American Civil War Generals

1861-1868

Confederate States of AmericaC.S.A.

General Robert E. LeeWar Service

1861 commander in chief of forces of Virginia

May 1861 Brig. Gen. in Confederate army, commanded forces in West Virginia, examined coastal defenses

August 1861 full General, military adviser to President Davis, took over command of ANV after J E Johnston was wounded, commanded ANV until the surrender at Appomattox

1865 he was made General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States.

West Point, 1829

The greatest general.

The greatest leader of men.

General Pierre G.T. Beauregard

War Service

March 1861 Brig. Gen. in Confederate Provisional Army, Fort Sumter, First Manassas

July 1861 General, Shiloh - commanded Army of Tennessee after A S Johnston killed, Corinth, superseded by Bragg while on sick leave, defense of South Carolina and Georgia, commanded defenses south of Richmond

Second in command to Johnston in

Carolinas campaign.

West Point, 1838

General Braxton Bragg

War Service

March 1861 Brig. Gen. of Confederate Provisional Army, Pensacola-Mobile coast.

September 1861 Maj. Gen., commanded II Corps at Shiloh, Corinth.

April 1862 General, commanded the Army of Tennessee, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, resigned his command, chief of staff to President Davis, commanded a division of the Army

of Tennessee in Carolinas campaign, Bentonville.

West Point, 1837

Considered the worst general in CW.

Only friend is Jefferson Davis.

Own men tried to kill him by putting a bomb under his bed.

General Simon Bolivar Buckner

War Service

1861- refused commission in Union army.

September 1861- Brig. Gen., Fort Donelson, exchanged after 6 months.

August 1862- Maj. Gen., commanded 3rd Divn at Perryville, coastal defenses in the Gulf, command of the Dept. of East Tennessee, commanded a Corps at Chickamauga.

September 1864- Lt. Gen. in Trans-Mississippi as Kirby Smith's chief of staff.

West Point, 1844

General Jubal Early

War Service

1861- Col. of state forces.

May 1861- Col. of 24th Virginia, Blackburn's Ford, First Manassas.

July 1861- Brig. Gen., commanded Early’s Bde/D H Hill's Divn in the Peninsula campaign, Williamsburg (w), commanded Elzey's Bde/Ewell’s Divn at Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, commanded Ewell’s Divn/II Corps at Fredericksburg.

January 1863- Maj. Gen., Chancellorsville, commanded Early’s Divn/II Corps at Gettysburg, Wilderness.

May 1864 - Lt. Gen., Cold Harbor, Monocacy, burnt Chambersburg PA, Fisher's Hill, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Waynesborough.

West Point, 1837 Wrote Ben Hur.

General Nathan Bedford Forrest

War Service 1861- Pvt. in Confederate army, raised 7th Tennessee Cavalry, Lt. Col., Fort Donelson, Col. of 3rd Tennessee Cavalry, Shiloh.

July 1862- Brig. Gen., raided communications in Tennessee, Chickamauga.

December 1863- Maj. Gen., given independent command, Fort Pillow, Brice's Cross Roads, commanded cavalry in Hood's Franklin and Nashville campaign.

February 1865 - Lt. Gen., Selma.

Pre-War Profession: Planter, slave dealer

One of best Cavalry Man in the entire CW.

General Ambrose P. HillWar Service

May 1861- Col. of 13th Virginia.

February 1862- Brig. Gen., commanded 1st Bde/Longstreet’s Divn at Williamsburg.

May 1862- Maj. Gen., commanded Hill’s Light Division in Longstreet’s Command at Seven Days, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, commanded Hill’s Light Divn/II Corps at Chancellorsville.

May 1863 - Lt. Gen., commanded III Corps at Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Wilderness, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, killed while rallying his troops after their line had been

broken.

West Point, 1847

General John Bell Hood

War Service

1861- 1st Lt. of cavalry, recruitment duty, Yorktown.

