The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-16

Is, Kentucky
General Buckncr is the last of tho
lieutenant general OF tile Confederate
armies lie is also the ranking surviy-
Ing; officer Of the t'iyil War. If II
reunion OF all vino fought in that great
conflict, Confederate and Federal couid
be held. General Iiuckncr wonii Id Of
the highest rank. To add TO the inter-
est which Is felt In THE sage OF GLEN
Lily as "a living link with tie Historic
past. he fought through tho Mexican
War.
General Buckuer celebrated liz
etghty-e eighth birthday in tic room IN
which he WAS born. This is nov tho
library OF his homo Tho house wasi
built hy Colonel Aylcttc Buckncr. GEN
erai Buckncr's father, who came 10
Kentucky from Virginia almost one
hundred years ago. and bull, the house
IN which Simon Bolivar Buckner was
born April !. lso3
" the original estate General Bnck
nci retains abput 500 acres lie mas
made additions 10 tho house his father
putt. but has never permitted any, OF
the original structure TO DC torn a,vuy,
ana the additions have all conformed
70 the architecture Of the irst struc-
trro. The present home is a two
story soS house which has tho modern
convenience. Of gas and water. ana Is
residence Of thorough comfort, pu.
which is nevertheless The log house or
one hundred years ago
In tho Twilight
Hero General Buckncr IS spendlnG
his sunset days in ideal style, blessed
WITH the love Of his devoted wife. and
happy IN her conipa n onshi,, In his OK
,cnsivc library and In tho friends who
hclieht TO cnioy the ospitalty OF Glen
Lily.''
General Buekner's lie Is 4 part Of
he history OF his; country In some OF
us most thrilling periods. Al an carly
Hge he showed AN inclination for mil
itary life and was appointed to Wnst
( loinf Academy. from which he was
\ graduated I'm 1914 lie was commits.
stoned a second lieutenant in tile sixth
Infantry. and for a time served MS an
instructor at West Point
The winter OF 1915 found lieutenant
Burkner with his regiment on the Rio
Grande, un'l nj the beginning az the
war with Mexico his regiment was one
OF tho first to enter AcXicon soil Gem
cral Buckncr was IN the battle OF
Ncra Cruz and fought In almost every
important battle OF the war. lie was
promoted 10 first lieutenant for gallant
conduct in action at Cherubusco. and
Was made captain for service al SIolino
del Rey.
After the close OF tho wnr General
Bnckncr was req ssiSned TO Nest Point
where he was for some tim. instrmc-
t"r IN military tactics. Later he sery-
ctl on the plains and participate led in
several campaigns against the Indiana
IN $50" Captain Buckner resigned
from the army and returned 10 Ken
lucky TO engage In business pursuits s.
IN 1860 no was appointed commander
in-cnief OF the Kentucky State Guard.
but resigned ON the ground that the
Z
holding OF the position by a man com
united to one side. Improper Prom
The first General Buckncr sided Win
III Tue South. and when The war broke
out he offered his service 10 prcsidcn.
DAVIS. iic was appointed brigadicr-
general. having previously declined tho
same rank from President Lincoln.
~ Fort DOnelson.
IN the first campaign in which he
served General Buckpcr made n rcpt-
tation for military skill and conduct.
despite the fact that the fortunes OF
war were against him. He was third
in command at Fort Donclson whom
that post was surrounded By General
Grants army. His superior officers.
General Floyd and General Pillow. were
\ unable to cope with the situation and
did not heed the advice OF General
bnckner y series OF errors followed
which made the fall of Fort Donclson
I'illow made their escape down the
river In boat. leaving the army 10
its fate.
At that time feeling in Kenti,ck y
Snlong he Union adllcrents ran high
against General Bucknor. and he was
urged to go with his superior officers,
but no refused. saying he would never
desert the men under his command
General Buckner held the post as long
RS possible and made the hest terms lie
Could get under the circumstances lie
won tho respect OF the Federal officers
and lie esteem III which General Grant
feld him is shown by the firm friend
snip that always endured between
ihent. General Buckncr was one OF
General Grants pail bearers.
Following Fort Donelson. General
Ruckner was n prisoner for il year in
Fort Warren. near Boston. lie was
exchanged. rcjoined The Confederate
Army and was promoted 10 ma or- gem
eral In recognition Of his conduct ut
Fort Donelson. General Buckncr par
ticipatcd in the battle of Pcrryvlile
+ and was afterwards sent TO defend
Mobile. III tho following summer ho
was placed in charge of the Department
OF Eastern Tennessee, and later was
In absolute command In Louisiana
4 becomes Iicutcnnnt-GcncraI.
month later no was promoted 10
X the grade of lieutenant general and
was placed III command OF a full army
forps IN General Bragg's army. lie
H toolc part in the battle or Chicltamnuga
and commanded wing of the army on
that bloody day with signal capacity.
At the close Of he war he was again
in command IN Louisiana III
Following tho war General I3nckncr
resided for n time In New Orleans,
then returned 10 Kentucky, whore he
k has lived ever since. Ilo was elected
\ Governor and served four years. maxi
ing an ideal chief executive Of tho
State. In lSaG no was nominated Vico.
president on tho National Democratic