Portrait, John Buford, General

by American Landscapes

Title

Portrait, John Buford, General

Artist

American Landscapes

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Photographer: Unknown
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-cwpb-06373
Source: Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Brigadier General John Buford was a highly respected cavalry officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, known for his tactical insight and composed leadership under pressure. A graduate of West Point in 1848 and a veteran of the frontier, Buford quickly earned a reputation for professionalism and battlefield acumen. During the Gettysburg Campaign, he commanded the 1st Division of the Cavalry Corps and was tasked with screening Union movements and identifying the location of the advancing Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee.

Buford’s most decisive contribution came on the morning of July 1, 1863, when his cavalry was the first Union force to engage the Confederates at Gettysburg. Recognizing the strategic importance of the ridges and high ground south of town, Buford skillfully dismounted his troopers in a defensive position west of Gettysburg and fought on foot which transformed his cavalry into an improvised infantry force. This tactic, increasingly common but rarely executed so effectively, allowed his men to utilize cover and terrain to slow the Confederate advance. Buford’s deliberate resistance bought precious time for Union Major General John Reynolds to bring his I Infantry Corps on-scene and deploed in key positions. After Gettysburg, Buford continued to serve with distinction in several campaigns in Virginia, but he fell seriously ill in late 1863 and died of typhoid fever on December 16. In recognition of his service, President Abraham Lincoln posthumously promoted him to major general, backdated to July 1, 1863—the day of his heroic stand at Gettysburg.

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September 17th, 2025

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