General John Buford: A Military Biography

Rating:
Summary: It could have been so much more.
Review: A good but not exceptional biography of this long neglected cavalry commander, but there is a lack of any real new insight and personal detail about this man. It seems to have been pushed through the research, writing, and publishing process too quickly to be of any real use to a serious researcher.

Rating:
Summary: Book Needed More Research: Rushed To Print Too Soon
Review: As Longacre stated in his forward to this book, after the acclaim of the movie "Gettysburg" there was a great demand for books on the participants, including Buford (about whom no good biography had been written). Longacre decided to attempt to fill that gap, but I think he was only partially successful. Longacre cited the scarcity of material about Buford, which I am sure is true to a certain degree. But I wonder how much more material he could have found had he taken the time and effort. After all, Buford was not just some civilian who jumped out of the woodwork. He came from a well-known family and he attended the USMA (West Point), then stayed in the Army - both known for keeping detailed records about their personnel...........I learned much about Buford from this book. But I had expected more - much more. Robertson's recent biography about Stonewall Jackson is a good example of how in-depth research can produce an historical masterpiece. Perhaps Longacre was being rushed by his publisher. Whatever the case, I feel that this book lacked the in-depth research I had expected; that it was "half-baked".

Rating:
Summary: Highly readable account of a Union Cavalry Officer
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent biography of an excellent general
Review: Edward Longacre's General John Buford: A Military Biography is exactly what it presents itself to be-a military biography. Unlike more famous commanders, Buford's biography is not bogged down with mind-numbing detail, but instead focuses only briefly on the early and non-military aspects of his life. This is primarily due to the lack of information about Buford, which Longacre freely admits was a major problem in the writing of this book. This is not a point of detraction however, as Longacre fills in the historical gaps with very plausible suppositions based on Buford's well-known character.

One of the more interesting aspects of this work was the description of Buford's early career on the plains. In the literature and television programming that followed the release of Gettysburg, one had the impression that Buford was a battle-hardened Indian fighter in the pre-war years. Longacre does a good job of showing that while he had some experience, he was by no means an expert in cavalry warfare when the Civil War broke out. Nevertheless, this part of the book was fascinating because it turns out that Buford was involved in several little known, but major campaigns in the antebellum west, including actions in Kansas and against Bringham Young's Mormons.

The Civil War career of John Buford definitely climaxed on McPherson's ridge, July 1, 1863, it is therefore proper that his biography climaxes on the same episode of his life. Though exciting to read about, it was at the same time disappointing, as Longacre seemed intent upon dispelling every popular myth about Buford at Gettysburg-it seems the truth never makes a good story!

After Gettysburg, the author tracks the twilight of Buford's career and life, as he literally rode himself to death. Though Longacre is over-zealous and unconvincing in his evaluation of Buford's contribution to cavalry warfare, he does leave the reader questioning how the war may have been different if he had lived.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent biography of an excellent general
Review: Edward Longacre's General John Buford: A Military Biography is exactly what it presents itself to be-a military biography. Unlike more famous commanders, Buford's biography is not bogged down with mind-numbing detail, but instead focuses only briefly on the early and non-military aspects of his life. This is primarily due to the lack of information about Buford, which Longacre freely admits was a major problem in the writing of this book. This is not a point of detraction however, as Longacre fills in the historical gaps with very plausible suppositions based on Buford's well-known character.

One of the more interesting aspects of this work was the description of Buford's early career on the plains. In the literature and television programming that followed the release of Gettysburg, one had the impression that Buford was a battle-hardened Indian fighter in the pre-war years. Longacre does a good job of showing that while he had some experience, he was by no means an expert in cavalry warfare when the Civil War broke out. Nevertheless, this part of the book was fascinating because it turns out that Buford was involved in several little known, but major campaigns in the antebellum west, including actions in Kansas and against Bringham Young's Mormons.

The Civil War career of John Buford definitely climaxed on McPherson's ridge, July 1, 1863, it is therefore proper that his biography climaxes on the same episode of his life. Though exciting to read about, it was at the same time disappointing, as Longacre seemed intent upon dispelling every popular myth about Buford at Gettysburg-it seems the truth never makes a good story!

After Gettysburg, the author tracks the twilight of Buford's career and life, as he literally rode himself to death. Though Longacre is over-zealous and unconvincing in his evaluation of Buford's contribution to cavalry warfare, he does leave the reader questioning how the war may have been different if he had lived.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad from Longacre
Review: I had high expectations for this book and I must admit that I am disappointed. I agree that this was well researched but I must say that I could not read more than a couple of pages before putting it down and doing something else. A couple of things Longacre lacks, and possibly this is from a lack of primary source material, is a weak background of the Union General. We learn little about where he was born, what his young life entailed, and most importantly who his family was. We also get a mediocre summary of his involvement at Gettysburg, the most important campaign in his military career. I think Longacre could have went deeper. He should have discussed the first day in more depth, and perhaps compare/contrast Buford's character with the one portrayed in the movie "Gettysburg."

But overall I would recommend this book to anyone simply because it is the only biography out there on Buford. I think you do get a sense of who the General was and how he commanded and respected his men. I just wish it was better written.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad from Longacre
Review: I had high expectations for this book and I must admit that I am disappointed. I agree that this was well researched but I must say that I could not read more than a couple of pages before putting it down and doing something else. A couple of things Longacre lacks, and possibly this is from a lack of primary source material, is a weak background of the Union General. We learn little about where he was born, what his young life entailed, and most importantly who his family was. We also get a mediocre summary of his involvement at Gettysburg, the most important campaign in his military career. I think Longacre could have went deeper. He should have discussed the first day in more depth, and perhaps compare/contrast Buford's character with the one portrayed in the movie "Gettysburg."

But overall I would recommend this book to anyone simply because it is the only biography out there on Buford. I think you do get a sense of who the General was and how he commanded and respected his men. I just wish it was better written.

Rating:
Summary: A lesser-known leader brought to the forefront
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Well Written and Insighful
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A worthwhile book about a long-neglected commander
Review: Unlike other Civil War generals, John Buford did not leave behind a large body of correspondence, and he died before the end of the war. These two factors, combined with a lack of other source material led to Edward Longacre's initial reluctance to begin researching this biography. His reverence for the book The Killer Angels, and his service as a technical advisor to Sam Elliott (who played Buford in the movie Gettysburg), combined to help him overcome his fears. The result is this 248-page biography.The book has many strong points. Longacre clearly describes Buford's dealings with the politics of the Army of the Potomac - especially his rise to command after being closely affiliated with three disgraced generals: Pope, Burnside, and Hooker. He does well in conveying a sense of Buford's growing disillusionment as the Army of the Potomac missed many opportunities to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia after Gettysburg. The chapter on Gettysburg is probably the best in the book as it gives the reader a good insight into the problems faced by a Civil War general on the field who had to assess terrain and eploy his troopers to take advantage of the ground while trying to anticipate the probable actions of the enemy. The book is well-produced, has an extensive bibliography, and good maps - even though the typography is sometimes jarring. People looking for an exhaustive "tell-all" biography will not find it here because of the lack of primary source material to work with. Within these limits, though, Edward Longacre has written a worthwhile book about a long-neglected commander.