Civil War Generals

Abraham Lincoln..President and Commander in Chief

Feb.12,1809 – April 15,1865

Nov.6,1860.. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, a self taught lawyer from Illinois is elected the 16th President of the United States. The only president to hold an actual patent wins via a sweeping electoral vote..over 180 out of 303 possible votes. Previously an Illinois State Legislator and Illinois member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Married with 4 children, the great man was actually born in Kentucky (2/12/1809) and moved with family to Indiana when he was about nine.

He would finally arrive in Illinois when he was about 21. The family originally in Kentucky was well off, owning many land titles..that were later stripped and lost in court. The family moves and losses such his mother at only 34 years of age begins, molding and forging the man that in short time must “Hold Together a Nation”.

Known to be articulate and affectionate was Lincoln. A young girl Grace Bedell of Westfield, N.Y. once wrote Lincoln a letter suggesting he grow a beard to help him win the upcoming presidential election, as his face “was so thin” and “the ladies liked whiskers”.

He would read and reply to this letter. He did in fact grow his whiskers and when passing through N.Y. on a train, he stopped and they met. They say an old man strained through the crowd to get to the president towing a young girl about 12 years old. Lincoln stooped down and they talked for several minutes. She would write Lincoln again in 1864 when she was 15, asking for advice and assistance. What a story she told until her own death in 1936 after years of interviews and events.

Jefferson Davis…CSA President

June 3, 1808 – December 6, 1889

West Point:Graduates 1828 (23rd in class of 33)

February 9,1861..the seceded southern states form the Confederation appointing former Federal army officer Jefferson Davis of Kentucky as their President. A graduate of West Point and a veteran of the Mexican American War, he had once served as U.S. Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. As a Senator he had argued against states seceding, although he believed in individual “states rights”. He resigns from the U.S. Senate and is appointed provisional CSA President the same day.

Davis had an exemplary career “when he wore the blue” during the Mexican American War ( 1846-1848).

Union Civil War Generals

Lieutenant General Winfield Scott

June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866

General in Chief: July 5, 1841 – Nov. 1, 1861

The “Hero of the Niagara” in The War of 1812, and commander in the Mexican War..his service as a general, the longest in American history. He was 75 when the Civil War breaks out, the great heart willing but the body worn.

The present Union commander, he will in April of ’61 offer command of the Federal Army to Robert. E. Lee who refuses and resigns his commission to the Federal Army.

Scott will resign and General George McClellen will assume command of Federal forces, forming the Army of the Potomac.

Scott was a hero who had fought in 6 wars and put in over 47 years of military service. He lived long enough to see the Civil War end. Passing on May 29,1866 in West Point, N.Y. where he is buried.

Major General Irvin McDowell

October 15, 1818 – May 4, 1885

West Point Graduates 1838 ( Classmate of P.G.T.Beauregard)

Major General George B. ” Little Mac” McClellan

December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885

General in Chief: Nov.1, 1861 – March 11, 1862

West Point: Graduates 1846 (2nd in class of 59)

Major General Henry “Old Brains” Halleck

January 16, 1815 – January 9, 1872

General in Chief: July 23, 1862 – March 9, 1864

West Point: Graduates 1839 (3rd in class of 39)

Lieutenant General Ulysses S. “Sam” Grant

April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885

General in Chief: March 9, 1864 – March 4, 1869

West Point: Graduates 1843 (21st in class of 39)

Major General William Tecumseh “Cump” Sherman (‘Uncle Billy’ to his troops)

February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891

West Point: Graduates 1840 (6th in class of 42)

Major General Ambrose ” Burn” Burnside

May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881

West Point: Graduates 1847 (18th in class of 38)

Major General Joseph “Fightin’ Joe” Hooker

November 13, 1814 – October 31, 1879

West Point: Graduates 1837 (29th in class of 50)

Major General George “Old Snappin’ Turtle” Meade ( V Corp / Commander Army of the Potomac)

December 31, 1815 – November 6, 1872

West Point: Graduates 1831 (19th in class of 56)

Major General Winfield “Win” Hancock ( II Corp )

February 14,1824 – February 9, 1886

West Point: Graduates 1844 ( 18th in class of 25)

Major General Philip Kearny ( “The One-Armed Devil” )

June 2, 1815 – September 1, 1862 (KIA-Battle of Chantilly)

Columbia College 1833 – Lawyer

First U.S. citizen to be awarded the “Légion d’honneur” for his duty in France before the Civil War.

