Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-10
A GREAT SOLDIER.
Col. William S. Bracket Writes
of Gen. Buford.
AMERICAS CHIEF FIELD MARSHAL
An Able Tribute to the Gallant Omcer o!
GettysbarE Monument and Its Unvcii

An ADie Tribute to the Gallant Omcer o!
Whom Rock Island Is Justly Proud-The
GettysbarE Monument and Its Unvcii
| ing.
Col. William S. Bracket. formerly
OF Rock Island, has written the Peo-
ria journal an extended article on
the life and character of Gen. John
Buford. to whose memory the mon
ument was unveiled on Gettysburg
battle field July /. Col. Bracket
says geographically:
John Buford. if he had any home
outside the regular army, lived in
Rock Island. There his bovhood
was passed, and there his father and
family all lived. He was appointed
cadet at West Point from Rock
Island in 1874, and graduated in
1913. His father, well known as old
Col. John Buford, was n prominent
citizen of Rock Island, and at one
time was postmaster OF that city.
His two surviving brothers. Thomas
Buford and James NJ. Buford, live in
Rock Island today. The city of
Rock Island is justly proud of the
name and fame Of Gen. John Buford,
for he was her son. And Illinois is
not yet ready to give him up to
Kentucky, although the ignorance of
the many alien editors and newspaper
writer's of Chicago might try to make
out our hero to be kentucky
soldier There are traditions in
Rock Island today of the boy, John
Buford scampering through the
streets and over the bluffs of the
town on bareback horse that no
other boy in the town could ride
The BufOrd family came originally
from Kentucky, but Gen. John Blu.
ford's father was one of the early
settlers of Rock Island, and was ali
his life one of the foremost citizens
OF that place. On the soldiers mon
ument in the public square of Rock
Island. first on the marble sculptured
roll of the dead. stands of right the
glorious name of Maj. Gen. John Blu
ford.
Belongs In Illinois.
although his grave is where the
historic hills of the Hudson look down
upon the scenes of his cadet life ut
West Point, the city and state of his
boyhood claim him as their own son,
and as such revere his memory. The
nearest that John Buford ever came
to being a Kentucky soldier. as the
Chicago papers have it, was some
what like this, as narrated to the
writer by Gen. John Gibbon, of the
United States army: At the out
break Of the civil war, Capt. John
Buford, Second United States Ora
goons. was stationed at Old Camp
Floyd, Utah. Gen. Gibbon was there
also as captain of artillery. MANY
officers were loud in declar-
ing their sentiments in favor of Sc
cession and state sovereignty, and
their intentions to resign |
and fight for the south. John Blu
ford. with that great sense of pro-
priety which ever distinguished him
As an officer Of the regular army,
kept silence and avoided all discus
sion OF political themes.
''Finally some of the officers asked |
Buford what he was going to do !
about the impending crisis. Il have
received said Buford. "a letter
from the governor of Kentucky urg-
ing me to come there. and promising
me anything l wanted in Kentucky
in the way of military command, if |
| would come What reply did YOU
make, John?' said Capt. Gib6on.
who was present. Buford's blue
eyes flashed fire and the color rose
strong ia his handsome face. as he
replied in ringing tones to the as
Sembled group of officers: Il wrote
to the governor of Kentucky that |
was an officer of the United States
army and that intended to remain
one.' After Gettysburg and the pur-
suit OF Lees army, General Buford,
exhausted and worn out by hard field
service and constant exposure. grew
so weak and i'll that he was removed
10 Washington, where he could get
better medical treatment than in the
field.
Longed For Rock Island.
Gas death approached he longed
'nce more to see the mighty river of
he west. and those wooded bluffs
.bove the town where his bovhood
lays were passed, and where were
he graves of his father and kindred.
lie requested to be carried back to
lie on the soil of that state which
lad sent him TO West Point, and