Simon Bolivar Buckner
Simon Bolivar Buckner | |
---|---|
30th Governor of Kentucky | |
In office August 30, 1887 – September 2, 1891 | |
Lieutenant | James Bryan |
Preceded by | J. Proctor Knott |
Succeeded by | John Brown |
Personal details | |
Born | Munfordville, Kentucky, U.S. | April 1, 1823
Died | January 8, 1914 Hart County, Kentucky, U.S. | (aged 90)
Resting place | Frankfort Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic National Democratic (1896) |
Spouses |
|
Children | Lily, U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment |
Commands | Fort Donelson (Temporarily, surrendered) 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Tennessee District of the Gulf 3rd Corps, Army of Tennessee Department of East Tennessee District of Arkansas and Western Louisiana |
Battles/wars | |
Simon Bolivar Buckner (/ˈsaɪmən ˈbɒlɪvər ˈbʌknər/ SY-mən BOL-i-vər BUK-nər; April 1, 1823 – January 8, 1914) was an American soldier, Confederate soldier, and politician. He fought in the United States Army in the Mexican–American War. He later fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he served as the 30th governor of Kentucky.
After graduating from the
In the years following the war, Buckner became active in politics. He was elected governor of Kentucky in 1887, in his second campaign for that office. His term was plagued by violent feuds in the eastern part of the state, including the
Early life
Simon B. Buckner (Sr.), was born at Glen Lily, his family's estate near
On July 1, 1840, Buckner enrolled at the
Service in the Mexican–American War
In May 1846, Buckner resigned his teaching position to fight in the
On August 8, 1847, Buckner was appointed
Buckner was again cited for gallant conduct at the
Interbellum
After the war, Buckner accepted an invitation to return to West Point to teach infantry tactics.
Buckner married Mary Jane Kingsbury on May 2, 1850, at her aunt's home in
Before leaving the Army, Buckner helped an old friend from West Point and the Mexican–American War, Captain
Still interested in military affairs, Buckner joined the Illinois State Militia of
In late 1857, Buckner and his family returned to his native state and settled in
Civil War
In 1861 Kentucky governor
The state board that controlled the militia considered it to be pro-
Fort Donelson
After Union Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
Buckner's division defended the right flank of the Confederate line of entrenchments that surrounded the fort and the small town of
Late that night the generals held a council of war in which Floyd and Pillow expressed satisfaction with the events of the day, but Buckner convinced them that they had little realistic chance to hold the fort or escape from Grant's army, which was receiving steady reinforcements. General Floyd, concerned he would be tried for treason if captured by the North, sought Buckner's assurance that he would be given time to escape with some of his Virginia regiments before the army surrendered. Buckner agreed and Floyd offered to turn over command to his subordinate, Pillow. Pillow immediately declined and passed command to Buckner, who agreed to stay behind and surrender. Both Generals Floyd and Pillow left to leave General Buckner to surrender to the Union Forces. Pillow and Floyd were able to escape, as did cavalry commander Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest.[32]
That morning, Buckner sent a messenger to the Union Army requesting an armistice and a meeting of commissioners to work out surrender terms.[33] He may have been hoping Grant would offer generous terms, remembering the assistance he gave Grant when he was destitute, but Grant's reply was curt. Sending his aide Colonel William Hillyer to deliver a dispatch in person, Grant's reply included his famous quotation, "No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works."[34] To this, Buckner responded:
SIR:—The distribution of the forces under my command, incident to an unexpected change of commanders, and the overwhelming force under your command, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Confederate arms yesterday, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms which you propose.[35]
The asperity of these notes was only superficial; Buckner greeted his old friend warmly when Grant arrived to accept the surrender. They joked about their time in Mexico and the incompetence of General Pillow.[36] Grant offered to loan Buckner money to see him through his impending imprisonment, but Buckner declined. As mentioned above, Buckner had paid for then-Captain Grant's lodging in New York City after the Mexican War when Grant was destitute. As evidence of their mutual respect, Buckner later acted as a pall bearer and paid for Grant's funeral in 1885, as well as provided Grant's widow a financial monthly payment so she could live out her years. The surrender was a humiliation for Buckner personally, but also a strategic defeat for the Confederacy, which lost more than 12,000 men and much equipment, as well as control of the Cumberland River, which led to the evacuation of Nashville.[37]
