Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-07-07
STORY OF RuckNER.
Commission Made Out for Him in
Union Army Just Before He Took
Command of Confederate Force.


81 happen to know" said the cap
tain, in telling the story in the Chica-
go Iter-Ocean, that even after Buck
ner Returned to Kentucky in 1861 the
Unionists of that state hoped that af-
ter the neutrality craze had passed he
would stand with them I know also
that as late as August II, 1861, Uresi-
dent Lincoln ordered commission as
brigadier general made out for Simon
B. Buckner. This was to be put in the
hands of Gen. Robert Anderson, to be
delivered to Gen. Buckner or not, at
AndersOn'S discretion Buckner re-
manned in the Kentucky state guard
until few days after the battle of
Bull Run, when he resigned, went
south, to reappear in Kentucky in
command of the confederate army that
occupied Bowling Green September Is,
1861
Before this, however, while in COM
mand of the Kentucky state guard, he
had two or more interviews with his
old Chicago acquaintance, George B.
Mcclellan, in regard to observing the
neutrality of Kentucky. Gen. Polk
broke the neutrality September 8, and
Gen. Grant occupied Paducah Septem-
Der 5. Before December 81, 1861, %
union regiments of infantry and six
of cavalry had been organized in Ken
lucky, and it soon became a battle
ground. AS soon as Buckner advanced
to Bowling Green Gen. William T.
Sherman advanced to Muldraugh's
hill
Sherman was a little impatient
with the home guards and volunteers,
but they were full of fight. In getting
his men into position at Muldraugh's
hill Sherman noticed a young man in
civilian dress active among the troops.
He sent for the young fellow, who
promptly accounted for himself by ex-
planning that he was medical student
acting as hospital steward, and had
been called out in such hurry that he
had no time to get his uniform. Sher-
man insisted that he ought to have
brought his uniform, hurry or no
hurry.
@'As the young man turned away
crestfaIlen he muttered something to
an officer standing near. Sherman,
suspicious, asked the officer what the
hospital steward had said The officer
hesitated a moment and then replied:
Well, general, he said that general
with such a hat as you have on had
no right to scold him about not wear
ing his uniform Sherman pulled off
his battered, old fashioned stovepipe
hat, looked it over, and after a laugh
called out: Young man, you are right
about the hat, but you ought to have
your uniform
when Gen. Buckner. entered Ken
lucky he found several of his >kinsmen
in the union lines resisting him. One
of these, Col. J. F. Buckner, he cap
tured and held in the south for several
months. Three other Kentucky Off
GERS named Buckner kept up the fight
against him, and in 1862 he was cap
tured by his old army friend, Gen.
Grant. By the way, confederate ar
tillery officer captured at Fort Henry
told me that Grant did him a good
turn. After the surrender one of
Grants staff was looking for papers.
The captured artillery officer explained
that he had burned all papers in the
fort the day before. Thereupon he was
roundly abused by the staff officer.
Gen. Grant, looking up, said quietly:
No, no. l would not excuse an officer
of mine who let important papers fall
into the hands of the enemy. The cap
tain only did his duty when he burned
the papers,