General John Buford [Hardcover]

Edward G. Longacre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 1995

The film Gettysburg introduced the general public to Union cavalry leader John Buford and his key role on the first day of the battle; no full-length biography of the general has ever been written until now.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Longacre adds to his status as a leading authority on Civil War cavalry (The Cavalry at Gettysburg; Mounted Raids of the Civil War) with this definitive biography of one of its key leaders. John Buford graduated from West Point in 1848. Serving on the Western frontier, he decided that whether cavalry fought mounted or on foot in a given instance mattered less than using its speed and mobility to be in the right place at the right time. Buford applied that principle while commanding first a cavalry brigade, then a division, in the Army of the Potomac in 1862-1863. At Gettysburg, his eye for terrain determined the Union position, and his troopers held that position until the main army arrived. His death from typhoid prevented the further successes that would almost certainly have been his as a cavalry commander. This comprehensively researched, well-written volume merits recognition from Civil War students and military historians.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A Civil War officer hitherto neglected by biographers finally gets his due in this work by Longacre (The Cavalry at Gettysburg, Univ. of Nebraska, 1993), a commentator for A&E's Civil War Journal. Anyone who has seen the movie Gettysburg will be familiar with Buford's importance at that battle, but this is the first book to address his entire military career, from his West Point days through his quartermaster duties, field service on the frontier, Bleeding Kansas and the Mormon campaign, to his Civil War campaigns, including Brandy Station and Gettysburg. Throughout his military life, until his death from typhoid on December 16, 1863, Buford earned the complete respect of the men who served with him. This book will be a valuable addition to any Civil War collection.?Robert A. Curtis, Taylor Memorial P.L., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (November 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938289462
• ISBN-13: 978-0938289463
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #519,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lesser-known leader brought to the forefront, March 20, 2000

By 

Mark Rainey (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: General John Buford (Hardcover)

In a period with so many personalities around whom legends have grown, it's refreshing to see a lesser-known but hardly unimportant character from the Civil War given respectable attention. Buford found some prominence as a personality at Gettysburg, but his career has been given scant attention over the years. Longacre's account is relatively short and to the point, with most detail being rightfully reserved for the events at Gettysburg. Buford's ability was certainly validated years after his death, as his methods of combat became a model for future leaders. The book succeeded in giving me--a good ole southern boy--a whole new respect for one of the Union's most effective fighters.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly readable account of a Union Cavalry Officer, June 1, 1998

By 

Aussie Reader ""Rick"" (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: General John Buford (Hardcover)

As mentioned in the other reviews the author was limited in the amount of primary resource material available to him whilst writing this biography. Taking that into consideration he has produced an excellent account of General John Buford. I found the narrative was fluid and easy to read and the chapters concerning Gettysburg and after very interesting. The book is 312 pages in length, contained in 12 chapters with 6 maps and 16 photos. Overall this is a well presented and researched book but does not offer an extensive account of this man's life due to the lack of material. I would think that any person who enjoys Civil War history should find this an enjoyable account of a professional Union cavalry officer.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Insighful, October 3, 2000

By 

Fred M. Blum - See all my reviews

This review is from: General John Buford (Hardcover)

Longacre succeeds in bringing to life the exploits of a "common" soldier. Buford did not have the press of Jackson, Longstreet or Hancock, but the book makes clear that he was the glue that held the Union army togetheir.

The strength of the book is its simplicity and easy flow. It takes you through Buford's military life and in so doing describes the evolution of the United States and Union armies. Longacre does a fine job describing the deficiencies of the Union and where appropriate Buford.

The only limitation on the book is its lack of depth. The most likely cause is the lack of historical detail on Buford's life. But Longacre did the best with what he got.