Eleven Union Generals

[Littlestown]

Left to right:
William Farrar "Baldy" Smith
William Buel Franklin
Samuel Peter Heintzelman
Andrew Porter
Irvin McDowell
George Brinton McClellan
George Archibald McCall
Don Carlos Buell
Louis Blenker
Silas Casey
Fitz John Porter

 

[frontrank2]

Team picture.

 

[Littlestown]

Look at Little Mac! He sure did love to have his picture taken didn't he?

 

[Patrick H]

I don't mean to seem impertinent with this question. I really don't, but I can't stop myself. Upon first glance, I saw the figure of Gen. Irvin McDowell near the center and I wondered: "Is there something about his haircut that makes his forage cap stand up so high?" Just imagine his cap removed, and his hair perfectly filling that space. I'm just sayin'...

Please don't beat me up for it. Worse things have been observed about many photos on this forum.

 

[ErnieMac]

With that lineup the photo must have been taken in late summer or autumn of 1861.

 

[Littlestown]

With that lineup the photo must have been taken in late summer or autumn of 1861.

I was just going to ask if anyone knows the date it was taken. I figured it had to be late 1861 at most.

 

[Littlestown]

One source I found says it was taken somewhere on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC. Anyone know for sure the location of this wall? The Washington Arsenal perhaps?

 

[Littlestown]

I don't mean to seem impertinent with this question. I really don't, but I can't stop myself. Upon first glance, I saw the figure of Gen. Irvin McDowell near the center and I wondered: "Is there something about his haircut that makes his forage cap stand up so high?" Just imagine his cap removed, and his hair perfectly filling that space. I'm just sayin'...

Please don't beat me up for it. Worse things have been observed about many photos on this forum.

McDowell must have been making a style statement!

 

[ErnieMac]

Smith, Blenker, Casey and Porter were not promoted until August, 1861. By mid-November Buell was on his way west.

 

[D Serrano]

Quite possibly at Fortress Monroe in the Spring of 1862. All the men in the picture were under Mac at the time I think. After the Battle of Seven Pines general Casey was made a scapegoat and and bumped out of the AOP. He and his men fought bravely during that battle and never got any credit. Poor old General Casey never forgave McClellan.

 

[Northern Light]

Look at Little Mac! He sure did love to have his picture taken didn't he?

OH! I thought he and McDowell had their arms around each other when I first looked at it! Now I realize he is just scratching his belly! Darn ol' lice!

 

[Northern Light]

I don't mean to seem impertinent with this question. I really don't, but I can't stop myself. Upon first glance, I saw the figure of Gen. Irvin McDowell near the center and I wondered: "Is there something about his haircut that makes his forage cap stand up so high?" Just imagine his cap removed, and his hair perfectly filling that space. I'm just sayin'...

Please don't beat me up for it. Worse things have been observed about many photos on this forum.

Maybe he had been foraging and it was full of loot! Trick or treat!

 

[James N.]

Interesting to note that from the spacing of their buttons, only Little Mac and McCall are Major Generals - all the rest are either brigadiers or their new tunics haven't arrived from the tailor yet!

Edit: Heintzelman and Blenker are apparently only colonels!

 

[rpkennedy]

Quite possibly at Fortress Monroe in the Spring of 1862. All the men in the picture were under Mac at the time I think. After the Battle of Seven Pines general Casey was made a scapegoat and and bumped out of the AOP. He and his men fought bravely during that battle and never got any credit. Poor old General Casey never forgave McClellan.

Buell was already long gone by then. It has to be in the autumn of 1861 (probably September or October).

R

 

[theoldman]

I did a quick Google search and found this on a site called Tumblr, which I know nothing about.
Fwiw:
Rare Photo Of Major-General McClellan And His Officers in 1862

After the evacuation of Yorktown on the fourth of May, in 1862, this picture was taken. It shows the generals of the Army of the Potomac in full uniforms after the hard siege, and at the very time when they were maneuvering to drive back the Confederates, forcing them to stand in defense of the Capital of the Confederacy—Richmond."

 

[rpkennedy]

I did a quick Google search and found this on a site called Tumblr, which I know nothing about.
Fwiw:
Rare Photo Of Major-General McClellan And His Officers in 1862

After the evacuation of Yorktown on the fourth of May, in 1862, this picture was taken. It shows the generals of the Army of the Potomac in full uniforms after the hard siege, and at the very time when they were maneuvering to drive back the Confederates, forcing them to stand in defense of the Capital of the Confederacy—Richmond."

If that's the case, we need a new ID on the gentleman fourth from the right.

R

 

[Mike Serpa]

This is the largest version available at the Library of Congress. Maybe more detail is visible. An 1861 date is given.

• Title: General McClellan and Generals of Divisions

• Creator(s): Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896, photographer

• Date Created/Published: photographed 1861, [printed between 1880 and 1889]

• Medium: 1 photographic print on card mount : gelatin silver.

• Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-34117 (digital file from original item) LC-B818-8556 (b&w glass neg.)

 

[D Serrano]

Might have been wrong in the attribution to Fortress Monroe. Probably was Washington. These guys were all Old Army. Many were West Pointers and Mexican War vets who knew each other for years. Lots like Casey wouldn't be leading troops for long. Were any of these guys still with the AOP by the end of the war? Great book on CW leaders and their strong personalities "Generals in Bronze" by William Styple. This photo is is rarely reproduced.

 

[Northern Light]

Might have been wrong in the attribution to Fortress Monroe. Probably was Washington. These guys were all Old Army. Many were West Pointers and Mexican War vets who knew each other for years. Lots like Casey wouldn't be leading troops for long. Were any of these guys still with the AOP by the end of the war? Great book on CW leaders and their strong personalities "Generals in Bronze" by William Styple. This photo is is rarely reproduced.

McLellan was not, nor Buell, Franklin, Smith, either Porter, McDowell, McCall,and Heintzelman. Blenker was dead, so it would appear that Casey was the only one left at the end of the war, but I am sure someone will correct me.

 

[Blessmag]

Team picture.

11 is size of football team. Talk about stuff the front line!!