FROM YPSILANTI, MICH. ENLISTED WITH F&S 1ST MICH SHARPSHOOTERS JAN 1863 DURING THE CIVIL WAR. WOUNDED MAY 10 1864 AT SPOTSYLVANIA, VA. TAKEN P.O.W. JUNE 17 1864 AT PETERSBURG, VA. WOUNDED AGAIN MARCH 25 1865 AT PETERSBURG, VA. LEFT SERVICE JULY 1865.DIED HERMOSA BEACH, CAL.
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He was a close personal friend of the man who took him prisoner Captain Philip Jefferson Johnson of Company "K" 35th North Carolina Infantry Regiment after the war. Captain Johnson offered to return Lt. Colonel Buckbee's sword (who was then a 1st Lieutenant) that he captured from him to which Lt. Col. Buckbee replied Friend Johnson, keep it. "If you have boys, let it go to them as a trophy captured in a fair fight."
Below is a PBS article about the friendship between Lt. Col. Buckbee and Capt. Johnson.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/stories/articles/2024/4/22/read-letter-written-confederate-soldier-union-captive
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"Chicago, November 6, 1888.
P. J. Johnson, Esq.,
Lenoir, N.C.
My dear Sir,
I hardly know how to express myself in writing to you. It is certainly a strange circumstance in a man's life to go through war and in later years, write, with only the kindest of feelings, or more with a feeling of kinship, to the man to whom, during the war, you surrendered as a prisoner of war. I use the word kinship in a broad sense, for are not all Americans in a certain sense akin? I have had sent to me a clipping from the Detroit "Free Press" in which your communication was published, asking if I am still living, etc. I remember you and your courteous treatment the night of the 17th of June 1864. If I am not mistaken, you had a slight wound across the back of your hand, and I turned some water over it to cool it off. Am I right? You say you have my sword. Friend Johnson, keep it. If you have boys, let it go to them as a trophy captured in a fair fight. I'm teaching my boys to respect Southern men who fought for their convictions; that I then thought I believed (what time has since proved) that the cause for which I fought represented the best interest of the whole country. They, on their part, were as honest in their convictions as I in mine. And more! I tell them that it is my belief that having trusted to the issue of war, you of the South have accepted the result in good faith and would to-day be as quick to rescind an insult to our Father's flag. Am I not right in this? If you can so teach your boys, when the next war comes, your boys and my boys will stand shoulder to shoulder against enemies of our common country. I should be glad to hear from you. You certainly had a very taking way with you when last we met, and I presume you are still as companionable. I escaped after five months in prison and served through the balance of the war without again falling into trouble of a serious nature. I am married and have a family. I should be pleased to become better acquainted than was possible during the brief evening while we were together, and should you come this way, do not fail to call on me. I enclose my business card. Yours very respectfully,
J. B. Buckbee"
____
Here is Lt. Col. Buckbee's military record:
Julian Edward Buckbee
Residence Ypsilanti MI; 20 years old. Enlisted on 1/1/1863 as a 1st Lieutenant. On 2/26/1863 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MI 1st SharpShooters He was Mustered Out on 7/28/1865 at Delaney House, Washington, DC He was listed as: * Wounded 5/10/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA * POW 6/17/1864 Petersburg, VA (Escaped) * Returned 1/15/1865 (place not stated) (Estimated day) * Wounded 3/25/1865 Petersburg, VA Promotions: * 1st Lieut 1/1/1863 (1st Lieut & Adjutant) * Lt Colonel 4/2/1865 by Brevet * Major 4/11/1865 Other Information: born 3/15/1844 in Ypsilanti, MI died 12/29/1919 in Hermosa Beach, CA Buried: Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, IL.
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65 - Commandery of Illinois MOLLUS: Deceased Companions.
