The Washington herald., 1911-04-02
RANKING OFFICER
HOLDS CELEBRATION
Gen. S. B. Buckner Observes
Eighty-ninth Birthday.
VETERAN OF TWO WARS
Captured by Grant at Fort Douclson-
Served in Battles of Mexican War.
adler GcneraI-Oncc Governor OF
Kentucky-Retains Good Health.

Louisville. Ky. April 1--Of all the sur
viving officers of the civil war, Federal
and Confederate, Gen. Simon Bolivar
Buckner, who is celebrating his birthday
to-day, is the highest in rank. He is
eighty-nine years old. Gen. Buckner Is
the last of the lieutenant generals of the
Confederate army, and there is no one
left of the three Federal commanders
who equaIed him in rank.
The elaborate preparations for Gen.
DCckner's birthday celebration were COM
pletcd yesterday. and late in the after
room his son. Simon Bolivar Buckner, jr..
arrived. Like his father. Young BucknCr
is a graduate of West FONT and is now
an officer in the United States regular
army. Many veterans OF the SOS also
are here to he in attendance at the Celc-
bration, which is shared in by all OF
Kentucky.
Gen. Buckner celebrated his birthday
On his estate. Glen Liz" in the room
in which he was born. lie inherited the
estate from his father ana has 500 acres
OF the large original ,ract. Despite his
years Gen. Buckner enjoys good health
and his mind is as clear as ever. He is
blessed with the comDany of his wife.
and they were a happy couple when their
son returned from his army post yes
terday.
Led Thrilling Life.
Gen. Buckner's life is part of the his
tory of the country at some of its most
thrilling periods. He sought Il military
career and was graduated from West
Point in 1SH He was commissioned 4
second lieutenant in the Sixth Infantry
For a time he served az instructor at
West Point When The Mexican war
broke out his regiment was one of the
first to invade that country. He was in
carly every important battle OF the war
and was elevated to the rank OF captain
for gallant service. After the war he
participated in several campaigns against
tho Indians on the plains
In 1852 Capt BuCkner resigned from the
army and returned to Kentucky. where
he engaged in business. When the war
broke out he offered his services to
President Davis. vino made him a briga-
der general. He had previously declined
an appointment of the same rank from
President Lincoln. His first important
engagement OF the war was at Fort Dom
e!sOn. When his superors. Gems. Pillow
End Floyd. fed from the fort Gen Buck
ner refused to follow them and was cap
tired. along with his men. by Grants
forces. He had held the place as long as
he could and surrendered with the re-
spect of the enemy. This is best attest
eJ by the friendship of Gen. Grant, which
endured from that date. Cen. BucknCr
Vas one of the pallhearcrs at Gen.
Grants funeral.
Held Prisoner in North.
Following Fort Donelson. Gen. Buckncr
was held prisoner almost year at Fort
Warren, near Boston. He was exchanged.
rcjOincd the Confederate army. and was
promoted to major general for his con-
duct at Fort DOnelSon. In the following
summer he was placed in command in
Eastern Tennessee and later was in ab-
solute command in Louisiana. A month
later he was promoted to the grade of
Lieutenant general and was placed in
command of a full army corps in Gen.
Hragg's army. He took part in the bat
tie of ChickamaUga, IN command OF a
wing of the army.
Following the war he returned to his
home and was elected governor OF Ken
tuCky in ISSS. In 1896 he was nominated
by the Gold Democrats for Vice Presi-
dent on the ticket with Gen. Palmer.
With the exception of shis excursion into
politics he has lived the quiet life of
country gentleman on the estate where
nc is now enjoying life TO the full as he
enters his eighty-ninth year