Regiment of Future Generals

[whitworth]

Robert E. Lee in Texas

Prior to 1855, Lee had held positions of military engineer, astronomer, or staff-officer. As a result of Congress's formation of two new regiments in 1855 Lee was called for the first time to command men, and Lee was transferred from his place of engineer to the post of lieutenant-colonel in the Second Cavalry, one of the regiments in question.


The extraordinary number of names of officers in this regiment who afterward became famous is worth mentioning. The colonel was Albert Sydney Johnston; the lieutenant-colonel, Robert E. Lee; the senior major, William J. Hardee; the junior major, George H. Thomas; the senior captain, Earl Van Dorn; the next ranking captain, Kirby Smith; the lieutenants, Hood, Fields, Cosby, Major, Fitzhugh Lee, Johnson, Palmer, and Stoneman, all of whom became general officers afterward on the Southern side, with the exception of Thomas, and the three last named, who became prominent generals in the Federal army."

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Lee_in_texas-.htm


My note: Note: Jefferson Davis was U.S. Secretary of War in 1855.

 

[NedBaldwin]

The officers of the First Cavalry regiment also formed in 1855 were no less famous: McCellan, Sumner, Sedgwick, Emory, Joe Johnston, TJ Wood, JEB Stuart.

Robert E. Lee in Texas

Prior to 1855, Lee had held positions of military engineer, astronomer, or staff-officer. As a result of Congress's formation of two new regiments in 1855 Lee was called for the first time to command men, and Lee was transferred from his place of engineer to the post of lieutenant-colonel in the Second Cavalry, one of the regiments in question.


The extraordinary number of names of officers in this regiment who afterward became famous is worth mentioning. The colonel was Albert Sydney Johnston; the lieutenant-colonel, Robert E. Lee; the senior major, William J. Hardee; the junior major, George H. Thomas; the senior captain, Earl Van Dorn; the next ranking captain, Kirby Smith; the lieutenants, Hood, Fields, Cosby, Major, Fitzhugh Lee, Johnson, Palmer, and Stoneman, all of whom became general officers afterward on the Southern side, with the exception of Thomas, and the three last named, who became prominent generals in the Federal army."

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Lee_in_texas-.htm


My note: Note: Jefferson Davis was U.S. Secretary of War in 1855.

 

[Zosofancmr]

The Second Cavalry Regiment has had a long and distinguished legacy after those men spent their time in it. The Rough Riders and San Juan Hill, World War I and fighting under Pershing, General Patton's Third Army in World War II, and operations in Iraq & Afghanistan.

The Legacy continues!

 

[trice]

Robert E. Lee in Texas

Prior to 1855, Lee had held positions of military engineer, astronomer, or staff-officer. As a result of Congress's formation of two new regiments in 1855 Lee was called for the first time to command men, and Lee was transferred from his place of engineer to the post of lieutenant-colonel in the Second Cavalry, one of the regiments in question.


The extraordinary number of names of officers in this regiment who afterward became famous is worth mentioning. The colonel was Albert Sydney Johnston; the lieutenant-colonel, Robert E. Lee; the senior major, William J. Hardee; the junior major, George H. Thomas; the senior captain, Earl Van Dorn; the next ranking captain, Kirby Smith; the lieutenants, Hood, Fields, Cosby, Major, Fitzhugh Lee, Johnson, Palmer, and Stoneman, all of whom became general officers afterward on the Southern side, with the exception of Thomas, and the three last named, who became prominent generals in the Federal army."

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Lee_in_texas-.htm


My note: Note: Jefferson Davis was U.S. Secretary of War in 1855.

Note: originally, Braxton Bragg was supposed to be a major in the 2nd Cavalry. Davis appointed him as well. Bragg had been feuding with Davis the last few years (not surprising; Bragg had been feuding with Winfield Scott and the head of the Artillery branch since the Seminole Wars). Bragg was on a very long leave and had married the daughter of a very wealthy Louisiana planter family. He kept making excuses and finally the 2nd Cavalry wrote Washington asking if Major Bragg was ever going to show up. Forced to decide what he was doing, Bragg resigned to run the plantation he bought with the wiffe's money (which he turned out to be very good at). George Thomas was appointed in his stead.

Tim

 

[Nathanb1]

Note: originally, Braxton Bragg was supposed to be a major in the 2nd Cavalry. Davis appointed him as well. Bragg had been feuding with Davis the last few years (not surprising; Bragg had been feuding with Winfield Scott and the head of the Artillery branch since the Seminole Wars). Bragg was on a very long leave and had married the daughter of a very wealthy Louisiana planter family. He kept making excuses and finally the 2nd Cavalry wrote Washington asking if Major Bragg was ever going to show up. Forced to decide what he was doing, Bragg resigned to run the plantation he bought with the wiffe's money (which he turned out to be very good at). George Thomas was appointed in his stead.

Tim

I can only imagine being stuck on the frontier with Bragg. I think I would definitely take Thomas for personal as well as professional reasons. The only plus side is that a Comanche might have ended his career early. Hood's almost did on the Devil's River thanks to a nasty arrow wound in the hand--glimpses of things to come.

One of the most exciting realizations I've had in recent years, as I studied the 2nd Cavalry's movements, is that Lee and the others must surely have ridden within a mile of my school on their way back and forth from Phantom Hill and other posts farther north to Mason, etc. We know he was in the eastern part of the county, as his reports show him going by what's called Soldiers' Water Hole. The main road north in those days went right by us and past Santa Anna Mountain north to Buffalo Gap. Going south, you pass through either Salt Gap or Brady Gap and right down to Mason, Fredericksburg and San Antonio. Looking at the maps, the main trail to get to the best crossing of the Colorado would have meandered anywhere from our school parking lot to about a mile west. Cool!

 

[RJSamp]

The Second Cavalry Regiment has had a long and distinguished legacy after those men spent their time in it. The Rough Riders and San Juan Hill, World War I and fighting under Pershing, General Patton's Third Army in World War II, and operations in Iraq & Afghanistan.

The Legacy continues!

I love their orange trim from the Dragoon days.....during the ACW most of the trooper's in the 2nd tried to keep their orange trim intact, even transferring it from uniform to uniform.....

 

[trice]

I love their orange trim from the Dragoon days.....during the ACW most of the trooper's in the 2nd tried to keep their orange trim intact, even transferring it from uniform to uniform.....

That's a different 2nd Cavalry.

After the Civil War started, the regiments were renumbered:

1st Dragoons => 1st Cavalry
2nd Dragoons => 2nd Cavalry
Mounted Rifles => 3rd Cavalry
1st Cavalry => 4th Cavalry
2nd Cavalry => 5th Cavalry

and a new regiment, the 6th Cavalry, was formed.

Tim