The Civil War Generals, Soldiers, and Civilians
INFANTRY Ground soldiers that often fought hand-to-hand. ARTILLERY Soldiers that loaded and fired the cannons. CAVALRY Soldiers on horseback that fought with swords.
There were hundreds of generals who served on both sides. Here are some of the most famous: Northern Ulysses S. Grant George B. McClellan William T. Sherman George S. Meade Winfield Scott Admiral David Farragut Southern Robert E. Lee Thomas Stonewall Jackson James Longstreet Joseph E. Johnston J. E. B. Stuart Nathan Bedford Forrest
Ulysses S. Grant Considered the victorious general of the war when Lee surrendered to him. Sometimes called The Butcher, because he was not afraid to take casualties. Later served two terms as president.
Robert E. Lee Considered by many to be one of America s greatest military minds. Abraham Lincoln originally asked him to lead Union forces. However, when Virginia seceded, he felt he could not fight against his home state.
George B. McClellan Famous for organizing and training the Northern army. However, he was somewhat overly cautious which irritated Lincoln. He actually ran as a Democrat against Lincoln for President in 1864, but lost.
Thomas Stonewall Jackson Considered by many to be General Lee s Right Arm. He earned his nickname for his toughness during Bull Run, the first battle of the war. In 1863, he was accidentally shot by his own troops who were on guard at night. He had to have his arm amputated, but he later died from pneumonia.
William Tecumseh Sherman Probably most famous for using the concept of Total War, on his march through Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean. He and his men cut a wide path of destruction, destroying crops, livestock, and buildings. This helped to psychologically destroy the South.
James Longstreet Served well in many of the wars most famous battles. He famously disagreed with some of General Lee s tactics at Gettysburg, but still followed orders.
George S. Meade Rose to become commander of the Army of the Potomac (the army near D. C.). He is most famous for defeating General Lee at Gettysburg.
Joseph E. Johnston Involved in several major battles. He could not get along with President Jefferson Davis. After Lee surrendered, he still had a large army in North Carolina, but surrendered.
Winfield Scott Involved in military operations from the War of 1812 through the Civil War. A native Virginian, he stayed loyal to the United States. He was the author of the Anaconda Plan to choke off the South.
J. E. B. Stuart He was considered a master of reconnaissance and using cavalry (troops on horseback). He was sometimes referred to as the eyes and ears of Lee s army.
Admiral David Farragut Famous naval commander for the Union. Given credit for uttering the phrase: Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!
Nathan Bedford Forrest One of the less-educated Southern generals. He had accumulated great wealth by the time of the war. He survived the war to become a major player in the KKK (Ku Klux Klan).
Civil War Soldiers
As in prior conflicts, when the war began the United States had to initially rely on volunteers. Later, a DRAFT was instituted in both the North and South, requiring men from ages 18-35 to enlist. In some cities there were draft riots, and charges of ELITISM were launched at people who would pay a substitute to fight for them or their relative. False medical exams could also excuse a person from serving. There were problems with untrained soldiers running away, and/or suffering from psychological damages. In many instances, strong discipline was used.
Cowardice, desertion, theft, sleeping on guard duty, working with the enemy, spying, murder, and bounty jumping brought the hardest punishments. Execution by firing squad or hanging could be applied to all of these, but frequently cowards, thieves, and some deserters were branded (either on the face or the hip) and drummed out of camp in disgrace. In the artillery or cavalry, being tied for hours spread-eagled on a gun carriage wheel was common. In both the army and navy, flogging had been outlawed several years before the war.
On the Spare Wheel Soldiers were left tied for hours to one of these wheels. Sometimes the effects of having this done to you were crippling.
Being Bucked and Gagged Sometimes, a soldier was tied securely with a stick under his knees and on top of his arms. He was either gagged with a strip of cloth, or a stick, and then left outside in all kinds of conditions for hours.
Being Tied By the Thumbs, or being forced to complete guard duty with a Large, Heavy Log, rather than a rifle.
Placed On the Wooden Horse Sometimes soldiers were forced to sit for hours on a narrow wooden rail, that was high enough that their feet could not touch the ground.
Prisoner of War Camps Both sides had prison camps for captured enemy soldiers. One of the most notorious was at Andersonville, Georgia. Nearly 13,000 prisoners died from starvation, malnutrition, diarrhea, or other disease. This is a survivor from May 1865.
Civilian Life During the War Women in both the North and South stepped up work on the farms while the men and boys were away fighting. Some, especially in the North, went to work in factories to help make the necessary supplies. There were some women who disguised themselves as men, and did occasionally fight. Other women acted as spies, and for the first time in large numbers, women began to act as nurses on the battlefield.
Children were certainly expected to pick up the slack for missing fathers and brothers. The South was fearful of allowing Blacks to fight, for fear that they would rebel. However, there were several black regiments of soldiers from the North. As immigrants moved to the United States, some of them were also required to join the military.
A Woman in Disguise
Nurses Angels of the Battlefield
Clara Barton A teacher, nurse, and humanitarian that helped found the American Red Cross.
Casualties and Losses The North The South Killed in Action 110,000 Killed in Action 93,000 Other Deaths 250,000 Other Deaths 167,000 Wounded 275,200 Wounded 137,000 Total Casualties 635,200 Total Casualties 397,000 Each second of the following clip represents a single week of the Civil War: Civil War in 4 Minutes.