AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED FROM "HD. QTRS FORCES MIDDLE TENN. NOV. 23RD" [1862]. LT. COL. BUCKNER, GENERAL JOHN BRECKINRIDGE'S AAG, URGES BRIGADIER GENERAL AND CHIEF OF CAVALRY JOSEPH WHEELER TO "SO ARRANGE IT THAT COURIERS MAY ARRIVE EITHER BEFORE 12 M. OR AFTER DAY LIGHT. WE ARE SO SITUATED THAT EVERY ONE IN THE HOUSE IS AROUSED BY ANY COURIER THAT ARRIVES IN THE NIGHT. OF COURSE WHEN PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT SEND THEM AT ANY HOUR.

Middle Tennessee, 1862. Single sheet, written on recto in ink and signed "John A. Buckner, AAG." Docketed on verso, "Refers to Couriers & Blank Paroles." Very Good.

Buckner sweetens his criticism of Wheeler by thanking him "for your kindness in sending late papers. We have quite a feast when they arrive." Buckner also requests Wheeler to send him some "blank Paroles today if any can be obtained from the Commandant of the Post." John Alexander Buckner [1832-1903], born in Kentucky, graduated from Centre College in 1852, studied theology at Princeton and later at Union Theological Seminary, was a missionary in Brazil until 1856, and settled (truncated) in Carroll Parish, Louisiana, where he became a successful plantation owner.
Buckner enlisted in September, 1861, as Captain, Company A, 8th Kentucky Confederate Regiment. In July 1862 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General under General John Breckinridge. He also fought under his relative and future Governor of Kentucky Col. Simon Bolivar Buckner. [Necrological Reports and Annual Proceedings Princeton Theological Seminary, Vol. III, 1900-1902, pp. 294-295; Buckner: THE BUCKNERS OF VIRGINIA. . . 1907, pp. 44-49, 186-188.] He served at Shiloh, the Battle at Baton Rouge, and with the Confederate Army of Tennessee during the Stones River Campaign. He was promoted to the rank of major and brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel for gallantry in battle. After the War, he returned to work his plantation and was for a time president of the Board of Commissioners of East Carroll Parish. (Inventory #: 37395)