Invasion of Kentucky
While Buckner was a Union
Days after Buckner joined Bragg, both Bragg and Maj. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith began an invasion of Kentucky. As Bragg pushed north, his first encounter was in Buckner's home town of Munfordville. The small town was important for Union forces to hold if they wanted to maintain communication with Louisville while pressing southward to Bowling Green and Nashville. A small force under the command of Col. John T. Wilder guarded the town. Though vastly outnumbered, Wilder refused requests to surrender on September 12 and September 14. By September 17, however, Wilder recognized his difficult position and asked Bragg for proof of the superior numbers he claimed. In an unusual move, Wilder agreed to be blindfolded and brought to Buckner. When he arrived, he told Buckner that he (Wilder) was not a military man and had come to ask him what he should do. Flattered, Buckner showed Wilder the strength and position of the Confederate forces, which outnumbered Wilder's men almost 5-to-1. Seeing the hopeless situation he was in, Wilder informed Buckner that he wanted to surrender. Any other course, he later explained, would be "no less than willful murder".[41]
Bragg's men continued northward to
Based on intelligence acquired by a spy in Buell's army, Buckner advised Bragg that Buell was still ten miles from Louisville in the town of Mackville. He urged Bragg to engage Buell there before he reached Louisville, but Bragg declined. Buckner then asked Leonidas Polk to request that Bragg concentrate his forces and attack the Union army at Perryville, but again, Bragg refused. Finally, on October 8, 1862, Bragg's army—not yet concentrated with Kirby Smith's—engaged Maj. Gen. Alexander McCook's corps of Buell's army and began the Battle of Perryville. Buckner's division fought under General Hardee during this battle, achieving a significant breakthrough in the Confederate center, and reports from Hardee, Polk, and Bragg all praised Buckner's efforts. His gallantry was for naught, however, as Perryville ended in a tactical draw that was costly for both sides, causing Bragg to withdraw and abandon his invasion of Kentucky. Buckner joined many of his fellow generals in publicly denouncing Bragg's performance during the campaign.[43]
Later Civil War service
Following the Battle of Perryville, Buckner was reassigned to command the District of the Gulf, fortifying the defenses of
In late August, Union Maj. Gen.
After Chickamauga, Rosecrans and his
Buckner was given a medical leave of absence following Chickamauga, returning to Virginia, where he engaged in routine work while recovering his strength. His division was sent without him to support Longstreet in the
Buckner had difficulty traveling to the West, and it was early summer before he arrived. He assumed command of the District of West Louisiana on August 4. Shortly after Buckner arrived at Smith's headquarters in
As news of Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender, on April 9, 1865, reached the department, soldiers deserted the Confederacy in droves. On April 19, Smith consolidated the District of Arkansas with the District of West Louisiana; the combined district was put under Buckner's command. On May 9, Smith made Buckner his chief of staff. Rumors began to swirl in both Union and Confederate camps that Smith and Buckner would not surrender, but would fall back to Mexico with soldiers who remained loyal to the Confederacy. Though Smith did cross the Rio Grande, he learned on his arrival that Buckner had traveled to New Orleans on May 26 and arranged terms of surrender.[58] Smith had instead instructed Buckner to move all the troops to Houston, Texas.[59]
At Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Buckner had become the first Confederate general of the war to surrender an army; at New Orleans, he became the last.[60] The surrender became official when Smith endorsed it on June 2, (Only Brigadier General Stand Watie held out longer; he surrendered the last Confederate land forces on June 23, 1865).[60]
Conditions set forth in Buckner's surrender were the following:
- "All acts of hostility on the part of both armies are to cease from this date."
