From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 1 (1959), pp. 172

John Buford was born in Kentucky and graduated from the Military Academy in 1848. During the Civil War he conducted a reconnaissance along the Rappahannock in June and July 1862; commanded a cavalry brigade during the operations of the Army of Virginia in 1862: engaged in Stoneman's expedition; Pleasanton's expedition; and in various cavalry operations along the Blue Ridge Mountains. General Buford was wounded near the Rappahannock River early in August 1862. He died in Washington 16 December 1863, after a protracted illness.

(AP: dp. 8583, l. 371', b. 44'2"; dr. 26'; s. 10 k.; cpl. 202; a.2 3")

Buford,a transport, was launched in 1890 by Harland and Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland, as Mississippi; purchased by the Army in 1898, becoming U.S.A.T. Buford;rebuilt in 1900 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va.; transferred to the Navy at New York 14 January 1919; and commissioned the next day, Lieutenant Commander C. A. Olson, USNRF, in command.

While serving as a unit of the Cruiser and Transport Force, Newport News Division, Buford made four round trips to France carrying cargo and returning 4717 American troops. In August 1919 she made one trip from New York to Colon and Cristobal, C.Z., to bring back passengers, cargo, and troops. Reporting to the Army Base, South Brooklyn, N.Y., 22 August 1919, she was decommissioned 2 September 1919 and returned to the Army Transport Service.