Abraham Buford II

Abraham "Abe" Buford II (1820-1884) was a soldier and Thoroughbred horse breeder. Born in Woodford County, Kentucky, Buford served in the Mexican-American War. He joined the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, reaching the rank of General.

The postbellum years were not kind to Buford. After a series of financial and personal losses in the 1870s, he shot himself in 1884.

Abraham Bufford II in Fort Pillow
As Abraham Bufford was, in the words of Charles W. Anderson, "raising Cain in Kentucky", General Nathan Bedford Forrest decided there was ample opportunity to attack Fort Pillow.