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John Buford

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John Buford’s Role in the Battle of Gettysburg
John Buford played a crucial role in the process of winning the bloodiest and arguably, most important battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg. Being the first Union general to step on the battlegrounds of Gettysburg, Buford had a major impact on defining the defensive position of the Union. John Buford contributed remarkably to the Union’s victory at Gettysburg by developing the skeleton of the defensive position of the Union against the Confederacy.
John Buford was born on March 4, 1826 in Woodford County, Kentucky, but grew up in Rock Island, Illinois. He was the first son of John and Anne Bannister Buford (Hickman 1). John Buford was born into the life of a soldier. Members of Buford’s …show more content…

While commanding the 1st Division of the Cavalry Corps, Buford ran into the Army of Virginia which caused him to advise one of his brigades to defend against A.P Hill’s Confederate III Corps. “Buford’s skillful defensive troops alignments along with the bravery, dedication, and the skill of his men, gave the Union First Corps, under Major General John F. Reynolds, the time it needed to deploy to meet the Confederates outside of Gettysburg…” (Civil 1). Buford knew exactly what to do in a time of crisis. This was the foundation of Buford’s master plan. Buford was a crucial person in the Battle of Gettysburg because he helped define the defensive position of the Union. Buford knew that high ground would be the key to their success. As explained, “...so well placed...to frustrate the efforts of the enemy to enter any route without a battle” (Where The Fight Began 9). Buford strategically expelled the Confederate Army back to the Potomac River resulting to a win for the Union. In the novel, The Killer Angels, Shaara states, “He is a man who knows the value of ground” (xx). Buford had a talent for finding the perfect ground for the Union’s position of the Battle of Gettysburg. This is one key factors that is needed in order to define the Union’s defensive position. Wittenberg points out, “...the North owes to the soldierly

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