Buford, John (1826-63) (USA General) 5

John Buford was Kentucky born but raised in Illinois. He graduated from West Point and served on the frontier with the dragoons as the cavalry was called, generally, in the regular army, before the Civil War.

The United States fought over two dozen Indian Wars before the Civil War, and Buford learned his trade fighting in several of those wars.

When the Civil War broke out, he was rapidly promoted and commanded a division of cavalry at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.

He is credited with choosing the battlefield and holding the line for the Union on the first day. You all saw Sam Elliott in Gettysburg playing the Buford character.

The tactics that Buford used so successfully that day were learned by him on the frontier fighting the Indians.

Buford was probably the best cavalry general in the Union Army of the Potomac, but unfortunately, he died of disease a few months after Gettysburg.