Born in Hart County, KY, he received an appointment to West Point, graduating on July 1, 1844 with a brevet to 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. Known as Bolivar, he entered a seminary in Munfordville at age nine, the Christian County Seminary at age fifteen and West Point at age seventeen. He graduated from West Point in 1844 with a brevet to 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Infantry. Prior to the Mexican War he served in garrison at Sackett's Harbor, NY, 1844-1845 and at the Military Academy as an Assistant Professor of Geography, History and Ethics, August 28,1845 to May 19, 1846. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Infantry, on May 9,1846.

In the War with Mexico he was engaged on the March through Coahuila, 1846; the Siege of Vera Cruz, March 9-29, 1847; Battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17-18, 1847; Skirmish of Amazoque, May 14, 1847; Capture of San Antonio, August 20, 1847; and the Battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1847, where he was wounded. Bolivar received a brevet to 1st Lieutenant, August 20, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco, which he declined, and brevet to 1st Lieutenant for gallant conduct at Churubusco.

Bolivar was next engaged in the Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847, for which he received a brevet to Captain, September 8, 1847, for gallant conduct. He was engaged in the Storming of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847; the assault and capture of Mexico City, September 13-14, 1847; and as Quartermaster, 6th Infantry, August 8 to December 17,1847.

He served at the Military Academy as Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics, August 26, 1848 to January 18,1850; on recruiting service at Ft. Columbus Depot, NY, 1850; at Ft. Wood, NY, 1850; Ft. Snelling, MN, 1850-1851; and Ft. Atkinson, KS, 1851-1852. Bolivar was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, 6th Infantry, December 31, 1851 and escorted Lt. Woodruff's Topographical Party in early 1852 and was on Commissary duty at New York City, 1852-1853. He was promoted to Captain, Commissary of Subsistence, November 3, 1852. He resigned, March 26, 1855 to handle his brother-in-law's real estate in Chicago.

From March 29 to November 1, 1855 Bolivar was superintendent of construction of Custom House and repairs of Marine Hospital, Chicago, IL. He served as a Major, Illinois Militia, 1855-1857; Col., Staff (Adjutant-General of the State of Illinois), March 15 to October 14, 1857; Colonel, 1st Illinois Volunteers, May, 1858, for service in Utah; Captain, Kentucky Militia, 1858-1860; and Inspector-General, State of Kentucky, commanding Home Guards, 1860-1861.

When the Civil War began, Buckner became responsible for maintaining Kentucky's neutrality. He owned no slaves himself and opposed secession. After discussing Kentucky's neutrality with Lincoln in early July, he resigned as inspector general because of interference from the pro-Union legislature.

After declining a commission as a Brigadier-General in the Union Army in August, 1861, Bolivar was appointed a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army, September 14, 1861. Union officials in Louisville indicted him for treason and seized his property.

Simon Bolivar Buckner

Buckner was left by Generals John B. Floyd and Gideon J. Pillow to consummate the surrender of Fort Donelson to his former classmate and longtime friend, Ulysses S. Grant. Exchanged on August 16, 1862, Bolivar was promoted to Major-General and placed in command of a division in Major-General Joseph Hardee's Corps of General Braxton Bragg's invasion of Kentucky. He fought at Perryville in October, 1862. From December, 1862 until April, 1863 he was engaged in fortifying Mobile. From May to August he commanded the Department of East Tennessee, and directed a Corps at Chickamauga. Thereafter, his service was largely in the Trans-Mississippi, where he was appointed Lieutenant-General and Chief of Staff to Kirby Smith, September 20, 1864.

Simon Bolivar Buckner

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