- The officers and men are to be "paroled until duly exchanged."
- All Confederate property was to be turned over to the Union.
- All officers and men could return home.
- "The surrender of property will not include the side arms or private horses or baggage of officers" and enlisted men.
- "All 'self-disposed persons' who return to 'peaceful pursuits' are assured that may resume their usual avocations . . . "."[61]
Postbellum life
The terms of Buckner's parole in
Buckner returned to Kentucky when he was eligible in 1868 and became editor of the Louisville Courier.
On January 5, 1874, after five years of suffering with tuberculosis, Buckner's wife died. Now a widower, Buckner continued to live in Louisville until 1877 when he and his daughter Lily returned to the family estate, Glen Lily, in Munfordville. His sister, a recent widow, also returned to the estate in 1877. For six years, these three inhabited and repaired the house and grounds which had been neglected during the war and its aftermath. On June 14, 1883, Lily Buckner married Morris B. Belknap of Louisville, and the couple made their residence in Louisville. On October 10 of the same year, Buckner's sister died, and he was left alone.[64]
On June 10, 1885, Buckner married Delia Claiborne of Richmond, Virginia.[65] Buckner was 62; Claiborne was 28.[66] Their son, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., was born on July 18, 1886.[67]
Political career
Buckner had a keen interest in politics and friends had been urging him to run for governor since 1867, even while terms of his surrender confined him to Louisiana. Unwilling to violate these terms, he instructed a friend to withdraw his name from consideration if it was presented. In 1868, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention that nominated Horatio Seymour for president.[68] Though Buckner had favored George H. Pendleton, he loyally supported the party's nominee throughout the campaign.[69]
In 1883, Buckner was a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Governor of Kentucky
Delegates to the 1887 state Democratic convention nominated Buckner unanimously for the office of governor. A week later, the
Buckner proposed a number of progressive ideas, most of which were rejected by the legislature. Among his successful proposals were the creation of a state board of tax equalization, creation of a parole system for convicts, and codification of school laws. His failed proposals included creation of a department of justice, greater local support for education and better protection for forests.[74]
Much of Buckner's time was spent trying to curb violence in the eastern part of the state. Shortly after his inauguration, the
A major financial scandal erupted in 1888 when Buckner ordered a routine audit of the state's finances which had been neglected for years.
During the 1888 session, the General Assembly passed 1,571 bills, exceeding the total passed by any other session in the state's history. Only about 150 of these bills were of a general nature; the rest were special interest bills passed for the private gain of legislators and those in their constituencies. Buckner vetoed 60 of these special interest bills, more than had been vetoed by the previous ten governors combined. Only one of these vetoes was overridden by the legislature. Ignoring Buckner's clear intent to veto special interest bills, the 1890 legislature passed 300 more special interest bills than had its predecessor. Buckner vetoed 50 of these. His reputation for rejecting special interest bills led the Kelley Axe Factory, the largest axe factory in the country at the time, to present him with a ceremonial "Veto Hatchet".[78]
When a tax cut passed over Buckner's veto in 1890 drained the state treasury, the governor loaned the state enough money to remain solvent until tax revenue came in.[1] Later that year, he was chosen as a delegate to the state's constitutional convention.[1] In this capacity, he unsuccessfully sought to extend the governor's appointment powers and levy taxes on churches, clubs, and schools that made a profit.[79]
Buckner was a Compatriot of the Kentucky Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and was elected as a Vice President General in 1890.
Later career
After his term as governor, Buckner returned to Glen Lily.
