The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-09-18
SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER.


sketch of Life of Gold Democrat No
minee for Vice-President.
Simon Bolivar Buckner, the nominee
of the gold wing of the Democratic par
ty for Vice President of the United
States, is by birth Kentuckian and is
now in his seventy-fourth year. He is
one of the most prominent and most
respected sons of the South. His career
has been an eventful one. Being gradu-
ated from the United States Military
Academy at West Point in 1874, he en-
tered the Second United States Infantry
and from August, 1916 until May, 1916,
was assistant professor of ethics at
West Point. He made gallant record
in the Mexican war, being brevetted
first lieutenant for heroic conduct at
Contreras and Churubuseo, where he
was wounded, and captain for his brav-
cry at Moline del Rey. From August,
1S4S, until March, 1855, he was assist
ant instructor of infantry tactics at
West Point, resigning to become super
intendent of construction of the Chi
cago custom house. In the same year,
1885, he was chosen as colonel of the
volunteers raised in Illinois for an ex-
petition against Mormons and Indians
in Utah, but not mustered into service.
He then practiced law and became one
of the most prominent of the knights
of ha Hnl6n, Tiro1a IN,
After the Civil War began he was
made commander of the STATE Guard of
kentucky and adjutant general the
State. September II, 1861, he issued an
address to the people of the Blue Grass
State, calling upon them to take up
arms against what he called the "usurp-
alton" of Abraham Lincoln, and i'm
mediately afterwards he occupied Bow
ling Green. After the capture of Fort
Henry he evacuated the place and
withdrew to Fort Donelson, where he
commanded brigade in the battles of
February 10, IA and Is, 1862. He re-
manned here after his superior officers,
Generals Floyd and Pillow, had fed,
and on February 16 surrendered to Gen
eral Grant with $4,000 prisoners and
vast stores.
He was imprisoned at Fort Warren,
Boston, until exchange in August,
1862. He subsequently commanded
the first division of General Hardee's
corps in Bragg's army in Tennessee
Later he was made a major general,
and was in the battles of Murfreesboro
and Chickamauga, surrendering with
Kirby Smiths army to Osterhaus, at
Baton Rouge, May 26, 1866. General
Buckner's first wife was daughter of
Major Kingsbury.
General Buckner was one of the pail
bearers at the funeral of General
Ulysses S. Grant, the man to whom he
surrendered his sword at Fort Donel-
son. In 1884, when Grants fortune
was wiped out through the infamous
schemes of Ferdinand Ward in New
York clearinghouse, Buckner was one
of the first to proffer aid. Grant was
bankrupt, and Buckner without delay
telegraphed the famous old COM
mander to draw on him for $50, 900 |
without security. AS $4,000 was the |
extent of Buckner's fortune at the /
time, the sacrifice he was willing to !
Lilo nc DCoPOhC CNCly q llGu
worthy of Grants friendship and hon !
or During the war Buckner was re-
garded as hard fighter, a strict dis /
ciplinarian and an honorable, con-
scientious man. He was moved al /
ways by his sense of right and justice. /
No one questioned his sincerity of pur- /
pose, and if he erred it was an error /
of judgment.
In 1887 Buckner was elected Gov
ernor of Kentucky In the convention
that nominated him question arose
as to his age and vigor While these
matters were being discussed General
Buckner arose. and the assemblage
gave ear to him.
Gentlemen of the convention" said
the veteran of the lost cause, u de-