Admiral Franklin Buchanan

[USS ALASKA]

Plenty of examples out there of officers who resigned their commissions from the USN and USA once their states succeeded from the Union.

Franklin Buchanan - doing the professional 'two-week notice' method - tendered his before his home state of Maryland bailed. Welles accepted it. Then MD stayed put. Ooopppsss. Buchanan attempted to withdraw his request but Welles shot him down. This was May of '61? In Sept '61, he joined the CSN.

Making some (most likely bad) assumptions here, the fact that he attempted to re-join the USN when Maryland didn't join the Confederacy suggests to me that he didn't have any great affinity for the goals and beliefs of the Confederacy. He was just following his 'home-state' heart and jumped the gun.

If that is true, why did he join the CSN anyway? Was it as simple as "Dang it! Now I need a job..." Because of the stigma of his resignation, was there absolutely no opportunities for him in the North? Or was it something else?

Thanks for the help,
USS ALASKA

 

[bradford011]

I always had the impression it was a combination of "I've thrown my lot in with the Confederacy, I have to live with that decision" combined with "Welles is a jerk and I need to do something to show my contempt for him." It's my understanding that Welles tried to talk Buchanan out of his resignation, akking him to take some time to think the situation over, but Buchanan refused and submitted his resignation immediately.

 

[JohnDLittlefield]

Plenty of examples out there of officers who resigned their commissions from the USN and USA once their states succeeded from the Union.

James Buchanan - doing the professional 'two-week notice' method - tendered his before his home state of Maryland bailed. Welles accepted it. Then MD stayed put. Ooopppsss. Buchanan attempted to withdraw his request but Welles shot him down. This was May of '61? In Sept '61, he joined the CSN.

he didn't have any great affinity for the goals and beliefs of the Confederacy. He was just following his 'home-state' heart and jumped the gun. If that is true, why did he join the CSN anyway? Was it as simple as "Dang it! Now I need a job..." Because of the stigma of his resignation, was there absolutely no opportunities for him in the North? Or was it something else?

I believe you meant Franklin Buchanan, not President James Buchanan

There is a great biography of Buchanan by Craig L. Symonds, Confederate Admiral (1999). Symonds is clear that Buchanan was loyal first to Maryland, hence his attempt to follow his state allegiance and that falls right in with Confederate thinking, right? Symonds paints a story of a man that did in fact support the Confederacy.
When Welles rejected his attempt to renege on his resignation, Franklin did the only thing he thought responsible- returned to the life he had known since 15 years old as a sailor and joined the Confederate Navy, although he was at the time over 60 years old.

 

[USS ALASKA]

@JohnDLittlefield

Wow - how the heck did I do that?!? Thank you sir! Fixed now...

Geez,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

There is a great biography of Buchanan by Craig L. Symonds, Confederate Admiral

Saw that book on @Mark F. Jenkins Bibliography list and that he gave it a 'thumbs up'. Didn't know if it covered that aspect of his life in any detail.

Thanks,
USS ALASKA

 

[donna]

I too had thought you meant Franklin Buchanan. Interesting man.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Saw that book on @Mark F. Jenkins Bibliography list and that he gave it a 'thumbs up'. Didn't know if it covered that aspect of his life in any detail.

Thanks,
USS ALASKA

It's been a few years, and I don't remember how thoroughly it went into his reasoning pattern-- I was principally paying attention to the prewar activities such as his involvement with naval reform efforts, helping start the Naval Academy, and participating in the Naval Efficiency Board. But it was a good read; Symonds is dependable as a good writer.

 

[USS ALASKA]

@Mark F. Jenkins

Just made the Amazon wish list....

Thank you sir,
USS ALASKA

 

[mofederal]

That is an interesting story I did not know of Buchanan resigning like he did. That was unfortunate for him. Thanks @USS ALASKA for the story.

 

[Michael W.]

This is one of my favorite Naval stories of the war. Buchanan for sure jumped the gun. I think he did the only thing he could do, join the CSN because...well...he didn't have anything else to do at this point. Buchanan and Lee are the two "what ifs" I have always wondered about. Had Buchanan waited and remained in the USN, what impact that would have had on Naval operations.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

"Old Buck" seems to have been a bit headstrong. I think he did sincerely sympathize with the Confederacy and was eager for Maryland to join it; but, when it did not, he hung fire on potentially fighting against his home state and attempted to reverse course. The reaction he got from the Navy Department was unsympathetic, and that partly made his decision for him. (Certainly he would never have gotten a position of responsibility under Gideon Welles if Welles had a reasonable suspicion of conflicted loyalties.)

It's rather tragic from several points of view, not the least of which was the loss to the Navy of an officer who had been truly fundamental in shaping the service's course in the mid-19th Century.

 

[JohnDLittlefield]

Saw that book on @Mark F. Jenkins Bibliography list and that he gave it a 'thumbs up'. Didn't know if it covered that aspect of his life in any detail.

Thanks,
USS ALASKA

I read the book last year. Literally half the book is dedicated to his service with the U.S. Navy and the other half is about his time with the Confederacy.
Here is a snippet at the beginning of the book talking about his resignation. The chapters are more in-depth...

 

[donna]

Admiral Buchanan has Memorial on Find A Grave. He is buried at Wye House Cemetery in Easton, Maryland.

See:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11124/franklin-Buchanan

The inscription on his stone reads:

"The memory of the just is blessed.
Faith's journey ends in refuge to the weary.
The strife is oer', the battle won."

 

[JohnDLittlefield]

Admiral Buchanan has Memorial on Find A Grave. He is buried at Wye House Cemetery in Easton, Maryland.

There are a few canon balls on the grave. They are from the Mexican -American War. Buchanan brought them back as mementos and they were used as decorations at the entrance to his house in Maryland. When the ACW broke out, some soldiers were trying to collect them for use but Buchanan stopped them and refused to give up the munitions. Somehow they survived to be placed on his grave. The story is in the book and was interesting enough to stick with me apparently.

 

[USS ALASKA]

A tragic comic turn of events...

Buchanan resigns his commission so that he doesn't have to fight against his home state then joins an organization that is for all intents and purposes, fighting against his home state.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[TinCan]

Always liked Old Buck, thanks for sharing.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

then joins an organization that is for all intents and purposes, fighting against his home state.

I think he probably rationalized it as fighting to liberate his home state.

 

[USS ALASKA]

I think he probably rationalized it as fighting to liberate his home state.

Against a whole bunch of people who didn't wish for that sort of 'liberation'...not as bad as the Falklands or Gibraltar but still - thanks but no thanks...



Understood sir,
USS ALASKA

 

[5fish]

For being a traitor or half-hearted anything... It was still honored by the U S Navy with ship names and a building on the Naval Academy...

In memoriam[edit]
Three U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in honor of Admiral Franklin Buchanan: Buchanan (DD-131), (DD-484) and (DDG-14). See USS Buchanan for U.S. Navy ships named in his honor. The Superintendent's quarters at the United States Naval Academy is also named the Buchanan House.

Note:
In August 1862, C.S. Navy Captain Franklin Buchanan was promoted to the rank of Full Admiral - the only officer so honored in the C.S. Navy