"Captain Philip Jefferson Johnson, now a merchant at Lenoir, was born in Burke county, N. C., in 1840, the son of Daniel P. Johnson. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the first company which left his county, Company G of the First, or Bethel, regiment of volunteers, and during the six months' service of that command was on duty on the Virginia peninsula. His re-enlistment was in Company K of the Thirty-fifth regiment. He was elected captain of this company, and took part in the Seven Days' battles before Richmond, where he incurred an attack of typhoid fever which disabled him until after the battle of Sharpsburg. Rejoining his company he was in the fight at Fredericksburg and subsequently campaigned in North Carolina, taking part finally in the memorable capture of Plymouth, under General Hoke. Then returning to Virginia he fought at Drewry's bluff and Bermuda Hundred, and was distinguished in the battles of June 16th and 17th, before Petersburg. On the evening of June 17th his regiment was ordered to drive the Federals from the angle in the works before Petersburg, which the First Michigan sharpshooters, under command of Maj. Levant C. Rhines, had taken possession of, after a sanguinary fight of two days, in which the Confederates had been gradually pushed back. Captain Johnson led the charge, which was made with such vigor that the Michigan men were able to fire but two volleys before Johnson's regiment was upon them. The fighting was continued with desperation along the line of the earthworks, and the bayonet was freely used on both sides. Finally Captain Johnson jumped over the rifle-pit, followed by his men, and though four of the enemy sprang forward to bayonet him, he escaped with a wound in the hand, and succeeded in capturing Adjt. J. E. Buckbee, the only Federal officer left on the field, with 100 of his men. Buckbee, afterward promoted colonel, gave up his sword to Captain Johnson, and going with him to the rear, expressed a regret that the Confederate command to which he had surrendered was not larger in numbers. In 1893 Captain Johnson was handsomely entertained at Chicago by Colonel Buckbee and his wife. During he subsequent fighting on the Petersburg lines, including the battle of the Crater, the capture of Fort Stedman, and the long struggle ended at Five Forks, where he was in the heat of battle, Captain Johnson was at the front. During the retreat he narrowly escaped capture at Farmville, Va., and at Appomattox he was paroled. On returning home he aided in breaking up a gang of robbers in Caldwell county, and then engaged in teaching school for a few months in Indiana. After that he was for sixteen years occupied in farming and the manufacture of lumber. For eight years he has been engaged in the mercantile business at that place. By his marriage, in 1867, to Jennie E. Corpenning, he has three children:"
Source: Florence A., Bascom G., and Philip J. Source: Confederate Military History Vol. V p. 575.
Here is a link to Capt. Johnson's profile:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55732231/philip_jefferson-johnson/photo?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0kWLoKRP9ib3WV5jsdfWYk2DpXZx1-zIL6qepm3K8V_YYk-Nd5nxgq9sM_aem_AbSKzFoZcwrQvoRukwWp9SZmLgeADSJ7iDELqAccomWqJOmjVRR0M3HRLbAsgWGv-1-KwYg09FI80w4Evdz3yBmT
FROM YPSILANTI, MICH. ENLISTED WITH F&S 1ST MICH SHARPSHOOTERS JAN 1863 DURING THE CIVIL WAR. WOUNDED MAY 10 1864 AT SPOTSYLVANIA, VA. TAKEN P.O.W. JUNE 17 1864 AT PETERSBURG, VA. WOUNDED AGAIN MARCH 25 1865 AT PETERSBURG, VA. LEFT SERVICE JULY 1865.DIED HERMOSA BEACH, CAL.
______
He was a close personal friend of the man who took him prisoner Captain Philip Jefferson Johnson of Company "K" 35th North Carolina Infantry Regiment after the war. Captain Johnson offered to return Lt. Colonel Buckbee's sword (who was then a 1st Lieutenant) that he captured from him to which Lt. Col. Buckbee replied Friend Johnson, keep it. "If you have boys, let it go to them as a trophy captured in a fair fight."
Below is a PBS article about the friendship between Lt. Col. Buckbee and Capt. Johnson.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/stories/articles/2024/4/22/read-letter-written-confederate-soldier-union-captive
___
"Chicago, November 6, 1888.
P. J. Johnson, Esq.,
Lenoir, N.C.
