Political Generals

[Stryker65]

There are quite a few famous Political Generals: Nathaniel P. Banks (Gov. MA), Francis P. Blair, Jr. (Rep. MO-1), Benjamin F. Butler (MA State Senator), John A. McClernand (Rep. IL-6), Daniel E. Sickles (Rep. NY-3)...

But what about the brigadiers? Surely there must have been dozens more of political generals who did not rise to as high rank as these men. The only one I can personally think of is James A. Garfield, but he was only an Ohio State Senator.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

William Barksdale, T.R.R. Cobb, Lawrence O'B. Branch, James L. Kemper, Sterling Price, Extra Billy Smith, Robert Toombs, and Howell Cobb were all former Congressmen and brigadier generals.

 

[Sheltowee]

James S. Jackson- Ky rep. Killed at Perryville.

Are you seeking only those who never promoted beyond brigadier? I believe Garfield made Major General.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

There are quite a few famous Political Generals

How long did an officer have serve as a Colonel or lower rank for their promotion to general to not be a "political general"?

Are we counting any prewar politician as a political general?

Barksdale is a good example. He was commissioned a Colonel for essentially political reasons, but he earned his promotion to Brigadier General in 1862.

Butler, Banks, and Price are much more clearcut as they were commissioned directly as generals based solely on political service.

There are gray areas like Fremont and Sigel who had some military experience and/or formal training, but were commissioned as generals for political reasons and proved inept.

 

[Stryker65]

How long did an officer have serve as a Colonel or lower rank for their promotion to general to not be a "political general"?

Are we counting any prewar politician as a political general?

Barksdale is a good example. He was commissioned a Colonel for essentially political reasons, but he earned his promotion to Brigadier General in 1862.

Butler, Banks, and Price are much more clearcut as they were commissioned directly as generals based solely on political service.

There are gray areas like Fremont and Sigel who had some military experience and/or formal training, but were commissioned as generals for political reasons and proved inept.

To your question, I'm not sure. I would think John A. Logan would be in the same category as Barksdale.

 

[Fairfield]

Benjamin F. Butler (MA State Senator),

Butler also was a 5-time Representative to Congress as well as being governor of Massachusetts.

 

[Fairfield]

Maine generals Joshua Chamberlain and Selden Connor both became governors of Maine. But neither achieved their military position through political influence.

 

[SWS]

Richard Griffith, a close friend of Davis' and former State treasurer of Mississippi, and Barksdale's predecessor, might be a contender. According to the Mississippi Encyclopedia, "he was promoted to brigadier-general on 2 November 1861 and placed in charge of a brigade of four Mississippi regiments. The promotion was directly related to machinations by Davis, who created a vacancy for Griffith by transferring Charles Clark, the previous brigade commander, to the Western theater."

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Maine generals Joshua Chamberlain and Selden Connor both became governors of Maine. But neither achieved their military position through political influence.

There's a big difference between becoming a general because of your politics and becoming an elected official thanks to your military service.

 

[Stryker65]

For a brief period in 1861-1862, New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan was given the rank of Major General to command the Department of New York. Was that even allowed?

 

[DanSBHawk]

To your question, I'm not sure. I would think John A. Logan would be in the same category as Barksdale.

Both WHL Wallace and Logan were colonels who were recommended by Grant for promotion after Donelson, and before Shiloh. Grant describes them as "from civil pursuits" but recommended them to Stanton based on their performance.

 

[John Hartwell]

What about pre-war politicians who were also pre-war militia generals? Butler comes to mind. Not to say his wartime promotion to Major General wasn't "political," of course.

 

[Stryker65]

What about pre-war politicians who were also pre-war militia generals? Butler comes to mind. Not to say his wartime promotion to Major General wasn't "political," of course.

I think, at least in the larger states, militia positions were largely based on political connections as well.

 

[tony_gunter]

Hovey's entire division at Vicksburg were political soldiers: Hovey, McGinnis, and Slack, all of whom reached BG status.

 

[rupert822]

Honorable mention to Edward Baker. He was a Colonel when killed at Ball's Bluff but had turned down a General's commission so he could remain a Senator. I suppose it was our version of the self-denying ordinance, but he was no Cromwell in the field.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Not a political general, but Irvin McDowell was a staff officer before the war. Never commanded troops before Manassas