John Bufford was one of the key reasons why the Union won Gettysburg, and only six
months after his courageous fighting he died of pneumonia. John Bufford was born in
Kentucky in 1826 and then moved to Illinois before he was accepted to West Point. Bufford
went to West Point and graduated in 1848. John Bufford is one of the great leaders of
American history. John Bufford had many years of experience in the military and helped win
one of the biggest battles in the Civil War, Gettysburg.
John Bufford had a solid back round in the military. After he graduated from West Point
he saw a little fighting action when he was along the frontier and on an expedition
against the Mormons in Utah through 1857-1858. He started off as a captain and then was
promoted through the years as Major General. After Bufford's work in the Washington
defenses he was put on the Pope's staff in the northern Virginia. He received a
brigadier's star and command of a brigade of cavalry men. He lead his newly cavalry at 2nd
Bull Run and he was wounded. " He cared for the well being of his men, and the
outcome of the battle " ( Foote 297).
That next Spring Bufford had command of the Reserve Brigade, which was made up of
regular army units. With his new command he took part in Stonman's raid during
Chancellorsville Campaign. He also lead the division at Brandy Station, Aldie, Middleburg,
and Upperville. John Bufford would soon face the biggest challenge in his life, and he
would need all his experience and knowledge from his past to overcome the challenge. It
was two of Bufford's brigades that caused the fighting at Gettysburg northwest of the
town. He was able to hold off the Confederate attack with few men until the Union came to
back them up. This was a very important move for the Union in the Battle of Gettysburg
because it enabled the Confederate to take the high ground. '" The whole damn Reb
army's going to be here in the morning. They'll move right through the town and occupy
those damned hills '" (Shaara 38). Bufford was smart enough to see the Confederates
plan and by stopping the Confederates, it let the Union take the high ground. The high
ground later in the battle proved to be a big key. Even Confederate General Longstreet
said " Cemetery Ridge was essential us " (West 145). By Bufford not letting the
Confederates take the hill he helped not only win the battle but maybe even the whole war.
John Bufford never received any kind of notice for this key decision and later the next
year he died. John Bufford had proven himself to be a great commander. With his
intelligence in war fair he won many key battles which made himself a well recognized
leader. John Bufford was one of the dominate leaders in the Civil War.
