Brig. Gen. John Buford quotes

View Quote [to Col. Devin, one of his brigade commanders] You know what's gonna happen here in the morning? The whole damn rebel army's gonna be here. They'll move through this town, occupy these hills on the other side. When our people get here, Lee'll have the high ground. There'll be the devil to pay. The high ground! Meade will come in slowly, cautiously, new to command. They'll be on his back from Washington, wires hot with messages: "Attack! Attack!" So he will set up a ring around these hills, and when Lee's army is all nicely entrenched behind fat rocks on the high ground, Meade'll finally attack, if he can coordinate the army. Straight up the hillside, out in the open, in that gorgeous field of fire. We will charge valiantly, and be butchered valiantly! Afterwards, men in tall hats and gold watch-fobs will thump their chests and say what a brave charge it was. [sighs] Devin, I've led a soldier's life. I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this. It's as if I can actually see the blue troops in one long, bloody moment, going up the long slope to the stony top, as if it were already done, and already a memory. Odd, set, stony quality to it, as if tomorrow's already happened and there's nothing you can do about it. Way you sometimes feel before an ill-considered attack, knowing it'll fail, but you cannot stop it! You must even take part, and help it fail!

View Quote [Observing the initial attack of the Confederates against his men] Got a brigade in position and that's all. We got the best damn ground around and they're hitting me with one brigade. Lovely, lovely! [Turns around, looking for a sign of Gen. Reynolds, sees none] Damn it.