At the
Palmer and Buckner both had developed reputations as independent executives while serving as governors of their respective states. Because they had served on opposite sides during the Civil War, their presence on the same ticket emphasized national unity. The ticket was endorsed by several major newspapers including the
Following this defeat, Buckner retired to Glen Lily but remained active in politics. Though he always claimed membership in the Democratic party, he opposed the
At 80 years of age, Buckner memorized five of
Following the deaths of
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Harrison in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 136
- ^ Stickles, p. 4
- ^ Stickles, p. 5
- ^ Stickles, p. 6
- ^ Noe, pp. 96–97
- ^ a b Stickles, p. 7
- ^ Stickles, p. 9
- ^ a b Harrison in Kentucky's Governors, p. 119
- ^ a b c d e Eicher, pp. 151–52
- ^ Stickles, p. 15, 24; Hewitt, p. 139
- ^ Stickles, pp. 16–17
- ^ Stickles, p. 17
- ^ Stickles, pp. 17–19
- ^ a b c Hewitt, p. 139
- ^ Stickles, p. 20
- ^ Stickles, p. 22
- ^ Stickles, p. 23
- ^ "Bolivar's Bravery". Big Sandy News (Louisa, KY). 23 June 1887. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ Stickles, pp. 25–29
- ^ Stickles, pp. 34–37
- ^ Stickles, p. 38
- ^ Stickles, pp. 41–43
- ^ a b c Powell, p. 68
- ^ a b "Kentucky Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner", National Governors Association
- ^ a b Stickles, p. 78
- ^ Woodworth, Jefferson Davis and His Generals, p. 44; Harrison in Kentucky's Governors, p. 120; Hewitt, p. 140
- ^ Gott, p. 37
- ^ Hewitt, p. 140
- ^ Gott, p. 38
- ^ Gott, pp. 133–35
- ^ Gott, pp. 191–217; Connelly, Army of the Heartland, pp. 121–23
- ^ Gott, pp. 238–49; Connelly, Army of the Heartland, pp. 123–24
- ^ Stickles, p. 164
- ^ Stickles, pp. 165–166
- ^ Gott, p. 257
- ^ "ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE – Simon Bolivar Buckner Interview". granthomepage.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
- ^ Gott, pp. 262–67
- ^ Hewitt, p. 140; Eicher, p. 152
- ^ Stickles, p. 192
- ^ Stickles, p. 194; Hewitt, p. 140
- ^ Noe, p. 70; Stickles, pp. 194–202; Connelly, Army of the Heartland, pp. 229–30; Cozzens, This Terrible Sound, pp. 14–15
- ^ McDonough, p. 200; Noe, p. 129
- ^ Stickles, pp. 204–208; Noe, pp. 219–28, 339; McDonough, pp. 258–61; Connelly, Army of the Heartland, pp. 264–67
- ^ Stickles, p. 213
- ^ Eicher, p. 152; Stickles, p. 216
- ^ Hewitt, p. 140; Connelly, Autumn of Glory, p. 149; Stickles, p. 220
- ^ Stickles, pp. 226–231; Connelly, Autumn of Glory, pp. 201–34; Cozzens, This Terrible Sound, pp. 454–62; Woodworth, Six Armies in Tennessee, pp. 89, 93–94
- ^ Woodworth, Six Armies in Tennessee, pp. 129–68
- ^ Connelly, Autumn of Glory, p. 239
- ^ Cozzens, Shipwreck of Their Hopes, p. 24; Connelly, Autumn of Glory, pp. 252–53; Hewitt, pp. 140–41
- ^ Hewitt, p. 141
- ^ Hewitt, p. 141; Stickles, pp. 241–249
- ^ Stickles, p. 250
- ^ Stickles, p. 252; Hewitt, p. 141
- ^ Hewitt, p. 141; Stickles, p. 256
- ^ Eicher, p. 152; Hewitt, p. 141
- ^ Stickles, p. 262
- ^ Stickles, p. 265–270; Hewitt, p. 141
- ^ Winters, p. 425
- ^ a b Foote, p. 1021
- ^ Winters, p. 226
- ^ Stickles, p. 282
- ^ Stickles, p. 281
- ^ Stickles, pp. 313–322
- ^ Stickles, p. 324
- ^ a b Stickles, p. 323
- ^ Stickles, p. 332
- ^ Stickles, p. 297
- ^ Stickles, p. 298, 318
- ^ a b c d Tapp, p. 213
- ^ Stickles, p. 319
- ^ Stickles, pp. 322–323
- ^ Stickles, pp. 336–344
- ^ Harrison in Kentucky's Governors, pp. 120–121
