Sheridan Sheridan

[30th_il]

I find it a bit amazing and unusual that Phil Sheridan went from leading infantry to commanding cavalry (which he did both very well). Does anyone know of any other switch of commands between infantry, artillery, cavalry, navy such as this?

 

[ole]

I know of nothing with so much import, Matt. Stuart was put into temporary command of Jackson's Corps at Chancellorsville, "Bull" Nelson was originally navy but did a creditable job as a Division Commander out west.

Suspect Grant gave Sheridan the command because he knew Sheridan was a fighting fool. And that's exactly what he wanted: someone who thought like he did, fought like he did, and hollered "how high?" on the way up.

ole

 

[johan_steele]

It wasn't uncommon for an oficer to work through all three branches. Emory Upton is another eample; he commanded all three arms in his CW Ary career. Arty, then Infantry then Cav.

 

[Baggage Handler #2]

Flag rank

Sheridan was, I think, a quartermaster early in the war. He wanted a line job, but did a very good job as quartermaster.

It was Booneville, I think, that's really interesting.
Here we have a newly minted colonel commanding a cavalry regiment and acting as brigade commander (if I have my facts straight). This should be a recipe for disaster, but he took the time to develop maps of the area and presumably several contingency plans. This led to the repulse of a confederate force.

 

[gary]

Let's not forget Stuart at Chancellorsville. From cavalry to infantry.

 

[matthew mckeon]

Robert E. Lee went from Engineers to cavalry(dragoons?) to army command. Several Confederate officers had different branches in the old army then in Confederate service.

West Point emphasized a sort of "whole soldier" approach to educating potential officers. Officers were to be able to evaluate battlefield conditions, not only through the narrow prism of their particular branch of service but as it effected all types of troops and units. Officers could move from command to command, or at least communicate usefully to different types of units.

 

[Blockaderunner]

How was an officer leaving West Point assigned to a post? Was he given a choice of branch of service, or assigned to whatever was deemed must suitable?

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Blockaderunner,

I am of the belief, that where the graduate from West Point excelled in studies, they were assigned to something to put studies into practical application. What I see in engineers; not all stayed in the military and moved into civilian pursuits; as I think money was the issue.

For example Hermann Haupt, graduated from West Point in 1835; became a railroad engineer, railroad superintendant, college professor and railroad director. He had just completed a huge tunnel project in NY or vicinity of NY. When the war came, he volunteered; first appointed Colonel and aide to General McDowell; then appointed Brig. General in 1863 --resigning the commission as to do both military and civilian business.


Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;

The Generals that come to mind; which served together; was General Charles GRIFFIN who was a West Point Graduate, class 1847; was also an instructor in West Point and gifted in artillery. He entered the Civil War at the rank of Captain of Artillery, fighting at First Bull Run/Manassas. In his command was Lt. Adlebert AMES who was wounded in and also artillery; would become Colonel and train Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine. Promoted in 1862 as Brig. General; he was assigned to Infantry, Maj. General in 1864.

General Adlebert AMES, Graduated in 1861, from West Point; started as a Lt. in Artillery, under Captain Charles GRIFFIN, wounded at First Bull Run/First Manassas (Medal of Honor); would be promoted to Colonel in 1862; commanding 20th Maine, then became an aide to General Meade; Chamberlain took over 20th Maine and promoted to full Colonel; AMES would rise through the ranks as Brig. General 1863, Major General in 1865. He continued in the Army resigning in 1870 but re-enlisted for the Spanish American War.

At Appomattox, General Chamberlain was under General Griffin's command and was transferred internally to lead the 20th Maine and others for the 'surrendering of arms.' Their friendship would remain after the war Griffin dying of yellow fever, sent upon his death a package to Chamberlain--it contained the sword Chamberlain gave to Griffin when he lost his in the battle and other personal items.

General Winfield HANCOCK (Hancock the Superb)-he graduated from West Point in 1844, served frontier and quarter-master duties. Civil War broke out, he was appointed Brig. General in September 1861; serving in the Infantry entirely in the Civil War; rose to the rank of Maj. General in 1862the rank of Maj. General continued on throughout the war; afterwards as well.

General Samuel HEINTZELMAN; 1826 graduate of West Point; was in garrison duty and quarter-master duty prior to the Civil War; then assigned to Infantry during the Civil War, as a Brig. General; promoted to Major General in 1862.

General George MEADE, graduated from West Point in 1835, served in several wars as ordnance and engineering. Served in railroad engineering in civilian life; rejoined military at the outbreak of the Civil War; 1861 was promoted to Brig. General, in 1862 promoted to Maj. General.

General Robert Edward LEE, graduated from West Point in 1829, served as an engineer, superintendent of West Point, 2nd US Cavalry prior to the Civil War; would join the CSA; Presidential advisor to Pres. Davis; then Commanding officer of ANV; then General of all CSA armies.

General Stephen Dill LEE, a distant relative of General Robert E. LEE, graduated from West Point in 1854, served in garrison and artillery positions prior to the Civil War; became Capt. of General Beauregard's staff in 1861 and present at Ft. Sumter's bombardment; served in artillery and promoted to Brig. General in 1862; in 1863 promoted to Maj. General, commanding Cavalry; in 1864 promoted to Lt. General and took over General Hood's command.

General James LONGSTREET, graduated from West Point 1842; served in many capacities, to include pay master. Resigned from USArmy in 1861; given rank of Brig. General in 1861; promoted to Major General in Oct. 1861 and promoted to Lt. General in Oct. 1862.; commanding Infantry Corps.

