Important People of the Civil War
Leaders of the North
Abraham Lincoln: He was a lawyer by trade. He was patient, thoughtful, and tolerant of others. He was married to Mary Todd Lincoln, a Southerner. He had four sons. Two of them died young, one while he was in the White House. Lincoln proved to be a great asset to the Union. He never wavered from his goal of preserving the Union.
Ulysses S. Grant: Grant was a West Pointgraduate, a Mexican War. Grant’s views on war were simple. Find your enemy, get your enemy, strike hard and as often as you can, and move on. Grant believed in total warfare –take the war to your enemy from all sides and break their will to fight and ability to support their troops.
Irvin McDowell:TTTTTo lead the Union forces. McDowell was a graduate of West Point, a veteran of the Mexican War, and an instructor at West Point when the war ended. He lost his command, however, at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run.
George B. McClellan: Was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. He was superior as a troop trainer and supply technician, but he was not an aggressive fighter. At the Battle of Antietam, McClellan had General Robert E.
George C. Meade: Was appointed the new leader of the Unionarmy. Meade was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran, and an Indian fighter. Meade proved himself at the Battle of Gettysburg, but the losses were so heavy at this battle Lincoln still searched for an adequate leader
Ambrose Burnside: Was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a tailor, and inventor by trade. He was appointed the new leader of the Union army after Meade. He did not want the command, but he did his best to serve. Burnside tried to live up to his responsibilities, but a horrible defeat at the battle of Fredericksburg doomed him. Relieved of his command by Lincoln, he left a legacy for future generations.
Joseph Hooker: As the next Unioncommander. Hooker was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a rancher. Hooker was a hero of the Mexican War and earned the nickname of“Fighting Joe.” This nickname followed him into the Civil War. Hooker was a man of culture and class.
William T. Sherman:
Sherman was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a lawyer, and a banker. Grant ordered Shermanto inflict “all the damage you can against their war resources.” Sherman marched through Georgia and the Carolinas destroying everything his troops found of value. Later Grant and Sherman met near Richmond, Virginia and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
Leaders of the South
Jefferson Davis: He grew up on a small plantation in Mississippi, attended West Point, and later served in the Mexican War. Davis was tall (6’)and lean. He was a very intense person, hated politics, and did not really want to be president of the Confederacy.
Robert E. Lee: Lee was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. Lee captured John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, but he was opposed to slavery and to secession. He was asked by Lincoln to command the Union forces, but declined because he could not fight against his native Virginia.
P.G.T. Beauregard:
Beauregard was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran and an engineer by trade. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he gave the order to fire on Fort Sumter, the first shot of the Civil War.
Albert S. Johnston:Texan,was considered by both sides to be one of the finest soldiers in the military. He was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a farmer by trade, but he was not good at farming. He was the second highest-ranking Confederate officer. Lee gave him command of the western part of the Confederacy.
Thomas Stonewall Jackson: was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute. Jackson was a commander at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run. At this battle it looked as though the Union would win until Jackson and his regiment of Virginians refused to give way.
J.E.B. Stuart: was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a career military man. He was with Lee at Harper’s Ferry and helped capture John Brown. He led the Cavalry corps (horse soldiers) of Lee’s army. He was called the “eyes of the army” because of his extraordinary skills in intelligence (scouting and spying).
Nathan Bedford Forrest: was uneducated, but not illiterate. He was a farmer, horse and cattle trader, and a realtor by trade. He was considered one of America’s greatest tactical minds. He rose from private to general due to his military genius. He commanded and paid for one of the South’s best cavalry regiments.
George Pickett: was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an insurance salesman by trade. Pickett commanded an infantry (foot soldier) division for Lee. The division under Pickett’s charge was the “cream”of Lee’s army.
Other Leader
John Brown: at Harper’s Ferry, but he was opposed to slavery and to secession. He was asked by Lincoln to command the Union forces, but declined because he could not fight against his native Virginia. Instead he became the commander of the Confederate Army.
Harriet Beecher Stowe: by saying, “So, you’re the little woman who started this big war.” Of course, this claim exaggerated the truth, but her novel did dramatically divide the nation by turning up the heat against slavery in the North and deeply angering the South.
Dred Scott : who lived in Missouri where the Missouri Compromise allowed slavery. Scott’s master, an army doctor named Dr. John Emerson, took him to live in Illinois and Minnesota where slavery was prohibited.
What do most of these leaders have in common?
There were all general in the civil war.
Which side seemed to have the more stable leadership? Explain your answer.
The north, the northhave better forces then the south.
How is good leadership important in any conflict?
Good leaders are good to start something and finsh something.