- ^ Stickles, pp. 348–355, 367
- ^ a b Stickles, p. 358
- ^ Stickles, p. 355
- ^ Stickles, pp. 360–361, 374–375
- ^ a b Harrison in Kentucky's Governors, p. 121
- ^ Stickles, p. 402
- ^ a b c d Harrison in Kentucky's Governors, p. 122
- ^ a b Stickles, p. 403
- ^ Tapp, p. 357
- ^ Stickles, pp. 408–409
- ^ Beito, pp. 563–566
- ^ Stickles, pp. 416–421
- ^ Stickles, pp. 420–421
- ^ Hughes, p. 137
- ^ Stickles, p. 421
References
- Beito, David T.; Beito, Linda Royster (Spring 2000). "Gold Democrats and the Decline of Classical Liberalism, 1896–1900". Independent Review. 4: 555–75. Archived from the original on 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
- Connelly, Thomas L. (1967). Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee 1861–1862. ISBN 0-8071-2737-X.
- Connelly, Thomas L. (1971). Autumn of Glory: The Army of Tennessee 1862–1865. ISBN 0-8071-2738-8.
- Cozzens, Peter. The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles for Chattanooga. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994. ISBN 0-252-01922-9.
- Cozzens, Peter (1992). This Terrible Sound: The Battle of Chickamauga. ISBN 0-252-02236-X.
- Eicher, John H.; ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- ISBN 0-394-74622-8.
- Gott, Kendall D. (2003). Where the South Lost the War: An Analysis of the Fort Henry—Fort Donelson Campaign, February 1862. ISBN 0-8117-0049-6.
- ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
- ISBN 0-8131-2326-7.
- Hewitt, Lawrence L. (1991). "Simon Bolivar Buckner". In ISBN 0-918678-63-3.
- Hughes, Nicky (1992). "Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr.". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
- "Kentucky Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner". All Governors Database. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
- McDonough, James Lee (1994). War in Kentucky: From Shiloh to Perryville. ISBN 0-87049-847-9.
- Noe, Kenneth W. (2001). Perryville: This Grand Havoc of Battle. ISBN 978-0-8131-2209-0.
- Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. OCLC 2690774.
- Stickles, Arndt M. (1940). Simon Bolivar Buckner: Borderland Knight. ISBN 978-0-8078-5356-6. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- Tapp, Hambleton; James C. Klotter (1977). Kentucky: Decades of Discord, 1865–1900. ISBN 0-916968-05-7. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- Warner, Ezra J. (1959). Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. ISBN 0-8071-0823-5.
- ISBN 0-8071-0834-0.
- Woodworth, Steven E. (1990). Jefferson Davis and His Generals: The Failure of Confederate Command in the West. ISBN 0-7006-0461-8.
- Woodworth, Steven E. (1998). Six Armies in Tennessee: The Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns. ISBN 0-8032-9813-7.
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Buckner, Simon Bolivar". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
Further reading
- Grant, Ulysses S., Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Charles L. Webster & Company, 1885–86, ISBN 0-914427-67-9.
- Russell, Stephen (2005). Simon Bolivar Buckner: Beyond the Southern Storm. Louisville, Kentucky: Chicago Spectrum Press. p. 463. ISBN 1-58374-120-8.; a fictionalized account of Buckner's life
External links
- "Interviews: Simon Bolivar Buckner (1823–1914)". Ulysses S. Grant homepage. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- "Simon Bolivar Buckner: A Skillful and Judicious General" – Article by Civil War historian/author Bryan S. Bush