Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-08-09
COL. JAS. f. BUCKNER.
His Death Recalls a "reminiscences of
. War.

O'Clock, of paralysis, In the 10th year
OF his age. He was confined to bis
bed one week, and hopes were enter.
taiued during two or three days pre-.
vious to his death that the stroke
would not prove fatal, but ON Sunday
night, while surrounded by his de.
voted wife and loving children, the
flnal call came, and with perfect calm
ness aud resignation he breathed hi,
last,
lttCol. Buckner was, before the war,
a citizen of Hopkinsville, and no mau
in the city or county was better
known or more universally liked.
He was born In Virginia, but his
father settled in this county In lSl6,
when Col. Buckner was only 2 years
Of age. He entered political life quite
early, and when only little over "a,
was chosen to represent this county
10 the Legislature. So faithful was
he to the trust reposed In him, that
time and again was he returned both
as Representative and Senator, dur
ing one term being chosen as'Speak-
er Of the House, being the youngest
Representative who had ever worn
that honor.
As lawyer, Col. Buckner was one
of the most prominent at the Hop
kinsville bar, and perhaps enjoyed
the good things of this life without
stint. Genial, kind hearted and char
liable he made friends of all.
At the breaking out of the war,
though the owner of a large number
of slaves, he cast in his lot with the
"Union" party and soon raised reg
iment Of home guards, and after sue
ceeding in having It fully equipped
went regularly into camp about 8
miles north Of the city, clubbing it
Camp Joe Anderson" There ars'
hunSrads vs. nving In the count!
who remember Camp Joe Anderson
They can never forget the gallsn
Colonel on his white charger at tn
head of his regiment; their frs
Experience in camp life and the con
slant apprehension of an attack from
the "Dixie Blues. And how on
Sunday afternoon the report wa
brought 10 that Gen. S. ID. Buckne
was approaching the town with
force of 5000 infantry and severa
pieces of artillery. How in few
minutes camp was broken and a po
sition taken on the lawn of Soutl
Kentucky College. How eagerly
mere handful of partially drille,
"home-guards" awaited the comman,
to march on Gen. Bnckner's com
mand, which had halted on tn
Greenville road Smiles from town
Who Of them can ever forget the sus
pense, the uncertainty, while "coun
ell of war" was being held tina
night, and especially when the.
heard the rumbling Of the wheels .
the little brass 9 FOUNDER across tn
pavement as 1t was being spirite,
away TO its hiding place, to be brough
forth only after the war was over
We'll do many remember with wha
sadness went forth the command
from Col. Buckner's lips to disband
but as many az wanted 10 could fol-
low him to Henderson, where they
could be enlisted "for 3 years or the
war; Thus ended the career of Col
Buckner's first regiment. His DELHI
erstions and Lieut.. Col. Ritter's aud
Somerby's and Sasseen's, and Coop
ers and Underwood's prevented "The
Battle Of Hopkinsvi.le." Bat Col
Buckner was soon put in command
after leaving here, aud did efficient
service for the Union cause. This
heretofore "unwritten history" of the
unfought battle of Hopkinsville,
serves not only to bring to minds
events that occurred over quarter
of century ago-when our now
middle.aged men were boys and
their wives had not reached "sweet
sixteen"-but reminds us that we
must all answer the final roll call, as
has the genial, whole-souled Colonel
Buckner.
The home-guard regiment was dis
banded, Gen. S. B. BuckDer moved
into Hopkinsville. Some of the men
who were ready to engage him in
battle, not long after enlisted under
the stars and bars, while others of
them Joined the Federal army, going
into the infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery companies then being raised all
over this section ofcouhtry. Recruit
ing officers for both armies vieing
with each other as to who could get
the most recruits.
After the war Col. Buckner located
in Louisville. When Grant became
President one of the first appoint
ments he made was that of Col. Buck
ner as Revenue Collector for the
Fifth District. lie filed the same
position under Grant during his Sec
ond term of Office and SO efficient was
he that Hayes re-appointei him
when he succeeded Grant.
To Dispel Colds,
II col 81 ao ..l Ea,n,o - ,laa ., "a a. n /