General John Buford

by Edward G. Longacre

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306812746
• ISBN13: 9780306812743
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

General John Buford: A Military Biography

A good book,well written about one of the true unsung heroes of the Battle of Gettysburg and beyond.

A lesser-known leader brought to the forefront

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.

Very interesting.

This book explained everything about Gen. Buford, not just what I knew him for, which was his role at Gettysburg.

Highly readable account of a Union Cavalry Officer

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.

Exceptional material on a man who left little information

Longacre's book is a wonderful look at the life of Buford, his experiences, challenges and love. The pictures helped me to visualize the steely-eyed man who held the ground at Gettysburg. A truly wonderful edition to any Civil War collector's bookshelf.