Golden Thread Generals At A Younger Age

eb549e49e15eef3f063a3a375827b041.jpg


Another pinterest find; George Washington Custis Lee as a cadet at West Point (1st in the class of 1854).

The later CSA Major General was the son of Robert E. Lee; who had been Superintendent of the USMA while his son was there (that is for the last two years).
A very handsome young man. Perhaps someone could clean this up @Mike Serpa ?:smile coffee:
 
Surprised this one hasn't been added yet... totally forgot about it.

6a00d8341ca18953ef015393f4c0e9970b-800wi.jpg

Daguerreotype portrait of (later Brigadier General) Lewis Henry Little, circa late 1840s. He would have been around 30 or so years old here. According to the seller, behind the image is a note that reads "This Dag is from the Estate of Pitcairn Morrison, General Mexican War period. Son-in-Law Married to daughter of General Morrison". Source

A West Point graduate, Little served in the Mexican War and was promoted to captain in the regular army. He resigned his commission in May 1861 and entered Confederate service. Little was soon after promoted to colonel and served as assistant adjutant general on Gen. Sterling Price's staff in the Missouri State Guard. He was later given command of the 1st Missouri Brigade in early 1862 and, as a professional officer, whipped it into shape. Little was largely responsible for the brigade's reputation for being exceptionally well-drilled and disciplined. He led them ably at Pea Ridge, was thereafter promoted to brigadier general and later assumed command of Price's Division. In the battle of Iuka, MS, Sept. 19, 1862, while mounted on his horse beside Gen. Price, Little was struck in the head by a stray bullet and was killed instantly. Father John Bannon, chaplain of the 1st Missouri Brigade and good friends with Little, escorted his body to Price's headquarters where he was buried. Little was later reentered at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.
 
According to a story about him I read long ago, probably in Civil War Times, when he learned of Little's death Price was devastated, moaning "Little, Little, my only Little!" I think it's not too much to say that neither Price nor the division was ever the same or really very good afterward.
 
Last edited:
According to a story about him I read long ago, probably in Civil War Times, when he learned of Little's death Price was devastated, moaning "Little, Little, my only Little!" I think it's not too much to say that neither Price nor the division was ever the same or really very good afterward.
Well maybe not Price, but the 1st Missouri Brigade still remained true throughout the rest of the war. Even with Little gone the Missouri Brigade still had Francis M. Cockrell and Elijah Gates - two exceptional officers - along with a host of other talented company and field grade officers. Just a couple weeks later at Corinth they single-handedly stormed over Battery Powell, captured a couple dozen artillery pieces and just about sent Rosecrans reeling in retreat for a moment.
 
AWReynoldsUSArmyCapt.jpg


Captain Alexander W. Reynolds, either between 1847 and 1855 or between 1858 and 1861 (found on wikipedia).

The West Point graduate (Class of 1838) was dismissed from the U.S. army in 1855 when money went missing but was restored three years later after he was found to be innocent. However in 1861 he became AWOL, joined the CSA and served as a Brigadier General in the west. After the war he became a Colonel in the army of the Khedive of Egypt, serving on their general staff.

EDIT: Also have a picture of him a little older in the sister thread.
 

Attachments

  • AWReynoldsUSArmyCapt.jpg
    AWReynoldsUSArmyCapt.jpg
    15.5 KB · Views: 35
Last edited:
JHWinderCAPT.jpg


And as we are at those (just found on wiki) - here we have a ... young ... John H. Winder. As he was made a Captain in 1842 this youngling is at least 42 years old.

Winder joined the CSA, held a number of staff appointments and commands in and around Richmond and is most infamous as head of the Bureau of Prison Camps. Luckily for him he had a heart attack and died shortly before the war ended.
 

Attachments

  • JHWinderCAPT.jpg
    JHWinderCAPT.jpg
    10.8 KB · Views: 28
Last edited:
Winder joined the CSA, held a number of staff appointments and commands in and around Richmond and is most infamous as head of the Bureau of Prison Camps.
So that's what he looks like! I was just reading about him last night, a little surprised at how much he trusted Elizabeth Van Lew when he let her visit Union prisoners. I find myself wondering how she managed that.
 
ded3a5e2eeaaba96d64a82f09585dde9.jpg


7e6b52604bbf1b1030947b78c69c9522.jpg


Just found this pictures of William R. Boggs (1829-1911) on pinterest; the first as Lieutenant between 1853 and 1861, the second as 1st Lieutenant from 1856 or newer.

Boggs graduated from West Point in 1853 and participated in the Cortina Troubles. The ordnance officer joined the CSA, served as Chief Engineer for the State of Georgia, for Bragg in Florida and for E. Kirby Smith. The later made him his Chief of Staff and successfully requested his promotion to Brigadier General. Boggs resigned after a dispute with Smith, briefly went to Mexico, planning to fight for Juarez, and returned in time for the surrender.

Also covered in the old age sister thread.
 
Last edited:
e64bde8fe0415645b566384a1d528003.jpg


Found on pinterest (and the LoC), with very little time between we have John D. Barry; here as a Captain in the 18th North Carolina Infantry in 1861 or 1862.

John D. Barry (1839-1867) ordered the firing on the party that included Gen. Thomas J. Jackson at Chancellorsville, mortally wounding the later. In 1863 he became Colonel of the regiment and in the next year was made a Brigadier General to command Lane's Brigade. However the promotion was made temporary and cancelled after he was disabled at the Battle of Deep Bottom.
 
...
shwestpt.jpg


Philip Sheridan, center, with West Point classmates George Crook, left, and John Nugen.

Just for the records, they all were in the class of 1852, but Sheridan was suspended (for fighting and threatening to kill a fellow cadet) and thus graduated a year later ... being the reason why two are shown as Lieutenants and Sheridan still as cadet. While both he and Crook became famous generals Nugen died from illness in 1857 while stationed in the Washington Territory.

And another edit just for the records, that cadet Sheridan had trouble with was William R. Terrill; who fell as a Brigadier General at Perryville. Interestingly, thanks to that fight both had to endure each other a year longer as they became classmates when Sheridan was suspended.
 
Last edited:
Just for the records, they all were in the class of 1852, but Sheridan was suspended (for fighting and threatening to kill a fellow cadet) and thus graduated a year later ... being the reason why two are shown as Lieutenants and Sheridan still as cadet. While both he and Crook became famous generals Nugen died from illness in 1857 while stationed in the Washington Territory.
I am sure you are right but I always thought that was P. G. T. Beauregard
 
Back
Top