July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
BUFFINGTON, Adelbert Rinaldo (1837-1922) graduated at West Point in 1861. He was brevetted major in 1865, and was commander successively of the United States ordnance depots at Wheeling, W. Va., and of the arsenals in New York, Baton Rouge, Watertown, Mass., Watervliet, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Springfield, Mass., and Rock Island. In 1899 he was appointed chief of ordnance and was raised to the rank of brigadier general. In 1901 he was retired. He invented a magazine firearm, a "rod bayonet," and a rear sight for military firearms. Many other improvements in firearms were introduced by him. Manuscript Letter Signed, “A.R. Buffington” as Colonel of Ordnance, U.S. Army, 2pp. quarto, January 27, 1890, National Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, addressed to Ben Austin, Secretary of the Trinity Historical Society, Dallas, Texas, it reads in part: “...you did me the honor to inform me that your society had elected me a non-Resident member. I had no photograph at the time to send as requested, but promised one when replying to your communication. I have but recently had some taken and send you...one large and one small one, taken at the same sitting...” Mounted, else VG. The cabinet card image is included but has been trimmed and mounted, else VG. (2 items) Buffington served as a colonel of Missouri volunteers during the Civil War.
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