Important Military Figures of the Civil War Mr. Lewis January, 2009 Gen. George McClellan USA • • • • • • • • • Graduated West Point 2nd in class of 1846 Engineer, served in Mexican War Invented the “McClellan Saddle”, used by US Army from 1850’s until 1920’s Railroad executive, politician Commander of Army of the Potomac after 1st Bull Run Highly effective at organizing and training men Overly cautious in battle Fired after Antietam Ran as Democratic Presidential Candidate in 1864 QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Adm.David Farragut USN • • • • • • • Followed family naval tradition A Southerner all his life, he remained loyal to the Union Given command of the fleet blockading the Gulf of Mexico Captured New Orleans (end of Mississippi River) for Union in April, 1862 1864, Battle of Mobile Bay “Damn The Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!” After the war, became the first ever “Admiral of the Navy”, highest ranking Naval Officer Died in 1870. 10,000 sailors marched in his funeral parade QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General Ambrose Burnside USA • • • • • • • • Indiana native. West Point 1847 Fought in Mexico and fought Indians Raised a regiment of Rhode Island soldiers, became their commander Twice turned down the offer to command the Union Army. After McClellan was fired, finally took over, reluctantly Relieved of his command for indecision Later Governor and Senator from Rhode Island Term “sideburns” is a play on his name, because of his famous whiskers QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General Joseph Hooker USA • • • • • • Massachusetts native. West Point 1837 “Fighting Joe” fought in Mexico but was a personal enemy of General Winfield Scott, which hurt his career Became Union commander after Burnside was fired A big drinker, his command was considered ‘a cross between a bar and a brothel’ Nickname for prostitutes wrongly affiliated with him, though “Hooker’s Division” was well known in Washington Always a touchy personality, he resigned a week before Gettysburg QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Gen. George Meade USA • • • • • • • • Graduated West Point in 1835 Engineer, served in Mexican War Rose quickly through ranks in Civil War Given command of the Union Army in last week of June, 1863 Led Union Forces to victory at Gettysburg July 2-4, 1863 Lost command for failing to crush the rebellion after Gettysburg Lived in Philadelphia as commissioner of Fairmount Park Died in 1872 from wounds QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General William Tecumseh Sherman USA • • • • • • • • Ohio native. West Point 1840 Fought in Mexico Failed businessman, became teacher at Louisiana State University Rejoined Army at start of war Not highly successful at first, but had great devotion to duty Captured Chattanooga, Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina Famous for widespread looting and destruction during “March To The Sea” Younger brother was a famous Senator from Ohio QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General Ulysses S. Grant USA • • • • • • • • • • Ohio native. West Point 1843 Fought in Mexico Failed businessman. Rejoined Army at start of war Noted for refusing to consider conditional surrender Famous for extremely high casualty counts among his men Famous drinker Won major battle at Vicksburg “the Gibraltar of the Mississippi” Given overall command of Union forces in 1864 First Lt. General since Washington 18th President of the United States QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General Robert E. Lee CSA • • • • • • • • • Great Family heritage. Grandfather signed Declaration of Independence. West Point 1829 Fought in Mexico (Grant’s commander) Superintendent of West Point Captured John Brown at Harpers’ Ferry Loyalty to Va. outweighed loyalty to USA Strategy based on survival, hoping to win a long war Lack of supplies and reinforcements doomed this effort Surrendered in 1865. His estate at Arlington became National Cemetery. Considered America’s greatest General QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General George Pickett CSA • • • Virginian. Graduated West Point class of 1846 (last in class) Fought in Mexico. Stayed in Army until Virginia seceded, when he joined the Confederate cause Famous for doomed charge at Gettysburg QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General James Longstreet CSA • • • • • • • South Carolinian. Graduated West Point class of 1842 Fought in Mexico. Stayed in Army until 1861, when he joined the Confederate cause Good assistant general, not successful on his own Urged Lee not to fight at Gettysburg After war, became friends with Grant. Became Republican! Criticized by many southern veterans, he outlived most, and wrote a book Died in 1904 QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General P.G.T. Beauregard CSA • • • • • • Louisianan. Graduated West Point class of 1838 Fought in Mexico. Stayed in Army until the month before Lincoln’s Inauguration Superintendent of West Point for 5 days “Hero of Ft. Sumter” Good, successful general Post war moved to Louisiana, wrote history books, bankrupted the Louisiana Lottery. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson CSA • • • • • • • Virginian. Graduated West Point class of 1846 Fought in Mexico. Became teacher and head of Virginia Military Institute Mystical, strange man. Extremely religious Nicknamed “Stonewall”, for how tough his brigade was at 1st Bull Run Distinguished leadership at Antietam Accidentally killed by one of his own men while riding through camp at night after Chancellorsville “He has lost his left arm, I have lost my right”--Robt. E. Lee QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General J.E.B. Stuart CSA • • • • Virginian. Graduated West Point class of 1854 Fought Indians and in Kansas. Helped capture John Brown at Harpers Ferry. Resigned army when Va. seceded Most famous cavalry officer in CSA. Probably most successful cavalry officer in American history Killed in action at Richmond, Va. in 1864 QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. General Nathan Bedford Forrest CSA • • • • • • Tennessean. No formal military training One of the richest men in the south, from slave trading and plantations When war started joined as a private. Quickly he raised his own brigade (and paid for it himself) and was made a general Famous cavalry man. Intuitive military genius Responsible for massacre of 200+ black prisoners at Fort Pillow Bankrupted by war, became a founder of the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.