THE HUGUENOTS IN VIRGINIA 357 



to day. The Virginia ancestor was John Beauford, of 

 Cliristcbnrch Parish, Middlesex County. From him came 

 a distinguished line of soldiers, who served their country 

 well, some of them conspicuously. The Third Virginia 

 Regiment in the Revolution had Colonel Buford at its 

 head ; and two other military members of the family were 

 Major- General Napoleon B. Buford, and Major-General 

 John Buford. General James H. Wilson unhesitatingly 

 ascribes to General John Buford the distinction of mak- 

 ing Gettysburg possible. General Buford fired the first 

 gun at Gettysburg, and in the address at the unveiling of 

 his statue General Wilson said: ^'Strong, courageous, 

 and generous, as they (the Bufords) were through many 

 generations, the very flower and jewel of this family was 

 the gentleman in whose name we gathered to-day. He 

 selected Gettysburg for the field of battle." 



General Buford was called by the soldiers ''Old 

 Steadfast." He himself said of Gettysburg : "A heavy 

 task was before us. We were equal to it, and shall remem- 

 ber with pride that at Gettysburg we did our country 

 much service." He was of the true tyi^e of French gen- 

 tleman and loyal citizen. 



