after the surrender, to spend, as he
fondly hoped, his days in peace in the
bosom of his little family.
His delightful home was the seat
of hospitality. He served in the Legis-
lature, devoted himself, with signal
success, to the raising Of race-horses,
attended to his farm, and had every
prospect of comfort and repose for the
balance of his days.
But death came, with unrelenting
hand, to desolate that home and snap
the loving cords that united these
three devoted hearts. His son died on
November 2, 1872, and few years
after, in 1879, his broken hearted
mother followed him to the tomb.
Thus left alone, he has endured with
fortitude the sings and arrows of
outrageous fortune. He gave up his
horses and sold his beautiful
home, and now, in the evening of an
honorable life,with that kindness for
his fellow-man so characteristic of
the generous and brave, and that firm
faith which ennobles him as a Chris
tan, under many difficulties he is
making gallant fight with adversely.
There are thousands of hearts, not
only in Kentucky, but wherever cour-
age and fidelity are honored, that will
rejoice to hear of his success and sin
cerel y wish that his days may be
prolonged in comfort and tranquility.