May 1862 - Brig. Gen. in command of the Texas Brigade, served under G W Smith in the Peninsula campaign, commanded Hood’s Bde/Whiting's Divn at Seven Days, commanded Hood’s Bde/Evans' Divn at Second Manassas, Sharpsburg.

October 1862 - Maj. Gen., commanded Hood’s Divn/Longstreet's Corps, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg , Chickamauga, leg amputated.

February 1864 - Lt. Gen., commanded Hood’s Corps in Atlanta campaign, schemed to replace Johnston, ordered to replace Johnston at Atlanta with temporary rank of General, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville.

January 1865 - relieved at his own request.

West Point, 1853“Old Wooden Head”

General Thomas J.(Stonewall) Jackson

War Service

1861- Maj. in Virginia militia, Col. of Confederate infantry, Harper's Ferry.

June 1861- Brig. Gen., commanded 1st Army of the Shenandoah at First Manassas.

October 1861- Maj. Gen., Shenandoah Valley campaign - fought brilliantly, Seven Days - fought poorly at times probably due to exhaustion, Groveton, commanded the Left Wing at Second Manassas, led Jackson’s Command in Sharpsburg campaign, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg.

October 1862 - Lt. Gen., commanded II

Corps at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville.

West Point 1846

General Albert Sidney Johnston

War Service

August 1861- full General in command of Confederate Dept No 2, had insufficient troops to hold a very large area, concentrated his army at Corinth, Shiloh.

A close friend of President Davis.

It's thought that as a result of an old injury, he had loss of feeling in his leg and this contributed to his bleeding to death at Shiloh.

West Point, 1826

General Joseph E. JohnstonWar Service

1861- Maj. Gen. of Virginia troops.

May 1861- Brig. Gen. in Confederate army.

July 1861- General, commanded forces around Harper's Ferry, commanded Army of the Shenandoah, First Manassas.

March 1862 - commanded ANV, Peninsula campaign, Seven Pines - command passed to R. E. Lee, commanded Department of the West, Vicksburg campaign, commanded the Army of Tennessee, Atlanta campaign.

July 1864 -relieved of command at Atlanta.

February 1865 restored to command, Carolinas campaign, Bentonville, surrendered to Sherman.

West Point, 1829

General James Longstreet

War Service

June 1861- Brig. Gen., First Manassas.

October 1861- Maj. Gen. in command of a division, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Seven Days, Second Manassas campaign, Corps command at Sharpsburg.

October 1862 -Lt. Gen. in command of I Corps of ANV, Fredericksburg, Suffolk campaign, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Wilderness, defense of Richmond, Appomattox.

West Point, 1842

General John C. PembertonWest Point, 1837

War Service

June 1861- Brig. Gen., commanded the Dept of South Carolina Georgia and Florida.

January 1862- Maj. Gen.

October 1862- Lt. Gen., commanded Dept of Mississippi and East Louisiana, became besieged in Vicksburg, no further duty at his rank was available.

May 1864 - resigned commission, appointed Col. of artillery.

General J.E.B. (Jeb) Stuart

War Service

May 1861- Lt. Col. in Virginia infantry.

May 1861- Col. of 1st Virginia Cavalry, First Manassas, September 1861- Brig. Gen., Peninsula campaign, rode around McClellan's army, Seven Days.

July 1862 Maj. Gen., command of all cavalry in ANV, Second Manassas campaign, Catlett's Station, Groveton, Sharpsburg campaign, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville campaign, temporarily commanded II Corps at Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Gettysburg campaign,

Gettysburg, Yellow Tavern.

West Point, 1854

One of best Cavalry men in CW.

Union GeneralsU.S.A.

Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant

War Service

1861 commanded a camp of instruction.

June 1861- Col. of 21st Illinois.

May 1861- appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, Belmont, Fts Henry and Donelson.

February 1862 - promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded Army of the Tennessee, Shiloh, Vicksburg campaign

July 1863 -promoted Maj. Gen. in Regular Army, Chattanooga campaign.

