[lit-ideas] Ancestors in the Civil War
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Lit-Ideas" <Lit-Ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:18:19 -0800
In reading (in American Spartans by Warren, p. 72) about the battle of
Okinawa, I ran across the following:
"U.S. Army general Simon Bolivar Buckner, son of a distinguished Confederate
general of the same name who had fought Ulysses S. Grant at Fort Donelson,
was commander of the Tenth Army - the combat force designated to engage the
Japanese 32nd Army under Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima."
I have some experience with being related to someone who fought in the Civil
War. I thought I was almost unbelievable for having a great-grandfather who
fought, Sgt Schyler Helm, born in 1834. Schyler's son, Homer, my
grandfather was born in 1865. Not content with just one family, Homer
decided to start another later in life which included my father, Harrison,
born in 1914. Having a great grandfather who fought in the Civil War
seemed a difficult task, but there it was. But to have a father who fought
in the Civil War? That must be a mistake. I had to look it up.
Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr. was born April 1, 1823 and died January 8, 1914.
He was a career Army officer and a general in the Confederate States Army.
He had the distinction of yielding to Grant at the Battle of Fort Donelson
in 1862.
His son, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was born July 18, 1886. I've read that
parents who have children late in life usually have sickly, feeble children,
but that wasn't the case with Buckner Sr. At the age of 63 he fathered
Junior who became another General. Junior had a reputation for being tough.
His men nicknamed him "the Bull"; so he probably was neither sickly nor
feeble. He didn't manage to live as long as his father, however, but that
had nothing to do with poor health. He was killed on Okinawa on July 18,
1945; the highest ranking American Officer killed in World War II. He was a
Lt General when he was killed and promoted to full General posthumously in
1954.
Lawrence
Other related posts:
- » [lit-ideas] Ancestors in the Civil War
