dents, and all the beautiful in the higher and better life is peculiarly manifested by his constant devotion to a Men's Bible Class in the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, where for twenty years he has been found every Sunday morning from October to June expounding the Scriptures. His outdoor exercise and recreation is golf.

The history of Kentucky, to say nothing of the Nation, could not be truly or fully outlined without referring to the life and public services of Justice Harlan. "His fame, like a mighty river, will grow wider and deeper as it rolls downward." And while his name will always hold place with the great men of his race and will likewise be honored and revered "whenever constitutional liberty shall exist on earth," yet the true glory belongs to Kentucky, for he sprung from her soil and was trained and nurtured in our midst during the formative period of his life.

As Kentucky has but one living Justice of the Supreme Court so she and the South have but one living Lieutenant General of the Confederate Army. There are mushroom imitations of that rank found here and there, who sprang up after the storm of war had passed, but these may be passed over without further mention. General Buckner won his high rank by gallant and meritorious service in actual warfare and bears it today modestly, as becomes a soldier.

Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner was born April 21, 1823, in the house at Glen Lily, Hart county, Kentucky, in which he today resides. He was the son of Aylette Hartswell Buckner, who was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, January 13, 1793, and of Elizabeth Ann (Morehead) Buckner, born in Kentucky August 9, 1801. General Buckner's father was brought to Kentucky by his parents at an early age and spent his long and useful life in this state. The military ardor of the son was a direct inheritance from the father, who as a volunteer soldier joined the army under General Harri

Vol. I-35.

son, and was with that officer at the battle of the Thames.

General Buckner received his primary education in academies at Hodgenville and Hopkinsville, and received his appointment to West Point, in June, 1840, from the Hon. Philip Triplett, of Owensboro, then the member of Congress from the district in which the young student's father resided. General Buckner pursued the regular course after admission to West Point and graduated in 1844, being at once commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 6th United States Infantry. Two years later found the young officer in Mexico, where he participated in the siege of Vera Cruz and subsequently in the battles of Cerro Gordo, San Antonio, Churbusco, Molina del Rey, Chapultepec, Garita del Bela, and in a skirmish at Amazoque, ending his splendid service in that struggle by assisting in the capture of the City of Mexico. He was painfully wounded at Churubusco, August 20, 1847, and was brevetted as First Lieutenant for gallantry at that battle. A short time later, September 8, 1847, he received another promotion to brevet Captain.

The war with Mexico having ended, he returned with the army to the United States and was ordered to West Point as Assistant Instructor in infantry tactics remaining there for two years. In 1850, he was promoted to First Lieutenant in the line, his brevets in Mexico being honorary, not giving him active rank in accordance therewith. In 1851, he was in command at Fort Atkinson in the then turbulent and dangerous Indian Territory where his soldierly conduct won him promotion to Captain in 1852. Ordered to New York City, he was in the Subsistence department until 1855, when he resigned from the army and retired to private life, residing for some time in Chicago, during which time he was on the staff of the Governor of Illinois, and when the trouble with the Mormons in Utah caused the sending of an armed force there under command of