My dear Sir,
I hardly know how to express myself in writing to you. It is certainly a strange circumstance in a man's life to go through war and in later years, write, with only the kindest of feelings, or more with a feeling of kinship, to the man to whom, during the war, you surrendered as a prisoner of war. I use the word kinship in a broad sense, for are not all Americans in a certain sense akin? I have had sent to me a clipping from the Detroit "Free Press" in which your communication was published, asking if I am still living, etc. I remember you and your courteous treatment the night of the 17th of June 1864. If I am not mistaken, you had a slight wound across the back of your hand, and I turned some water over it to cool it off. Am I right? You say you have my sword. Friend Johnson, keep it. If you have boys, let it go to them as a trophy captured in a fair fight. I'm teaching my boys to respect Southern men who fought for their convictions; that I then thought I believed (what time has since proved) that the cause for which I fought represented the best interest of the whole country. They, on their part, were as honest in their convictions as I in mine. And more! I tell them that it is my belief that having trusted to the issue of war, you of the South have accepted the result in good faith and would to-day be as quick to rescind an insult to our Father's flag. Am I not right in this? If you can so teach your boys, when the next war comes, your boys and my boys will stand shoulder to shoulder against enemies of our common country. I should be glad to hear from you. You certainly had a very taking way with you when last we met, and I presume you are still as companionable. I escaped after five months in prison and served through the balance of the war without again falling into trouble of a serious nature. I am married and have a family. I should be pleased to become better acquainted than was possible during the brief evening while we were together, and should you come this way, do not fail to call on me. I enclose my business card. Yours very respectfully,
J. B. Buckbee"
____
Here is Lt. Col. Buckbee's military record:
Julian Edward Buckbee
Residence Ypsilanti MI; 20 years old. Enlisted on 1/1/1863 as a 1st Lieutenant. On 2/26/1863 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MI 1st SharpShooters He was Mustered Out on 7/28/1865 at Delaney House, Washington, DC He was listed as: * Wounded 5/10/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA * POW 6/17/1864 Petersburg, VA (Escaped) * Returned 1/15/1865 (place not stated) (Estimated day) * Wounded 3/25/1865 Petersburg, VA Promotions: * 1st Lieut 1/1/1863 (1st Lieut & Adjutant) * Lt Colonel 4/2/1865 by Brevet * Major 4/11/1865 Other Information: born 3/15/1844 in Ypsilanti, MI died 12/29/1919 in Hermosa Beach, CA Buried: Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, IL.
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65 - Commandery of Illinois MOLLUS: Deceased Companions.
"Captain Philip Jefferson Johnson, now a merchant at Lenoir, was born in Burke county, N. C., in 1840, the son of Daniel P. Johnson. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the first company which left his county, Company G of the First, or Bethel, regiment of volunteers, and during the six months' service of that command was on duty on the Virginia peninsula. His re-enlistment was in Company K of the Thirty-fifth regiment. He was elected captain of this company, and took part in the Seven Days' battles before Richmond, where he incurred an attack of typhoid fever which disabled him until after the battle of Sharpsburg. Rejoining his company he was in the fight at Fredericksburg and subsequently campaigned in North Carolina, taking part finally in the memorable capture of Plymouth, under General Hoke. Then returning to Virginia he fought at Drewry's bluff and Bermuda Hundred, and was distinguished in the battles of June 16th and 17th, before Petersburg. On the evening of June 17th his regiment was ordered to drive the Federals from the angle in the works before Petersburg, which the First Michigan sharpshooters, under command of Maj. Levant C. Rhines, had taken possession of, after a sanguinary fight of two days, in which the Confederates had been gradually pushed back. Captain Johnson led the charge, which was made with such vigor that the Michigan men were able to fire but two volleys before Johnson's regiment was upon them. The fighting was continued with desperation along the line of the earthworks, and the bayonet was freely used on both sides. Finally Captain Johnson jumped over the rifle-pit, followed by his men, and though four of the enemy sprang forward to bayonet him, he escaped with a wound in the hand, and succeeded in capturing Adjt. J. E. Buckbee, the only Federal officer left on the field, with 100 of his men. Buckbee, afterward promoted colonel, gave up his sword to Captain Johnson, and going with him to the rear, expressed a regret that the Confederate command to which he had surrendered was not larger in numbers. In 1893 Captain Johnson was handsomely entertained at Chicago by Colonel Buckbee and his wife. During he subsequent fighting on the Petersburg lines, including the battle of the Crater, the capture of Fort Stedman, and the long struggle ended at Five Forks, where he was in the heat of battle, Captain Johnson was at the front. During the retreat he narrowly escaped capture at Farmville, Va., and at Appomattox he was paroled. On returning home he aided in breaking up a gang of robbers in Caldwell county, and then engaged in teaching school for a few months in Indiana. After that he was for sixteen years occupied in farming and the manufacture of lumber. For eight years he has been engaged in the mercantile business at that place. By his marriage, in 1867, to Jennie E. Corpenning, he has three children:"
Source: Florence A., Bascom G., and Philip J. Source: Confederate Military History Vol. V p. 575.
Here is a link to Capt. Johnson's profile:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55732231/philip_jefferson-johnson/photo?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0kWLoKRP9ib3WV5jsdfWYk2DpXZx1-zIL6qepm3K8V_YYk-Nd5nxgq9sM_aem_AbSKzFoZcwrQvoRukwWp9SZmLgeADSJ7iDELqAccomWqJOmjVRR0M3HRLbAsgWGv-1-KwYg09FI80w4Evdz3yBmT
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