General Winfield Scott once stated “Kearney was the bravest man I ever knew” !

General Philip “Little Phil” Sheridan ( Cavalry Corps )

March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888

West Point: Graduates 1853 ( 34th in class of 52)

Major General John “Uncle John” Sedgwick ( VI Corp )

September 13, 1813 – May 9, 1864 ( KIA-Battle of Spotsylvania)

West Point: Graduates 1837 ( 24th of class of 50 )

Major General John Buford ( Union Cavalry Corps )

First Union unit to engage at The Battle of Gettysburg ( July 1,1863 at approx. 6am) ..Holds the rebel advance with only 2,400 troopers until reinforced by Reynolds Ist Corp 3 hours later. Will be dead from illness 5 months later.

March 4, 1826 – December 16, 1863

West Point: Graduates 1847 ( 16th of class of 38 )

Major General Joshua L. Chamberlain ( Medal of Honor – Battle of Gettysburg -V Corp)

September 8, 1828 – February 24, 1914

Bowdoin College, Maine – Later Professor at Bowdoin

Major General George ” Autie” Armstrong Custer ( Cavalry )

December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876 ( KIA – Little Bighorn, Montana )

West Point: Graduates 1861 ( 34th in class of 34 )

Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler

November 5, 1818 – January 11, 1893

Waterville ( Colby ) College, Maine – 1838 ( Lawyer )

Major General James B. McPherson

November 14,1828 – July 22, 1864 ( KIA-Battle of Atlanta )

West Point: Graduates 1853 ( 1st in class of 52 )

Major General Francis C. Barlow ( II Corp)

(A boyish and distingusihed young general in his red flannel shirt and open coat. Carried a cavalry saber..”for whacking stragglers”)

October 19. 1834 ( Brooklyn,NY) – January 11, 1896

Harvard University: 1st in his class. A lawyer with the NY Tribune in 1861.

Confederate Civil War Generals

CSA General in Chief Joseph R. ” Joe” Johnston

February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891

West Point: Graduates 1829 ( 13th in class of 46)

CSA General Albert Sydney Johnson

February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862 ( KIA-Battle of Shiloh, Tenn.)

West Point: Graduates 1826 (8th in class of 41)

CSA General in Chief Robert E. “Marble Man” Lee

January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870

West Point: Graduates 1829 (2nd in class of 46)

CSA General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

January 21,1824 – May 10, 1863 (Chancellorsville,Va.)

West Point: Graduates 1846 (17th in class of 59)

CSA General James “Old Pete” Longstreet

January 8, 1821 – January 2, 1904

West Point: Graduates 1842 ( 54th in class of 56)

CSA General Ambrose P. “Little Powell” Hill

November 9, 1825 – April 2, 1865 ( KIA-Petersburg,Va.)

West Point: Graduates 1847 ( 15th in class of 38)

CSA Major General James Ewell Brown “Jeb”Stuart

February 6, 1833 – May 12, 1864 (KIA-Yellow Tavern,Va.)

West Point: Graduates 1854 ( 13th in class of 46)

CSA General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard

May 28, 1818 – February 20, 1893

West Point: Graduates 2nd in class of 1838

(“Fired the opening shots of the Civil War on Ft. Sumter on April 12,1861”)

CSA General John Bell Hood

June 1, 1831 – August 30, 1879

West Point: Graduates 1853 ( 44th in class of 52 )

CSA Major General John B. Gordon

February 6, 1832 – January 9, 1904

University of Georgia ( Lawyer )

CSA General Nathan Bedford ” Old Bed” Forrest ( “Forrests’ Cavalry Corps )

July 13, 1821 – October 19, 1877

Less educated than most. A dramatic antebellum gentleman and successful Southern businessman became ” Devil Forrest ” to Union forces for his tenacious and often brutal attacks.

CSA General Braxton Bragg