Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-06-07

ton OF 1855 under Gen. Harvey, where
ne was distinguished, both on the march
and in the action at Blue Water, Neb. ;,
Sept 3. 1855. He received praise In
this campaign. and in the Utah expedi>
ton of 1878 from Gen. Harvey, Gen.
A. s. Johnston and other officers above
him. But most significant of all il is in>
teresting to read this unconscious trib.
ute written at that period in the private
diary of his regimental commander who
communed only with himself in writing
these lines:
Oct. 15.-We crossed the Platte river
in very cold northeast wind. Des.
cended Ash Hollow, and marched mile
or two in the vain search for any grass.
Many troops and contract trains passing
aleng the river have consumed it all.
Broken wagon tongues, roads muddy and
slippery FROM twelve days rain, and se
we're northerly storms with intense cold;
fuel very scarce, and continued rains
make the want more severe, but the
marches average 81 miles per day;
marched today 90 miles. These two ser
ious obstacles Qack of fuel and grass).
were overcome, and the whole wagon
train came up in good time. This must
be attributed to the excellent manage
ment of that most efficient officer First
Lieut.. John Buford, regimental quarter
MASTER
After the Utah expedition, Lieut.. Blu,
ford was on detached service in Wash>
lngton, ID. q, from which he returned in
1860 captain IN the second regiment of
dragons. (now second cavalry) U.
s. army. and took command of his troops
at Camp Crittenden, Utah.
1T was about this time" says General
Wesley Merritt. U. s. A, that had the
good fortune to make the acquaintance of
General (then Captain) Buford. He was
in the command of squadron of the
Second Dragons. Capt. Buford at that
time was considered in the regiment
which boosted among its officers some of
the most dashing and superior officers in
| the cavalry service, as the soldier par
| excellence. No man could be more pop
ular or sincerely beloved by his fellow
| officers, nor could any officer be more
thoroughly respected and admired bv his
men than he was. His company had no
| superior IN the service. Several of his
sergeants of that day have become orns>
ments to the service as officers, and are
now occupying honorable positions as
cavalry officers in our present service,
| after having distinguished themselves in
the late war"
Captain Buford was in 1861 promoted
major and assistant inspector general. U.
;. army. and served in the defenses of
Washington until 1862. when his &C e.
knowledged abilities as a cavalry leader
caused his appointment by the president
as brigadier general of volunteers, and
assignment 10 command brigade Of
cavalry in the army in Virginia. With
his new commsnd, General Buford at
once entered upon active service, being
engaged in battle at Madison Court
| House, Va, only ten DAYS after his ap,
pointment. And now began his glorious
career as great commander, ever bril-
liantly upward and onward like some
bright meteor of those southern skies
under which his sabres flashed and his
standards waved. Long before his star
had reached the zenith OF its bright as
cendancy. and while men gszed with
wonder at its frey course, its light went
out forever. The good president felt in
l
that his own great responsibilities now
weighed harder and heavier that ever. as
he cast about in his mind and sought for
another soldier to fill Buford's place.
When Sheridan at last came to the East
ern army. the man was found, for Sheri-
dan, and Sheridan alone was the true suc>
cessor of Buford, as a general of cavalry
In the highest sense of the word.
1t Is not the province of this memoir to
attempt to record at length all the battles
| and actions in which Gen. Buford took
conspicuous part. That is the province
of the historian of tine future, and as
truth for time dormant will surely rise
| again. so the impartial verdict of history
will some day be recorded Alright, and
Buford's name and Buford's fame will
find their proper place in the annals of
the American republic. To convey some
conception OF his character and abilities
is the object of this memorial
"As he despised the false flourish and
noisy parade of the charlatsns or the SER
vice. says Gen. Merritt, "he avoided too
much, perhaps. the proper praise due to
his glorious actions, and sought rather to
depreciate. prompted by his inherent
modesty. the contemporary gloritication
which less worthy men courted. For
this reason he was not known 10 the
newspaper world as were many Others
who will sink into insignificance while
the name of Buford will occupy bright
page in the history of this country"
General Buford was especially and
brilliantly distinguished at the cavalry
battle of Kelly's Ford. Va. Aug. 1859;
Thoroughfare Gap. Aug. %. 1862; Ma
nsssas, Aug. 30 and 30, 1862, where he
was severely wounded and disabled. He
was twice appointed chief of cavalry of
the Army of the Potomac; was engaged
at the battles of South Mountain and
Antietam Sept, 1862; was engaged at the
battle of Fredericksburg Dec. 10. 1862;
on "Stonemsn's Raid" towards Richmond
April and May. 1868; brilliantly dis
tinguished for his generalship and bravery
at the great cavalry battle of Beverly
Ford, June 8, 1868; and finally. after
many minor combats, he struck the first
blow at Lees confederate army with his
comparatively small force of cavalry ON
the first day of Gettysburg, and held that
army in check until Gen. Meade had &C.
cupied the famous heights of Cemetery
Ridge, from which the battle was in the
two succeeding days fought out and won.
just before the battle of Manassas (sec-
ond Bull Rum the cavalry under Blu
ford occupied Tnoroughfare Gap and held
the confederate army in check until the
union forces could pick their chosen field
and battle line. Gen. Buford kept sending
back couriers and messengers to the army
commander with accurate and important
information concerning the enemy. His
cavalry was indeed 1.-The eyes of the
army" that dav, and if every commander
had performed his part as we'll as Buford