Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner

[jkBluesman]

Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner (b. 1823, d. 1914). Born in Hart County, Kentucky, Buckner was named after the liberator of South America. Graduating from West Point in 1844, he was on garrison duty for a short time before returning to the United States Military Academy as teacher. The American-Mexican War interrupted his time as instructor. During the war he won two brevets before returning to West Point where he stayed until 1850. In 1855 Buckner resigned from the army and worked in the real estate business of his father-in-law in Chicago. Three years later he returned to Kentucky and rose to inspector general of the state militia in 1860. In the debate over Kentucky’s fate in the sectional conflict of 1861, Buckner was used by the pro-Southern governor Beriah Magoffin to secure Kentucky’s neutrality. When offered a commission as brigadier general by the North in August, Buckner refused, but accepted the same rank in the Confederate Army on September 14. In the struggle over Kentucky he was first sent to Bowling Green. However in February 1862 Buckner’s task was to defend Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. Fighting under the inexperienced Gen. John B. Floyd, Buckner had no confidence in the mission. When a breakout attempt failed on February 15, his superiors fled from the fort and for Buckner remained the task of dealing with the first of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s request for unconditional surrender. He was himself exchanged on August 15 and promoted to major general. Assigned to Braxton Bragg’s army he commanded a division through the invasion of Kentucky and during the defeat at Perryville. From December 1862 to May 1863, Buckner served in the Department of the Gulf, fortifying Mobile, Alabama. He afterwards returned to Tennessee and was given a corps on the Confederate Left Wing at the Battle of Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863). In the debate over Bragg’s leadership Bucker sided with the majority of officers who voted for Bragg’s removal. But when Pres. Jefferson Davis adhered to Bragg, Buckner was reverted to division command. Illness kept him from duty till February, 1864 and in May he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi-Department. On September 20 he received promotion to lieutenant general and served under Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith in western Louisiana and Arkansas before becoming Smith’s chief of staff on May 9, 1865. It was Buckner who surrendered the department on May 26. After the war he had to remain in New Orleans until 1868, when he was allowed to return to Kentucky. In 1887 Buckner was elected governor and served till 1891. Five years later he ran for the vice-presidency on the National or Gold Democrat ticket but was defeated. He died at Glen Lily, near Munfordville in 1914 as the last of all Confederate lieutenant generals and was buried at Frankfort, Kentucky. His son, Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. became a lieutenant general of the U.S. Army and was killed in the Battle of Okinawa during the Second World War.

Ldr: 3
Tact: 4
Init: 3
Cmd: 4
Cav: 0

Teaches: Diggers, Hardy

[jkBluesman]

I found no insident which qualifies him for "Hardy" but as it makes him more valuable and there was no other obvious ability besides Buckner's interest in poetry and drama...

[Gil R.]

Thanks!

[Gil R.]

Here's Buckner. All ready to go.

Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner (b. 1823, d. 1914). Born in Hart County, Kentucky, Buckner was named after the liberator of South America. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1844, he was on garrison duty for a short time before returning there as a faculty member. The Mexican-American War interrupted his time as instructor. Having won two brevets in Mexico, he returned to West Point and then stayed there until 1850. In 1855, Buckner resigned from the army and began to work in his father-in-law’s real estate business in Chicago. Three years later, he returned to Kentucky and rose to inspector general of the state militia in 1860. In the debate over Kentucky’s fate in the sectional conflict of 1861, Buckner was used by the pro-Southern Gov. Beriah Magoffin to secure Kentucky’s neutrality. When offered a commission as brigadier general by the Union that August, Buckner refused, and instead accepted the same rank in the Confederate Army on September 14. Buckner’s first significant task was to begin the fortification of Bowling Green, the seat of Confederate support in Kentucky. Next, in February 1862 Buckner’s task was to defend Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. Fighting under the inexperienced Gen. John B. Floyd, Buckner had no confidence in the mission. When a breakout attempt failed on February 15, his superiors fled from the fort, leaving Buckner with the task of dealing with the first – though not the last, as later events would show – of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s requests for unconditional surrender. Upon his surrender of this crucial fort, Buckner was taken prisoner, but was exchanged on August 15 and promoted to major general. Assigned to Gen. Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee, Buckner commanded a division through the invasion of Kentucky and retreat to Tennessee following the Battle of Perryville on October 8. From December 1862 to May 1863, Buckner served in the Department of the Gulf, fortifying Mobile, Alabama. He afterwards returned to Tennessee and was given a corps in the Confederate Left Wing at the Battle of Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863). After Bragg failed to capitalize on the victory, debate over his leadership ensued, and Buckner sided with the majority of officers in urging Bragg’s removal. But when Pres. Jefferson Davis visited the near-mutinous army headquarters to investigate the situation and decided to stick with Bragg as his army commander, Buckner was reverted to divisional command. Illness kept him from duty until February 1864, and in May he was transferred to Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith’s Trans-Mississippi Department. On September 20, he received promotion to lieutenant general and was put in command of the District of West Louisiana. On April 19, 1865 he was given the District of Arkansas, before becoming Smith’s chief of staff on May 9, 1865 – a month after the surrender of Confederate forces in the eastern theater. It was Buckner who surrendered the Department on May 26. After the war, he had to remain in New Orleans until 1868, when he was allowed to return to Kentucky. In 1887 Buckner was elected governor and served until 1891. Five years later, in 1896, he ran for the vice-presidency on the ticket of the short-lived National Democratic Party (or “Gold Democrat” party), which was vehemently opposed to the “free silver” policies advocated by William Jennings Bryan, but was defeated. The last surviving Confederate lieutenant general, Buckner died at Glen Lily, near Munfordville, in 1914 and was buried at Frankfort, Kentucky. His son, Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., became a lieutenant general of the U.S. Army and was killed in the Battle of Okinawa during the Second World War – the highest-ranking American general killed by enemy fire. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 3
Tact: 4
Init: 3
Cmd: 4
Cav: 0

Teaches: Diggers, Hardy

Start date: 16

[General Quarters]

very interesting bio