FLOYD, .Jolla' BUCHANAN ( 1807-63). An American politician and Confederate leader, horn at Blacksburg, Va. lie graduated at the College of South Carolina in 1826, studied law, and practiced his profession at Helena. Ark., from 1836 to 1839, when he returned to his native State and continued his practice in Wash ington County. In 1847-49 he served in the Vir ginia State Legislature, and in 1850 was chosen Governor of the State, in which capacity he advocated the laying of a tax on the products of States which would not deliver up fugitive slaves owned in Virginia. President Buchanan ap pointed him Secretary of War in 1857. Here his extraordinary incapacity for an executive office was lost sight of in the more serious grievances arising out of his relations with the leaders of the secession movement. Early in 1858 he began a rather questionable practice of accepting drafts front a firm of Government con tractors in anticipation of their earnings. In
December, 1860, Floyd, whose resignation had been requested by the President. retired from the Cabinet. After the war began he was commis sioned a brigadier-general in the Confederate ser ..
vice, commanded in some unsuceessfnl operatinn9 in weaken Virginia, and was senior commanding officer ;It Fort Donlon. When it was clear that valid idol ion wasinevitahle, Floyd Iled in the night, /m1.4'0.11•1' with 119110W, iris so.(4,11(1 in C011 111:111(1. 1111,1 part of their troops, and 14-11 General Buckner to to General (see FORT 111.N KY AND VI/eT TWO weed:, later 11,,‘,1 was relieved of his command. Consult: Biumf•s, History of the 'lilted Stabs, vol. iii. (Sew York, t895) ; Crawford, G, ncsis of the ('veil War (New York, 1887) : Davis, Rise and Pall of th, con federate Co ( New York, 1881 ) N icolav and 'lay. Life of Lincoln (New York, Is90),