Union Leaders of the Civil War

Major General John Buford was a Kentuckian who elected to remain in the US Army at the beginning of the Civil War. A career dragoon officer, Buford advocated the use of cavalry as mobile infantry. Serving with distinction during the war, Buford is best known for his delaying action during the early hours of the Battle of Gettysburg.

A native of Rhode Island, Ambrose Burnside rose to the rank of major general during the American Civil War. Given command of the Army of the Potomac in late 1862, he was badly defeated at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Remaining in the army after his removal, Burnside resigned following being removed from corps command after the 1864 Battle of the Crater.

One of the most famed Union commanders of the Civil War, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a college professor turned army officer. A native of Maine, Chamberlain heroically defended Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg and ultimately was chosen to receive the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.

George A. Custer first achieved fame as a cavalry commander during the Civil War. A reckless soldier, Custer was known for his personal bravery and willingness to attack the enemy. Following the war, he took part in the wars against the Plains Indians. George Custer was killed in 1876, after his men were overrun at the Battle of the Little...

Born in 1819, Abner Doubleday attended West Point and graduated as an artillery officer. After firing the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, Doubleday quickly rose through the Union ranks. After the death of Gen. John Reynolds at Gettysburg, Doubleday ably led I Corps against the Confederates. After the battle, Doubleday left the Army of...

Major General John C. Frémont was a Union commander during the Civil War. A noteworthy explorer before the war, John C. Frémont was the Republican Party's first presidential candidate. During the Civil War, he was beaten by Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley.

Ulysses S. Grant rose to command all Union armies during the Civil War. Winning early victories at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, he later captured Vicksburg before coming east to defeat Gen. Robert E. Lee. After the war, Ulysses S. Grant served as President of the United States from 1869-1877.

Major General Benjamin Grierson was a Union cavalry commander during the American Civil War. Ascending to brigade commander, Benjamin Grierson led a daring raid through Mississippi during the Vicksbirg Campaign. Further rising through the ranks, Benjamin Grierson led cavalry formations until the end of the war and later served on the western...

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock was prominent Union commander during the Civil War. A veteran of the Mexican-American War, Winfield Scott Hancock became known as "Hancock the Superb" by his peers for his battlefield skill. Hancock ran for president in 1880, but was defeated by James Garfield.

Major General Joseph Hooker was a Union general during the Civil War. Rising to command the Army of the Potomac, he was badly defeated at the...

Major General Philip Kearny was a Union commander during the Civil War. Born to a wealthy family, Philip Kearny aspired to military career and later saw action during the Mexican-American War. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Philip Kearny took part in the Peninsula Campaign and the Second Battle of Manassas before being killed at the...

George McClellan was a Union general during the Civil War who organized the Army of the Potomac. Leading it during the Peninsula Campaign, McClellan was defeated by Gen. Robert E. Lee. Again leading the army at Antietam, McClellan failed to win a decisive victory and his slow pursuit of the enemy led to his removal.

Major General James McPherson was a Union commander during the Civil War. Serving in the West with Major General Ulysses Grant, James McPherson rapidly rose through the ranks and commanded a corps during the Vicksburg Campaign. Given command of the Army of the Tennesse in 1864, James McPherson led it until his death at the Battle of Atlanta on...

Major General George G. Meade was key Union commander during the Civil War. George Meade is best known for leading the Army of the Potomac to victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. Meade led the army for the remainder of the war.

A noted cavalry commander in the Civil War, Wesley Merritt rose through the ranks with unprecedented speed. After serving with the Army of the Potomac, Merritt spent extensive time on the frontier. With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, he commanded US Army forces in the Philippines.

General Nelson A. Miles was a noted American commander during the Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish-American War. Earning his stars during the Civil War, Nelson Miles became a famous Indian fighter and oversaw the campaign to capture Geronimo. Nelson Miles later led the invasion of Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War.

Major General William S. Rosecrans was a Union commander that saw extensive service in the Western Theater of the Civil War. Given command of the Army of the Cumberland, William Rosecrans fought at Stones River before conducting the brilliant Tullahoma Campaign which took Chattanooga. William Rosecrans' reputation was shattered when he was...

Robert Gould Shaw was the son of wealthy Boston abolitionists. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Shaw joined the Union Army and saw service with the 2nd Massachusetts. In 1863, he was offered command of the 54th Massachuesetts, the first Union regiment composed entirely of black soldiers. Shaw was killed leading his regiment during the...

General Philip H. Sheridan rose to prominence during the Civil War. A gifted commander, he first served with the the Army of the Cumberland in the Western Theater, before coming east to command the Army of the Potomac's cavalry and the Army of the Shenandoah. Sheridan later rose to general of the army and oversaw US forces during the Indian...

William Tecumseh Sherman was a key Union general during the Civil War. Rising to prominence under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Sherman served as an effective corps commander before being given overall command in the West. Capturing Atlanta in 1864, William Sherman conducted a scorched earth march to Savannah.

Major General Daniel Sickles was a Union commander during the Civil War. A political appointee, Daniel Sickles rose to command III Corps in the Army of the Potomac. During the Battle of Gettysburg, Daniel Sickles famously disobeyed orders and advanced his command in a manner which endangered the Union line. During the fighting, Daniel Sickles...

General George H. Thomas was a noted Union commander of Southern birth. Seeing service in the Mexican-American War, Thomas elected to remain in the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. A methodical, steady leader, he played a key role at the Battle of Chickamauga and during the final campaigns in the West.