His predecessor as Chief of Ordnance, General Daniel W. Flagler who graduated in the Class of June 1861 performed similar responsibilities when he arrived in Washington several weeks later.

For several years following the war, he had charge of breaking up Confederate ordnance establishments in Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, and Galveston, and in 1867, he began a series of assignments at Watertown, Watervliet, and Detroit Arsenals, the latter as commander from 1870 until 1872.

This design would be the forerunner of a later invention, the disappearing seacoast carriages which he would develop with William Crozier, later to succeed him as Chief of Ordnance.

A succession of further arsenal assignments occupied him during the 1870s, although he also took a leave of absence in the years 1875 and 1876 to inspect arms for the Egyptian Government.

[1] By June 1881, Buffington was a Lieutenant Colonel and he was moved from command of Watervliet Arsenal to Springfield Armory in September of that same year.