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BG John Buford - 1st Division Cavalry commander - was the first to recognize the importance of key terrain at Gettysburg
his actions on July 1st, 1863 may well have turned the course of battle if not history, & perhaps saved the Union itself
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his actions on July 1st, 1863 may well have turned the course of battle if not history, & perhaps saved the Union itself
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in great contrast to the Confederate cavalry in mid-1863, the horse soldiers under Buford's command were ordered to keep ahead of I Corps and "locate Lee's army and discern its intentions."
the primary role of reconnaissance: be the eyes & ears of the commander in the field
the primary role of reconnaissance: be the eyes & ears of the commander in the field
arriving into sleepy Gettysburg on June 30th, he is received as a hero - locals "waving, shouting, and singing patriotics songs" recently ravaged by Confederate soldiers led by A. P. Hill that very day -
sensing danger, like any good cavalryman evaluates the terrain around him
sensing danger, like any good cavalryman evaluates the terrain around him
it is difficult to overstate the tremendous advantage the terrain would give to the Army of Potomac - three days later the Union line from Culp's Hill to Round Top would repulse George Pickett's fateful charge
this fortune only possible because of the actions of Buford & others
this fortune only possible because of the actions of Buford & others
he determines on the 1st of July that his division is the only thing between the Confederate Army & Cemetery Ridge and he must hold the high ground - a mounted force of horse soldiers facing tens of thousands of infantry w/ artillery
something not achieved in then-modern war
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something not achieved in then-modern war
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around midnight he desperately alerts his commander - John Reynolds - of the proximate threat
under cover of night Buford deploys his troops well west to meet the enemy - well west of Gettysburg proper and the high terrain he intends to fall back on
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under cover of night Buford deploys his troops well west to meet the enemy - well west of Gettysburg proper and the high terrain he intends to fall back on
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Buford intends to trade distance for time - his hope is to buy hours if not minutes for Reynolds to occupy the high ground behind him
at dawn, the rebels advances - 75,000 strong
yet they are blind - Confederate cavalry led by J.E.B. Stuart is on a joyride, playing no role
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at dawn, the rebels advances - 75,000 strong
yet they are blind - Confederate cavalry led by J.E.B. Stuart is on a joyride, playing no role
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Buford makes two critical decisions meant to confuse the enemy:
dismounts his troops, unusual for mounted horsemen, so they are better able to lay effective fire from cover
spreads out - does not concentrate - his artillery, a battery of only six guns
yet risks being overrun
dismounts his troops, unusual for mounted horsemen, so they are better able to lay effective fire from cover
spreads out - does not concentrate - his artillery, a battery of only six guns
yet risks being overrun
the gambit is extremely effective - it buys him a solid hour while Heth, in command of 7,000 rebels, evaluates the situation
the lack of rebel cavalry at this critical moment is damning - the CSA is effectively blind to what is in front of them on the field
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the lack of rebel cavalry at this critical moment is damning - the CSA is effectively blind to what is in front of them on the field
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Buford's men fight with tenacity, with rapid-fire breach-loading carbines able to volley fire into the slower-loading muzzles of the Confederate army - slowing the advance of a force at least 2-3 times their number
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it is enough - the infantry arrives
Reynolds arrives at 10:15: "What's the matter, John?"
"The devil's to pay!"
"I hope you can hold out until my corps comes up."
"I reckon I can."
[ spits on the ground in disgust ]
(11 of 16)
![it is enough - the infantry arrivesReynolds arrives at 10:15: "What's the matter, John?""The devil's to pay!" "I hope you can hold out until my corps comes up." "I reckon I can."[ spits on the ground in disgust ] (11 of 16)](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eb4xM0ZWkAAcWER.jpg "it is enough - the infantry arrivesReynolds arrives at 10:15: \"What's the matter, John?\"\"The devil's to pay!\" \"I hope you can hold out until my corps comes up.\" \"I reckon I can.\"[ spits on the ground in disgust ] (11 of 16)")
Reynolds arrives at 10:15: "What's the matter, John?"
"The devil's to pay!"
"I hope you can hold out until my corps comes up."
"I reckon I can."
[ spits on the ground in disgust ]
(11 of 16)
this is only the beginning of the battle - but the end, for Buford -
his mission complete & handed to the infantry, he and the 1st Division are recalled to reserve and refit
Reynolds - probably the best officer in the Union Army - is shot and killed moments later
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his mission complete & handed to the infantry, he and the 1st Division are recalled to reserve and refit
Reynolds - probably the best officer in the Union Army - is shot and killed moments later
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yet three days hence, on the eve of the nation's birthday, the battle is won - the high water mark of the Confederacy is market and repulsed, never to rise again
Stuart arrives on July 3rd with the Confederate cavalry - too little, too late
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Stuart arrives on July 3rd with the Confederate cavalry - too little, too late
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that November, the President reads:
"that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain โ that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
would there be a nation without John Buford?
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"that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain โ that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
would there be a nation without John Buford?
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Buford does not see the end of war. He dies, possibly of typhoid, in December of that year
Lincoln promotes him to Major General on his deathbed
his last words: "Put guards on all the roads, and don't let the men run to the rear."
he is buried at West Point
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Lincoln promotes him to Major General on his deathbed
his last words: "Put guards on all the roads, and don't let the men run to the rear."
he is buried at West Point
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as an infinitely less accomplished cavalry officer, I would tell the story of John Buford to my subordinates (downtime in the war zone is plentiful) -
the lesson: be ready, always, at a moment's notice, when you least expect it, to do your duty -
your country depends on it
the lesson: be ready, always, at a moment's notice, when you least expect it, to do your duty -
your country depends on it