General John Bell HOOD, graduated from West Point in 1853, frontier duty in 2nd US Cavalry; resigned in 1861 from US Army; appointed in 1861 as 1st Lieutenant of Cavalry in CSA; assigned to Yorktown, VA; promoted to Brig. General in 1862 and given command of Texas Brigade; promoted to Maj. General in Oct. of 1862.; Lt. General in 1864.

General Thomas JACKSON, graduated from West Point in 1846, artillery; resigned commission from US Army to teach at VMI. Started at the rank of Colonel in 1861 with the CSA, in Infantry; promoted to Brig. General in 1861, within months to Maj. General; then Lt. General in 1862.



There are lots of Generals to whom started out in one arm and moved to other arms within the military.


Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[ole]

Blockade: The very best graduates got posts as engineers. The dregs got Cavalry. Somewhere in between they got to be presidents of railroads and such.

Seriously, the best went into engineers, the worst went to Cavalry. But that's a sweeping generality.

In those days, completing any course of study qualified for pretty much anything. There was no career in the military. Somebody had to die before the next grade opened. As there was no retirement then, really, a general had to die before a brigadier or a colonel could advance.

At the onset of the Civil War, Bobby Lee was a light colonel. Lincoln made him a full colonel. And then he resigned his commission.

 

[Blockaderunner]

Interesting that the worst got cavalry. I read or heard somewhere that the situation was the same in the British army of the period. I have never really understood why cavalry was considered to be a lesser choice than infantry or artillery.

 

[ole]

I have never really understood why cavalry was considered to be a lesser choice than infantry or artillery.

Nor have I. But that's the way it was. It took some heavy book learning to be an engineer or an artilleryman. But Grant did pretty good as an infantry commander. And Custer (almost as famous as last in the class) wasn't a half-bad cavalryman. And, for an engineer, Lee did well as an army commander.

Go figure.

ole

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Gary,

With General JEB Stuart, the switch to leading Stonewall's army; was temporary; as it was Jackson's request he lead if something happened to him. Although Stuart lead the troops well, he reverted back to Cavalry as soon as Lee assigned AP Hill and Ewell to the newly divided portions of Jackson's old command.

I am looking with the spirit of the thread, where it wasn't just one battle but, a longer term of assignment.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Blockaderunner, Ole and List Members;

It is my opinion based on how Cavalry was used in the period pre-Civil War and Civil War; is how Cavalry could be deemed lacklustered. The Cavalry was used to escort wagon trains of the Armies; provide scouting and flank guards, rear guards and rarely engaged in line assaults. So, if you wanted to be involved with fighting; to be designated to guard property or prisoners; a few times allowed to be engaged--certainly; wasn't seen as something to shine in battle. Things would change in the frontier as Cavalry could cover more ground and fought more like mounted Infantry. However, West Point wasn't looking for showoff dandies on horseback but leaders of men.

The changes of the Cavalry started in the field before West Point and or the Administration of the Army could catch up. They had to adapt or be destroyed. It became evident that the Murat style of Cavalry manouvers had to change; as they were fine in the Plains but not workable in the territory of mountains or hilly country like Virginia is, even around Annandale, Fairfax, Manassas before it flattens out some in Loudoun County and the approaches to the Blue Ridge Mountains and or the Shenandoah Valley on the west side of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain.

General JEB Stuart as well as General John Buford; changed the application of Cavalry. Stuart used it to harass the flanks and Mosby, under Stuart used Cavalry as raiders. Buford used his cavalry as probes and mounted vedettes and sentries; the antenna of the main cavalry force per se; Buford also changed how arms were used; the saber was not the arms in the forefront; but the rifle/carbine and; used his Cavalry as well dismounted as well as mounted. This is why his command was more successful than any other Cavalry commander. His command produced General Merritt, Gamble and Devin; who continued on the changes made in Cavalry. Buford changed the 'line' to a 'fan' formation' which covered ground and could change the main force in any direction for strength. It wasn't pretty but it worked!

But, since Buford never rose past Brig. General in the field; his assignments came from Infantry; to which held on to the old uses of Cavalry. Buford's promotion to Maj. General was hours before his death.
If he had been a Major General; I am sure the evolution of Cavalry would have been swifter and more deadly efficient as Stuart's Cavalry used to be. At war's end it was a shadow of what was.

Because Cavalry was a portion assigned to Infantry; it was never consolidated to one independent arm until 1862-3 when General Pleasonton lobbied and gained support to separate Cavalry from Infantry Corps assignments to make it an independent arm of its own.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[trice]

Blockade: The very best graduates got posts as engineers. The dregs got Cavalry. Somewhere in between they got to be presidents of railroads and such.

Seriously, the best went into engineers, the worst went to Cavalry. But that's a sweeping generality.

In those days, completing any course of study qualified for pretty much anything. There was no career in the military. Somebody had to die before the next grade opened. As there was no retirement then, really, a general had to die before a brigadier or a colonel could advance.

At the onset of the Civil War, Bobby Lee was a light colonel. Lincoln made him a full colonel. And then he resigned his commission.

When it was founded, West Point was the first and only engineering school in the US. Even late in the Twentieth Century, every state in the Union recognized the USMA degree as an engineering degree; until recently, all West Point Cadets essentially took the same curriculum with minor variations.

In the days before the Civil War, many men went to West Point to get that engineering education, planning to do a little service and resign to make their way in civilian life. Given the shortage of trained people, they were often showered with offers.

Tim