West Point Graduates as Civil War Generals: Union and Confederacy

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a defining moment in American history, and its military leadership was marked by a significant number of officers trained at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This article explores the roles played by West Point graduates on both the Union and Confederate sides, drawing from authoritative sources and detailed analysis.

Overview of West Point Graduates in the Civil War

During the Civil War, West Point graduates were a prominent and influential presence as commanding officers. Among the 62 major battles recorded, almost every battle had at least one West Point graduate in a commanding position. The standard reference works, Generals in Blue and Generals in Gray, published by Ezra J. Warner, provide comprehensive studies on the general officer corps of both the Union and Confederacy.

Union Generals

The Union Army had a total of 583 generals, a sizeable proportion of which were West Point graduates. Warner's research breaks down the origins of these generals:

West Point Graduates: 217 (highest number of any group) West Point Non-Graduates: 11 Graduates of Other Military Schools: 9 Regular Army and Navy Officers: 36 State Militia Officers: 40 European Emigres: 20 Civilians with Military Backgrounds (such as the Mexican War): 62 Civilians with No Prior Military Experience: 188

Notable among the Union generals was Ulysses S. Grant, who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, the highest rank in the Union forces. The Confederate forces also appointed and confirmed 425 officers to various ranks, with West Point graduates comprising 146 of these.

Confederate Generals

The Confederate Army's general officer corps was similarly dominated by West Point graduates:

West Point Graduates: 146 (more than any other group except civilians with military backgrounds) West Point Non-Graduates: at least 10 (records are not entirely clear) Non-West Point Attendees Who Had Been Officers in the US Army: 19 Mexican War Veterans: 51 Seminole and/or Creek War Veterans: at least 5 Southern Military Schools (such as VMI): 23 State Militias: at least 10 Texas War of Independence: 2 Former US Navy Officers: 3 Foreign Armies: 3

Top Ranks and Military Backgrounds

The top ranks in both the Union and Confederate forces were overwhelmingly held by West Point graduates. The 8 full generals and 14 of the 17 lieutenant generals in the Union Army were West Point graduates. Similarly, the top Confederate generals, including Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and A.P. Hill, were all product of West Point.

Conclusion

The American Civil War was marked by a significant number of West Point graduates who played crucial roles on both sides. Their influence and expertise contributed significantly to the strategies and outcomes of numerous battles. For a deeper understanding, readers are encouraged to consult Warner's works, which provide detailed overviews and capsule biographies of these generals.