| Robert C. Buchanan | |
|---|---|
Robert C. Buchanan |
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| Nickname | "Old Buck" |
| Born | March 1, 1811 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Died | November 29, 1878 (aged 67) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Rock Creek Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1830–70 |
| Rank | Brevet Major General |
| Commands held | District of Southern Oregon and Northern California 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps 1st U.S. Infantry Department of Louisiana Fort Porter |
| Battles/wars | Black Hawk War Second Seminole War Mexican War American Civil War |
Robert Christie Buchanan (March 1, 1811 – November 29, 1878) was an American military officer who served in the Mexican War and then was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In a career than spanned more than forty years, Buchanan held numerous commands (including several forts) and received multiple citations for bravery and distinguished service.
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Buchanan was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the nephew by marriage of President John Quincy Adams, and received his appointment to United States Military Academy during Adams' administration. (His mother's sister was Louisa Adams, the First Lady.) He graduated from the Academy in 1830 and was assigned to the 4th U.S. Infantry as a brevet second lieutenant. His assignments included service in the Black Hawk War (he was in charge of gunboats during the Battle of Bad Axe) and against the Seminoles, as well as in the removal of the Cherokees to the Indian Territory. He was promoted to captain during his service in Florida.
Buchanan participated in the Mexican War in command of the Maryland Volunteers. He was in the Battle of Chapultepec, the Battle of Palo Alto, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, the Battle of Molino del Rey, and the capture of Mexico City. For his service in Mexico, Buchanan was twice brevetted in recognition of his gallantry in action.
After the war, Buchanan was assigned to various posts and recruiting duty. In 1853, the 4th Infantry was assigned to the Pacific Coast. He established Fort Humboldt. Under his command was Cpt. Ulysses S. Grant. When Grant's drinking began to affect his duties, Buchanan allegedly asked for and received Grant's resignation from the Army.[1]
In 1855, Buchanan was promoted to major. He commanded the District of Southern Oregon and Northern California from Fort Humboldt, and participated in the Rogue River Wars in Oregon.
Buchanan was stationed in San Francisco, California, at the beginning of the Civil War. He was ordered east, and his regiment was placed in the defenses surrounding Washington, D.C.. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of a brigade in what became the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the Peninsula Campaign, including the Battle of Yorktown, and the Seven Days Battles, including the Battle of Gaines' Mill, the Battle of Glendale, and the Battle of Malvern Hill. He then fought in the Northern Virginia Campaign in the Second Battle of Bull Run.[2]
Buchanan, by then nicknamed "Old Buck" by his men, commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps during the Maryland Campaign (part of George Sykes's Regulars). At Antietam, Buchanan strongly protested a decision to halt his advance on what he maintained was a weakly defended portion of the enemy line. In his opinion, his Regulars could have and should have carried Cemetery Hill, defended primarily by artillery with only the depleted Virginia brigade of Richard B. Garnett in support.
Buchanan was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on November 29, 1862, and shortly thereafter fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In 1864, he was promoted to colonel in the Regular Army. He was nominated for promotion to brigadier general in the Regular Army, but the Senate did not act on the nomination.[3]
Buchanan then went on recruiting duty and then led the defenses of Fort Delaware. For his service at Second Bull Run and Fredericksburg he was brevetted to brigadier general and major general.
After the war, Buchanan mustered out of the volunteer forces and reverted to colonel in the Regular Army. He was placed in command of the 1st U.S. Infantry at New Orleans and helped enforce Reconstruction activities with his men. He subsequently commanded the Department of Louisiana, and then served in the Freedmen's Bureau.
He retired from the Army on December 31, 1870. At the time of his retirement, he was in command of Fort Porter in New York.
Buchanan died in Washington, D.C., and is buried at the Rock Creek Cemetery.