March 1864 Lt. Gen. and general-in-chief, Overland campaign.

West Point, 1843

"Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can, and strike him as hard as you can. And keep moving on!"

General Don Carlos Buell

War Service

May 1861- appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, organization and training duty with Army of the Potomac, led the Army of the Ohio into Tennessee, Shiloh, advance on Corinth.

March 1862- promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, resisted Confederate invasion of Kentucky, Perryville, relieved of command, investigated by a military commission, spent a year awaiting orders.

June 1864- resigned.

West Point, 1841

General Ambrose E. Burnside

Look…

Sideburns!

War Service

1861- organized 1st Rhode Island - Col., commanded a brigade at First Bull Run.

August 1861- appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, led expeditions against the North Carolina coast, New Berne.

March 1862 - promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded Left Wing at Antietam. November 1862 -ordered to command Army of the Potomac, Fredericksburg, commanded Dept. of the Ohio, Knoxville, commanded IX corps at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg, Crater, relieved of command.

April 1865- resigned.

West Point, 1847

General Benjamin F. Butler

War Service

April 1861 - Brig. Gen. of Massachusetts militia, lifted the blockade of Washington.

May 1861- appointed Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, Big Bethel, Hatteras Inlet, New Orleans, military governor, removed December 1862.

1863 -Commanded Army of the James, Bermuda Hundred, sent home to await orders, unsuccessful North Carolina expedition

Pre-War Profession Teacher, lawyer, politician

Admiral David G. Farragut

“Damn the Torpedoes Full Speed Ahead!”

First American to become full Admiral.

War Service

1862 - first great success as a commander came with the capture of New Orleans.

1864 - captured the defenses at Mobile, Alabama. During the Mobile Bay battle, one of Farragut's lead ships struck a mine -- then called a torpedo -- and sank, causing confusion among Union sailors. To rally them to order, Farragut shouted to his flag captain, "Damn the

torpedoes!

Benjamin Grierson

War Service

October 1861 - Maj. in 6th Illinois Cavalry.

April 1862 - Col., served in Tennessee and Mississippi, pursued Van Dorn after the Holly Springs raid, led an eponymous raid through Tennessee and Mississippi, June 1863 appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded a division and the cavalry in the Army of the Mississippi, Mobile.

May 1865 promoted Maj. Gen. of

Volunteers.

Pre-War Profession:

Music teacher, storekeeper

General Henry W. Halleck

War Service

August 1861- Maj. Gen. in Regular Army relieved Fremont as commander of the Dept of the Missouri, expanded to the Dept of the Mississippi, advance on Corinth.

1862 - General in chief, became chief of staff when Grant became General in chief.

West Point, 1839

General Joseph Hooker

War Service

May 1861- appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, served in Washington defenses, commanded 2nd Divn/III Corps in Peninsula campaign, Seven Days, Second Manassas.

May 1862- promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded I Corps at South Mountain, Antietam, commanded Center Grand Divn at Fredericksburg, commanded Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville, relieved of command before Gettysburg at his own request when he didn't receive the reinforcements that he asked for, commanded XI and XII Corps in the West, commanded XX Corps at Lookout Mountain, Atlanta campaign, requested to be relieved when he didn't get the command of the Army of the Tennessee after McPherson's death, had no more field command.

West Point, 1837 “Fightn’ Joe”

Hooker’s Brigade – Interest fact.

General Irvin McDowell

War Service

May 1861- promoted Brig. Gen. of Regular Army, commanded Union forces at First Bull Run.

March 1862- appointed Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, defences of Washington, commanded III Corps at Second Bull Run, commanded Dept

of the Pacific.

West Point, 1838

General George B. McLellan

War Service

April 1861 -Maj. Gen. of Ohio volunteers, commanded Dept of the Ohio, Rich Mountain, Corrick's Ford.

May 1861 -Maj. Gen. in Regular Army, commanded Army of the Potomac.

