The sun., 1896-09-13
SUCKNER AND MCCLELLAN.
THBIR RELATIONS AT THE BEGIN
MING OF THE REBELLION.
Neeettnttons snd AIi.unserstan ding About
Kentucky Gen. Buckner's Southern
S,mpathic-, Which Csrricd MIS-, Finally
r.,o the confederate Array.

srp.e throughout the civil war, and was
rpr,',crcd among the higher circle OF Con-
r.i.rste leaders. although his State did not
..rede and he was early driven from her
ho-lers by the advance of the Union armies
Az seasons he bore n conspicuous part for
nj, cause in shaping military events.
&, the outbreak OF tho rebellion. Buckner.
then about IS years old. at the very zenith of
his movers. was undoubtedly the most infu-
,n,ial southern rights man in his native State
q, Kentucky. by reason of his military edu-
c,,ion and experience, his wealth and high
social connections, which were mainly among
the siaycholdng caste Of the South. He had
Graduated from West Point in 1874, num-
her II in q class OF TWENTY-FIVE cadets. Be-
sides Gems. Han ,ock, Pleasanton, and Frost,
NJ. classmates, BLckner had as associates In
tho academy in the classes above and be-
low him. many lnds who afterward dis
,insuishei themselves on both sides-C. S.
Grant. Mcclellan, Kirby Smith, jackson.
Pickett. Wilcox. Franklin, Porter, Bsldy
Smith. Steele, Rufus Ingalls,, and others OF
lesser note. Grant an6 Buckner were to-
v.,her three years at West Point, Grant hav-
ipc graduated in the class Of '43.
BrcNac- took part In the Mexican war as
Second L.eutenaut In the sixth regular
,pfnn;ry. aud by his bravery and soldierly
Qualities made AN ineftaceahlc impression up
on his brother officers. He was wounded at the
iattlc ~ Churubus,o. In 1852 he was made
A Captain and commissary of subsistence,
A ro,!rion much sought after by line officers.
Bu, army NE in time OF peace did net suit
III, ardent temperament OF Buckner. md Re
resigned from the service on the Goth of
N,rrh 1850 For two or three years there
after he WAS engaged in important business
enterpiifes ut Chicago. During this period.
nc: having lost his interest in the military
prrfes> on he connected himself with the Eli
poiS state Militia service. and by appoint
ment became .Ndju;ant-Genecal Of the State.
Ru; about twp years prior to the rebellion
Buckaer returned to Kentucky and settled
upc7 his estate near louisville. Here he re-
sunred his military diversions by entering
upon the organization OF the Kentucky State
Militia. a corgeuinl employment in which he
was emineaty successful, thereby making
h!nsel! very popular with an influential class
OF his fellow citizens. In 1861 he had bs
come INSPECTOR General OF the State, and com
mardei the Home Guards, n military or.
cauization composed mainly of the young
bccds NJ the blue grass region whose sym.
path.es were almost wholly with the South.
These antecedents, the critical situation Of
affairs which created a field for his kind OF
talents. his surroundings. with the additional
attraction OF striking presence and a mag
Of 1851 very important pers mage in Ken
tu,ky. His interests were larce!y at the
North but he opposed to coerctve meas
urcs. and believed firmly in the doctrine OF
State rights. His course throughout was con-
sistent and honest To use a threadhare
phrase he had the courage OF his convictions.
HIS att!t1de was well understood by the par
tSaa3 ot both sides. ard a. the clouds Of civil
war th:ckentd tho eyes of the Kentucky Sc
eessisnists who intended to fight were turned
toEart Buckner as their natural chief. And
their chief he became: thousands of Ken
trckiaas followed him out OF the Union wko
would doubtless have remained AZ home bCt
for bis example; The sIeat majority Q. Ken.
uaBa, hut the powerful influence OF 3uckncr.
B.tckinridEe, Marshall. and others came
eoQstef by the Southern leaders.
That Buckner's standing was high Is at
held By all his old military as: ociaIes OF North
err procliyitigs wno became familiar vita
hin at West Point. an and ST. suo@;eGsen,ly @ II In the
professional soldier that strong EFFORTS were
made to bring, him over The tempia'!ons
he: Mcc!sl!aa. Burnside; even the GOV;
stall Backser. evident Intention to preclpi,
tate himself into the rebellion. Among the
ss teissram sent :eat early in 1861 5y Burns de
TO Buckner. adjurinE him 10 take no steps
until Unit he could be sesn per.ona!ly. II , have
Burnside. indicating that Mr.. Lincoln WAS
willing To do somethiGS to hold such a man TO
Is rot certainly >nown hut it is said To have
teen a commission as Get eIal IN The rapidly
was then no lack "t material Tor general Of
teers Mcclellan appears 10 have thought
IN ucb ana d did S IL hs bis
prevent BUckne9 goiaS astray. Bur he could
hot he sweryed .:om ilts purpose.
0T iDs inc off IN GO.
cure the adhesion nf this brilliant man to
The Crion cause, is an episode that occurred
attitude Of armed neutrality between the two
,%ettiors % during the -pring and summer OF
Ea;FneF's s infasaee I'si and advice. This coHdi-
ton Gf neutrality. II observed by the Nurth,
for 1t gat - " weissta H 6shed rast y that s Gnion:
e99ntro;!cd the legislature. which made 1t a
M ths Union. TIE next best thing for the Con-
feteracy, Of course. was 10 prevent its being
great deslderatum with Buckper and the
1SIh,r Kentucky leaders was the safety OF
sheDtgcky herself. and immunity from the
:, George B. Mcclellan. one Of Buckrer's West
LiRco,n MaIor.ienefsi @ in ia' the regular army.
n. an 6Ei placed in command Of the Derartmen, Of
t-Y. HIS headquarters were at Cincinnati,
,. rhrre he lad previously resided as suPerin-
.
Mcclellan was very attentive observer Of
ne Progress OF events OIL the south side OF the
Ohlc, aHd appeared 10 regret state Of reu-
re.!ty which prevented HIN from occupying
salient aniEts on the opposite side for the de-
Ieacs of Cincinnati. In arletter to the War
ltpNrtment on May 10, 1904, Mcclellan writes
tAat The overnnr NJ Kentucky [MAgoffinl is
astra!tor. and Buckner Is under his influence, 81
that II Is necessary 10 watch them" Again
y corfess that think all our calculations
haor.d 'c based on the suppostion that Ken
tucky will secede; everything points in that
erection However, Mcclellan soon changed
MS view. on this point. for we find him writ
W. on MAJ u In t..is strain: The Union
men 4 Kentucky express a firm determine
r9n to fight It. out. Yesterday Garrett Davis
Told me we VIII remain In the Union by voting
J. e can, by lighting II we must. and II we
cannot hold our own we will call on the gen
era Govern nent for aid" Further on he SAID
~ have strong hopes Kentucky will re main In
ue Union, and the most favorable feature OF
the whole matter Is that the Union men are
now rrady tn abandon the position OF armed
Eeutra!ity, and enter heart and soul into the
contest Oh our side"
buckner had not yet Joined the Confederacy
buf mean lille held close relations with Gov