Famous Civil War Generals

Famous Civil War Generals

Background

The American Civil War was fought between the northern states and the southern states. The northern states were against slavery while the southern states supported slavery. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of USA. He was against slavery and the southern states disagreed with his policies. So they broke away from USA.

The northern states, under the leadership of President Lincoln, believed that the southern states had no right to break away. This led to a war between the two sides. The war lasted from 1861 to 1865 and the northern states, called the Union, ultimately stood victorious. Following are some of the famous generals who participated in this war.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln worked as a postmaster, a shopkeeper and made his living chopping woods for a time Read more about the Abraham Lincoln >>

General Robert E. Lee

General Robert E. Lee was the commander-in-chief of the Confederate armies during the American Civil War Read more about the General Robert E. Lee >>

Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War Read more about the Jefferson Davis >>

Stonewall Jackson

Stonewall Jackson was one of the most famous Confederate commanders during the American Civil War Read more about the Stonewall Jackson >>

Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was the most famous general of the Union armies during the American Civil War Read more about the Ulysses S. Grant >>


General Ulysses S. Grant

At the start of the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was given the command of less important Union armies. But he was an excellent commander and while leading these armies, he scored many important victories against the Confederate armies. This soon led to his promotion to the position of the commander-in-chief of all Union armies.

It was General Grant who ultimately led an army into Virginia and pursued the main Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee. After defeating Lee’s army in many engagements, General Grant finally surrounded it and forced it to surrender, effectively ending the Civil War.

General Robert E. Lee

The most important Confederate commander and one of the most gifted generals on both sides was General Robert E. Lee. General Lee commanded the Confederate Army of Virginia and was also the commander-in-chief of the Confederate armies. He was a brilliant general who was able to win many important victories against Union armies, even when his army was outnumbered by the opponent army most of the times.

His most important victories include the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Chancellorsville. His army was ultimately surrounded by Grant’s army and General Lee decided to surrender rather than waste the lives of many more soldiers.

General Stonewall Jackson

General Stonewall Jackson was regarded as one of the most brave and courageous Confederate commanders. He earned his nickname because on more than one battlefield, he and his troops stood like a stone wall against the incoming waves of Union soldiers but didn’t lose their ground.

He played an instrumental role in winning many battles for the Confederate army, including the First Battle of Bull Run and the Second Battle of Bull Run. He was accidentally shot by one of his own soldiers and died soon after the Battle of Chancellorsville.

General William Tecumseh Sherman

General William Tecumseh Sherman was a Union general who played a very important role towards the last stage of the American Civil War. He initially served under the command of General Grant and was later promoted.

He then led a Union army from Atlanta to Savannah in his famous ‘March to the Sea’. During this march, Sherman’s army laid waste to a vast part of the South and effectively crippled the southern economy, forcing the South to end the war soon afterwards.

Learn More About Famous American Civil War Generals at Wikipedia

The Commanders: Civil War Generals Who Shaped the American West Hardcover – February 1, 2018