Leaders of the North
Abraham Lincoln: He was a lawyer by trade. He was patient, thoughtful, and tolerant of others. He was married to Mary Todd Lincoln, a Southerner. He had four sons. Two of them died young, one while he was in the White House. Lincoln proved to be a great asset to the Union. He never wavered from his goal of preserving the Union.
Ulysses S. Grant: Grant was a West Pointgraduate, a Mexican War. Grant’s views on war were simple. Find your enemy, get your enemy, strike hard and as often as you can, and move on. Grant believed in total warfare –take the war to your enemy from all sides and break their will to fight and ability to support their troops.
Irvin McDowell:TTTTTo lead the Union forces. McDowell was a graduate of West Point, a veteran of the Mexican War, and an instructor at West Point when the war ended. He lost his command, however, at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run.
George B. McClellan: Was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. He was superior as a troop trainer and supply technician, but he was not an aggressive fighter. At the Battle of Antietam, McClellan had General Robert E.
George C. Meade: Was appointed the new leader of the Unionarmy. Meade was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran, and an Indian fighter. Meade proved himself at the Battle of Gettysburg, but the losses were so heavy at this battle Lincoln still searched for an adequate leader
Ambrose Burnside: Was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a tailor, and inventor by trade. He was appointed the new leader of the Union army after Meade. He did not want the command, but he did his best to serve. Burnside tried to live up to his responsibilities, but a horrible defeat at the battle of Fredericksburg doomed him. Relieved of his command by Lincoln, he left a legacy for future generations.
Joseph Hooker: As the next Unioncommander. Hooker was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a rancher. Hooker was a hero of the Mexican War and earned the nickname of“Fighting Joe.” This nickname followed him into the Civil War. Hooker was a man of culture and class.
William T. Sherman:
Sherman was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a lawyer, and a banker. Grant ordered Shermanto inflict “all the damage you can against their war resources.” Sherman marched through Georgia and the Carolinas destroying everything his troops found of value. Later Grant and Sherman met near Richmond, Virginia and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
Leaders of the South
Jefferson Davis: He grew up on a small plantation in Mississippi, attended West Point, and later served in the Mexican War. Davis was tall (6’)and lean. He was a very intense person, hated politics, and did not really want to be president of the Confederacy.
Robert E. Lee: Lee was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. Lee captured John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, but he was opposed to slavery and to secession. He was asked by Lincoln to command the Union forces, but declined because he could not fight against his native Virginia.
P.G.T. Beauregard:
Beauregard was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran and an engineer by trade. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he gave the order to fire on Fort Sumter, the first shot of the Civil War.
Albert S. Johnston:Texan,was considered by both sides to be one of the finest soldiers in the military. He was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a farmer by trade, but he was not good at farming. He was the second highest-ranking Confederate officer. Lee gave him command of the western part of the Confederacy.
Thomas Stonewall Jackson: was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute. Jackson was a commander at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run. At this battle it looked as though the Union would win until Jackson and his regiment of Virginians refused to give way.
J.E.B. Stuart: was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a career military man. He was with Lee at Harper’s Ferry and helped capture John Brown. He led the Cavalry corps (horse soldiers) of Lee’s army. He was called the “eyes of the army” because of his extraordinary skills in intelligence (scouting and spying).
Nathan Bedford Forrest: was uneducated, but not illiterate. He was a farmer, horse and cattle trader, and a realtor by trade. He was considered one of America’s greatest tactical minds. He rose from private to general due to his military genius. He commanded and paid for one of the South’s best cavalry regiments.
George Pickett: was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an insurance salesman by trade. Pickett commanded an infantry (foot soldier) division for Lee. The division under Pickett’s charge was the “cream”of Lee’s army.
Other Leader
John Brown: at Harper’s Ferry, but he was opposed to slavery and to secession. He was asked by Lincoln to command the Union forces, but declined because he could not fight against his native Virginia. Instead he became the commander of the Confederate Army.
Harriet Beecher Stowe: by saying, “So, you’re the little woman who started this big war.” Of course, this claim exaggerated the truth, but her novel did dramatically divide the nation by turning up the heat against slavery in the North and deeply angering the South.
Dred Scott : who lived in Missouri where the Missouri Compromise allowed slavery. Scott’s master, an army doctor named Dr. John Emerson, took him to live in Illinois and Minnesota where slavery was prohibited.
What do most of these leaders have in common?
There were all general in the civil war.
Which side seemed to have the more stable leadership? Explain your answer.
The north, the northhave better forces then the south.
How is good leadership important in any conflict?
Good leaders are good to start something and finsh something.