Leaders of the American Civil War
Here you will find information about the Union and Confederate commanders who guided forces during the American Civil War.
People of the Civil War
The Civil War saw the rapid recruitment of massive armies by both the Union and Confederacy. To lead these forces, both sides turned to a variety of men ranging from West Point-trained officers to businessmen and political appointees. The Civil War resulted in men from many backgrounds becoming effective commanders on both sides.
The Civil War saw the rapid recruitment of massive armies by both the Union and Confederacy. To lead these forces, both sides turned to a variety of men ranging from West Point-trained officers to businessmen and political appointees. The Civil War resulted in men from many backgrounds becoming effective commanders on both sides.
Photo Gallery: Selected Union Generals of the Civil War
The Union Army employed hundreds of generals during the Civil War. This gallery provides an overview of several of the key Union generals who contributed to the Union's cause and helped guide its armies to victory.
The Union Army employed hundreds of generals during the Civil War. This gallery provides an overview of several of the key Union generals who contributed to the Union's cause and helped guide its armies to victory.
Photo Gallery: Selected Confederate Generals of the Civil War
The Confederate Army employed hundreds of generals during the Civil War. This gallery provides an overview of several of the key Confederate generals who contributed to the Southern cause and helped guide its armies throughout the war.
The Confederate Army employed hundreds of generals during the Civil War. This gallery provides an overview of several of the key Confederate generals who contributed to the Southern cause and helped guide its armies throughout the war.
American Civil War: General Braxton Bragg
General Braxton Bragg was a principal Confederate commander in the West during the Civil War. Appointed to lead the Army of Tennessee in mid-1862, Bragg was a strict disciplinarian who had mixed results on the battlefield. Following his defeat at Chattanooga in late 1863, he was relieved.
General Braxton Bragg was a principal Confederate commander in the West during the Civil War. Appointed to lead the Army of Tennessee in mid-1862, Bragg was a strict disciplinarian who had mixed results on the battlefield. Following his defeat at Chattanooga in late 1863, he was relieved.
American Civil War: Major General Ambrose Burnside
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.
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.
American Civil War: Joshua L. Chamberlain
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.
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.
American Civil War: Abner Doubleday
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 the Potomac due to a feud with Gen. George Meade.
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 the Potomac due to a feud with Gen. George Meade.
American Civil War: General John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood was a notable Confederate commander during the Civil War. Hood served in both the East and West, developing a reputation an aggressive leader. Wounded several times, Hood led the Army of Tennessee to its destruction in 1864.
John Bell Hood was a notable Confederate commander during the Civil War. Hood served in both the East and West, developing a reputation an aggressive leader. Wounded several times, Hood led the Army of Tennessee to its destruction in 1864.
American Civil War: General Albert Sidney Johnston
General Albert Sidney Johnston was a key Confederate commander in the early days of the Civil War. A veteran of the Texas Revolution and the US Army, Johnston was appointed to lead Confederate forces in the West. Albert Sidney Johnston was killed during the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862.
General Albert Sidney Johnston was a key Confederate commander in the early days of the Civil War. A veteran of the Texas Revolution and the US Army, Johnston was appointed to lead Confederate forces in the West. Albert Sidney Johnston was killed during the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862.
American Civil War: Major General George B. McClellan
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.
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.
American Civil War: Wesley Merritt
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.
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.
American Civil War: John Hunt Morgan
Born in 1825, John Hunt Morgan became one of the Confederacy's most notorious raiders. A native of Kentucky, Morgan was captured in 1863, after raiding north across the Ohio. Escaping, he returned to Southern service and was killed in September 1864, at Greeneville, TN.
Born in 1825, John Hunt Morgan became one of the Confederacy's most notorious raiders. A native of Kentucky, Morgan was captured in 1863, after raiding north across the Ohio. Escaping, he returned to Southern service and was killed in September 1864, at Greeneville, TN.
American Civil War: Colonel John Singleton Mosby
Colonel John Singleton Mosby was a noted Confederate cavalryman and partisen ranger during the American Civil War. Enlisting in the Confederate army, Mosby was quickly noted as a skilled leader and swiftly rose through the ranks. Given command of a partisen ranger unit, John Singlton Mosby became renowed for daring lightning attacks on Union forces.
Colonel John Singleton Mosby was a noted Confederate cavalryman and partisen ranger during the American Civil War. Enlisting in the Confederate army, Mosby was quickly noted as a skilled leader and swiftly rose through the ranks. Given command of a partisen ranger unit, John Singlton Mosby became renowed for daring lightning attacks on Union forces.
Amercian Civil War: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw
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 assault on Fort Wagner, outside Charleston, SC.
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 assault on Fort Wagner, outside Charleston, SC.
American Civil War: General Philip H. Sheridan
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 Wars in the West.
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 Wars in the West.
American Civil War: Major General George H. Thomas
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.
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.