John Knight Bucklyn
Born Foster, R. I., March 15,
1834.
[The following information is taken from the biographical
sketch which starts at page 401 in the excellent public-domain history
of Battery E, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, written by a person
with personal knowledge of Bucklyn. We have a copy
of that history available for you to view here.]
The father of John Knight Bucklyn was Jeremiah P. Bucklyn,
an esteemed citizen of Foster, Rhode Island. His mother was Abby Potter, a woman of good
ability and most excellent character. His grandfather was a soldier of the
Revolution. His father, who inherited the military spirit of his parent, was at
one time a captain in the Rhode Island militia.
John K., in his younger years, attended the public schools of Providence and
Warwick, where he was a promising pupil. After leaving school he learned the
machinist's trade, in which he accumulated some property. His active spirit not
finding full scope in that limited but useful field of labor, in the spring of
1854 he entered the academy at East Greenwich, remaining there until winter.
He then taught school, and in the spring of 1856 he again entered the academy
and continued his studies until late in the year, when he entered the Smithville
Seminary, from which he graduated in 1857, taking the valedictory of his class.
The same year he entered Brown University, from which he graduated with honor in
1861, receiving the degree of A. M. After his graduation he became a teacher at
a salary of about one thousand dollars per year.
Feeling that the urgent call of the government for volunteers demanded his
services, he threw up his position as teacher. Although offered a commission he
preferred to earn his promotion, and declined it, and enlisted about the first
of September, 1861, as a private in Battery E, First Regiment Rhode Island Light
Artillery. Upon reporting for duty he was ordered to act as quartermaster-
sergeant. Upon the appointment of the non-commissioned officers of the company
he received a warrant to continue in that capacity. On the first of March, 1862,
he was promoted to second lieutenant, and Dec. 31, 1862, to first lieutenant.
Upon Lieutenant Jastram's appointment as acting assistant adjutant-general on
Randolph's staff on the I5th of May, 1863, Lieutenant Bucklyn became commander
of the battery. He commanded the battery until
being relieved by Captain Rhodes on the 26th of April, 1864.
Lieutenant Bucklyn, early in May, 1864, was appointed upon the staff of
Colonel Tompkins, who commanded the Sixth corps artillery, where Bucklyn
distinguished himself in the battles of Grant's campaign and in the battles in
which the Sixth corps was engaged under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley.
The endorsements of his superior officers for promotions are a credit to him,
and showed that those most competent to judge were desirous that he should be
promoted, as he was, to brevet captain on the 19th of October, 1864, "For
gallant and meritorious and ofttimes distinguished service before Richmond and
in the Shenandoah Valley."
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