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"They will attack in the morning and will arrive on the rise - three deep shooters you will have to fight like hell to get support.". The words of General John Buford at Gettysburg. John Buford held the upper part of the Union at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.

The Battle of Gettysburg began when two brigades of Union cavalry led unmounted John Buford, soldiers clashed with Confederate General Henry Heth's Division. Buford and his cavalry acknowledging before the army in Pennsylvania and found the Confederates, as we advance in Gettysburg. Buford knew the importance of Gettysburg as a union of transport, and the value of the highlands northwest of the city. Their cavalry dismounted and held for the Union Ridge McPherson. The skirmish on the outskirts of Gettysburg was the beginning of the three-day battle of Gettysburg. Without the actions of John Buford early the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union have not won at Gettysburg. Unfortunately, within six months of the Battle of Gettysburg, John Buford died of typhoid fever.

The celebration of the highlands was a crucial advantage for the Union during the Battle of Gettysburg. There is a statue of today along the Chambersburg Pike at Gettysburg National Military Park, General John Buford. Buford at Gettysburg monument shows him standing and looking westward, with a pair of binoculars, with cavalry boots, his sword sheathed at his side ... as it did on July 1, 1863.

John Buford was born in Kentucky on March 4, 1826, but early age his family moved to Illinois. At eight years old, lived in Rock Island, Illinois. Buford's father did not support Abraham Lincoln, since he was a politician in the Democratic Party of Illinois. Buford's family had a long history of service in the armed forces, both of Buford grandfather and uncle fought in the War of Independence. Buford had a half brother who served in the Civil War and became a major general in the Union Army, and had a cousin who fought for the Confederacy as a brigadier general of cavalry.

Buford spent only one year at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois before entering West Point (U.S. Military Academy) as a member of the class of 1848. Among those attending West Point, while Buford was there including classmates who eventually fight in the Civil War for the Union, as Fitz-John Porter, George B. McClellan, George Stoneman (Buford and Stoneman became close friends), and Ambrose Burnside. Others in West Point during the time of Buford's there to fight for the Confederacy, like Thomas Jonathan Jackson (during the Civil War was going to get the nickname "Stonewall"), Ambrose Powell Hill, and Henry Heth. Both Powell and Het meet against Buford on that fateful day July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg. John Buford graduated from West Point in 1848, and ranked 16 in his class of 38 cadets.

After graduating from West Point, Buford was commissioned as a dragon. It began in the first United States as a second lieutenant Dragons brevet. The following year he was the second U.S. Dragoons.

A dragon soldier uses a horse to reach the battlefield and to move around the battlefield but dismounted to fight. This is different from the cavalry of the civil war because the fighting, while the mounted cavalry. All this is, in theory, however, during the Civil War cavalry were more likely to be acting as mounted infantry. A particular example of a mounted cavalry battle of Brandy Station was.

During his service dragon, Buford was in the Southwest and Texas. He fought against the Sioux and participated in peacekeeping missions in Kansas during the period of unrest known as bleeding Kansas. Buford saw action on the western border, and during 1857-1858 was part of an expedition against the Mormons in Utah.

Civil War service of John Buford and tasks:

* Second Captain of Dragoons of March 9, 1854.
* Second Cavalry captain (it was a name change that took place on August 3, 1861 of the same role as the captain of the second Dragoon).
* One of the key, and then promoted to Major General Staff Inspector beginning November 12, 1861.
* Duty staff met in 1862 to defend Washington, DC, and then joined the general staff of the Pope.
* Promoted to brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers, 27 July 1862.
* From July 27 to September 12, 1862, commanding the Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Corps Army of Virginia. Buford commanded the brigade during the second enclosure. That's when John Buford skills as commander of the cavalry demonstrated exceptional. Second Bull Run (also known as Second Manassas) Buford led a charge, and was beaten in the knee by a bullet passed. Buford was certainly painful injuries but not life threatening. However, Northern newspapers reported killed him. On August 27, 1862 Buford's brigade alone opposed the body promoting Gap Longstreet street.
* From February 12 to May 22, 1863, commanded the Reserve Brigade, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. During this time, Buford's cavalry units fought at Fredericksburg and took part in Stoneman Raid, during the Chancellorsville Campaign.
* From 22 May to 27 June 9 to August 15 and September 15 to November 21, 1863, Buford commanded the division. Buford ordered in Brandy Station, Aidi, Middleburg, and Upperville.
* At the beginning of July 1st, 1863 at Gettysburg, General John Buford saw the tactical importance of the celebration of the highlands of the Union. Northwest of the town of Gettysburg, Buford's dismounted cavalry engaged the Confederate defensive position until the end was done in the singing of McPherson. Buford's men had stalled the progress of the Confederacy, buying valuable time for the arrival of the infantry John Reynolds of the Union. The Union now held the high ground of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.

After Gettysburg, Buford served and fought until the end of the Bristoe Campaign. He became ill with typhoid fever due to ill health, Buford gave up its mandate on November 21, 1863. Buford was a very serious disease and by the middle of December it was clear that he would die. Buford was on his deathbed in the house of his good friend and longtime-General George Stoneman, in Washington. Stoneman made a proposal on 16 December that John Buford be promoted to major general. President Lincoln wrote: "I am informed that General Buford will not survive the day that makes me think it's going to be Major General for distinguished service and meritorious in the battle of Gettysburg .."

When told of this, John Buford was doubtful and asked "Does this mean?" When told that it was true, Buford said, "It's too late, now I wish I could live." Buford died that afternoon.

Maj. Gen. John Buford is buried at West Point. Along with Buford's grave is the grave of Lt. Alonzo Cushing. Cushing Gettysburg fell while fighting to keep Buford chosen highlands.