The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-09
GENERAL BUCKNER IN
HIS EIGHTY-FIFTH YEAR

LOUISVILLE. Kentucky, September
Extraordinarily a State of memories,
Kentucky now has added one of the
most notable ones to her list The land
of the homes Of Lincoln and Of Davis,
Of the even split of Civil War times, Of
The Grange" the mountain feuds,
the might riders. " and sempiternal
politics, is now the land Of the Last
Rebel.
This may not be taken TO mean that
in Kentucky only does there survive a
member of Lees great army, which,
during the four bloody years of the
sixties. resisted the rush OF numbers
and equipment under Grant. But il
does mean that the last leader Of that
army lives in Kentucky, and that now
there Is not highranked general Of
that army in the world but himself
The leader is Simon Bolivar Buckner,
Of Glen Lily, Hart County, the last OF
the brilliant cluster of Confederate
lieutenant generals who, under Lee and
Stonewau Jackson. made themselves CO.
equal with the military geEuises Of all
time.
Four months ago General Stephen D.
Lee. Of Vicksburg: General Alexander
T. Stewart, Of Biloxi. and General
Bucfuer, all. three attended the Con
federate reunion in Birmingham, and
the thin columns Of old soldiers who
passed them in the reviewing stand
cheered wildly for the three symbols Of
great rank in the South. The echoes
OF the falteriug feet Of the old men
was hardly dulled in the Birmingham
streets when General Lee passed from
his peaceful life at Vicksburg, leaving
only General Stewart and General
Buckuer \ week ago General Stewart
died. and in the need Of praise which
the hosts Of veterans north and south
Of the Ohio poured upon his grave, the
censoriOus blame which tacticiaus gave
him for his flank movement. which is
said to have lost the battle of Gettys-
burg. was forgotten, and General Stew
art was remembered for what he was
one of the brilliant military leaders and
one of the most noble citizens of the
three centuries Of the nation.
General Buckner returned from the
reunion to his usual peaceful life at
Glen Lily His eighty-four years have
bowed his shoulders and sunken his
ewes. nut the old warrior is still man
enough TO lead 1.-the bows. - as he calls
them, against some desperate fortress
or some forlOrn hope He passes his
life peacefully with his beautiful wife,
and in treasuring the letters and the
ambitions OF Bolivar Buckner. Jr., re
Gently graduated from West Point.
where his father went before him, and
now a dashing Young lieutenant IN the
army of the United States.
''Of course. 7 am glad that he is
under the old flag. said the General
the other day, indignant that such
treason had been suggested.
OF Floyd and Pillow and himself
Buckner is the only General Of the
Fl. Doneison episode who came out
with reputation for genius in military
affairs and for courage unassailed.
q viii fight il out on this line if
II takes all summer, - said the logged
Grant. drawing his lines about the for
tress, and BUckner made him keep his
word until all provisions were exhaust
ed. with the ammunition. and the
wearied garrison could fight no more.
He served brilliantly as Brigadler and
Major General. and on March 80, 1865.
he was made a Lieutenant General
After the war he devoted himself to the
peaceful pursuits Of civil life. rising 10
the position Of Governor Of Kentucky,
and in 1896. being the candidate for
Vice President on the Gold ticket
Since then General Buckner has chosen
Independently Of party lines. The let
Ter which he wrote TO State Chairman
Henry B. Hines last wear. declaring for
the Republican nominee. Augustus E
Wilson, undoubtedly had effect among
the many Confederate veterans in Ken
lucky. who look u General Buckner as
their leader still His latest letter was
a decrial of those who would make
Taft : religion an issue.
General Buckner Is the chief figure
IN the securing Of the Jefferson Davis
Home Association. and his tall, thick,
erect figure Is a familiar sight along the