Appointed general-in-chief November 1861, Peninsula campaign, Seven Days, his army was given by Lincoln to Pope, returned after Second Bull Run, Antietam campaign, relieved of active duty.

1864 - unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate.

West Point, 1846

General George G. Meade

War Service

August 1861- appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, Washington defences, commanded 2nd Bde/3rd Divn/V Corps in Seven Days, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Glendale, commanded 1st Pennsylvania Reserves/III Corps at Second Bull Run, commanded 3rd Divn/III Corps at Antietam, Falmouth.

November 1862- promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, Fredericksburg, commanded V Corps at Chancellorsville, commanded Army of the Potomac from Gettysburg onwards.

July 1863 - Brig. Gen. in Regular Army, August 1864 Maj. Gen. in regular Army, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, served under Grant as commander of the Army of the Potomac from

the Wilderness until Appomattox.

West Point, 1835

General William S. Rosecrans

War Service

April 1861 - Col. of Engineers on McClellan's staff, June 1861 Col. in 23rd Ohio Infantry, May 1861 Brig. Gen. in Regular Army, commanded a brigade at Rich Mountain.

May 1862 - directed left wing of Army of the Mississippi at Corinth, commanded Army of the Mississippi, Iuka, Corinth.

March 1862 - promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers.

October 1862 - appointed to command of Army of the Cumberland, Murfeesboro, defeated at Chickamauga, replaced by Grant at Chattanooga in October 1863.

1864 - commanded Department of Missouri until war's end.

West Point, 1842 “Rosy”

General Winfield Scott

War Service

1861- Maj. Gen. (since 1841), Union commander in chief, conceived the "Anaconda Plan", retired October 1861 after McClellan was made commander of the Army of the Potomac.

"Old Fuss and Feathers"

Pre-War Profession Fought in every war from 1812, commander in chief of the Army.

General John Sedgwick

War Service

1861- Col. of 1st US Cavalry.

August 1861 - appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, defenses of Washington, commanded 2nd Divn/II Corps in Peninsula campaign, Glendale (w).

July 1862 - promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, Antietam (w), commanded II Corps, commanded IX Corps, commanded VI Corps at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Bridge, Mine Run, Wilderness,

Spotsylvania (k).

West Point 1837

“These men cannot shoot the broad side of an elephant.”

General Philip Sheridan

War Service

1861- Capt. in 13th US Infantry, quartermaster for Halleck's force at Corinth, Col. of 2nd Michigan Cavalry, Booneville.

July 1862 - appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded 11th Divn/Army of the Ohio at Perryville, commanded 3rd Divn/XVI Corps at Stone's River.

December 1862 - promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded 3rd Divn/XX Corps at Chickamauga, commanded 2nd Divn/IV Corps at Missionary Ridge, commanded Cavalry of Army of the Potomac in Overland campaign, Richmond raid, Yellow Tavern, conducted the Shenandoah Valley campaign, Third Winchester.

September 1864 - promoted Brig. Gen. in Regular Army, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek.

November 1864 - promoted Maj. Gen. in Regular Army, Appomattox campaign, Five Forks.

West Point, 1853 (after one year's suspension for chasing a cadet officer with a bayonet)

General William Tecumseh Sherman

War Service

May 1861- Col. of 13th US Infantry.

May 1861- appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded a brigade at First Bull Run, served in Kentucky but was relieved because of instability, commanded Dist of Cairo, commanded 5th Divn/Army of the Tennessee at Shiloh.

May 1862- promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, commanded XV Corps in Vicksburg campaign.

July 1863 - promoted Brig. Gen. Regular Army, Missionary Ridge, commanded Divn of the Mississippi, Red River campaign, Meridian campaign, Atlanta campaign.

August 1864 - promoted Maj. Gen. in Regular Army, March to the Sea, Carolinas campaign.

West Point, 1840 "War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over"