Sherman Sherman The Great Flanker

[major bill]

Many Civil War figures have nick names, "Stonewall" Jackson, Thomas "The Rock of Chickamauga" for example. Recently I read one I had never heard before "Sherman The Great Flanker". Was this a common nickname for Sherman? Perhaps I have not read enough books about General Sherman to have seen this nick name. Please note that the term was from a book of Civil War Letters written by Johannes Van Lente and would have be originally been written in Dutch.

 

[Al Murray]

Stonewall had a cousin William L Jackson, a Col in the CSA. He got the nickname "Mudwall" Jackson. Don't know how.

 

[Legion Para]

Nicknames of Confederate General's:

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?5681-Confederate-Generals-Nicknames


Edward P Alexander "The Cuss with a Spy Glass"
Nick given by Union troops to Alexander, who due to a hand injury preferred to use a telescope rather than binoculars when aiming his artillery.

George T Anderson "Tige"

Richad H Anderson "Fighting Dick"

James J Archer "Sally"
Archer had a frail and slight physique.

Lewis A Armistead "Lo"
Short for Lothario. Armistead was shy around women and remained a bachelor during his life.

Turner Ashby "The Black Knight of the Confederacy"

Pierre G T Beauregard "The Little Creole", "Bory", "The Little Frenchman", "Felix", "Little Napoleon"

Tyree H Bell "Forrest's Right Arm"

Henry L Benning "Old Rock"

John Bratton "Old Reliable"

Simon B Buckner "Simon the Poet"
Buckner's hobby during the war was writing poetry.

William L Cabell "Old Tige"

James R Chalmers "Little Un"
Nick given to Chalmers by Forrest.

Patrick R Cleburne "The Stonewall Jackson of the West"

Thomas L Clingman "Prince of Politicians"

Raleigh E Colston "Polly" or "Old Polly"
Nickname from his student days at VMI

Jubal A Early "Old Jubilee", "Old Jube", "Bad Old Man", "Wooden Man"
The third nick was one used by R E Lee. The fourth nic was given by his troops for his stoicism.

Arnold Elzey "The Blucher of the Confederacy"
Nick given by Beauregard in reference to Elzey's actions at 1st Manassas.

Clement A Evans "The Reverend General"
Post war nick.

Nathan G Evans "Shanks"

Richard S Ewell "Stumpy", "Baldy", "Old Baldy", "Old Bald Head"
The first nick given as Ewell had lost a leg at Groveton in 1862.

Nathan B Forrest "That Devil Forrest", "Wizard of the Saddle"

Martin W Gary "The Bald Eagle of Edgefield"

Roger W Hanson "Old Flintlock"

William J Hardee "Old Reliable"

William P Hardeman "Gotch"

Henry Heth "Harry"

Ambrose P Hill "Little Powell"

Theophilus H Holmes "Granny"
Nick given by his troops as Holmes had poor health and seemed unequal to the responsibility of defending Little Rock.

John B Hood "Sam", "Old Wooden Head"
First nick was from West Point student days. The second was from his troops for his aggressive lead from the front style of leadership.

Alfred E Jackson "Old Mudwall"
While commanding the Stonewall Bde in 1864, his troops did not think much of his command abilities.

Thomas J Jackson "Stonewall""Old Blue Light" "Old Jack" "Tom Fool"
1st nick from 1st Manassas. 2nd nick referred to Jackson's eyes especially their glow when he was in combat. 4th nick referred to his eccentric mannerisms.

William H Jackson "Red"

William L Jackson "Mudwall"
Nick given by Union troops, probably in reference to William being a second cousin to Stonewall Jackson.

Micah Jenkins "The Prince of Edisto", "The Darling of all South Carolina"

Adam R Johnson "Stovepipe"
Captured the town of Newburgh, IN with 12 men and two joints of stove pipe made into a fake cannon.

Edward Johnson "Old Allegheny" "Old Clubby"
1st nick given after battle of Allegheny Mountain, Dec 1861. 2nd nick was due to his need to use a hickory stick when moving about on foot.

Joseph E Johnston "Retreating Joe" "Old Joe"
1st Nick given by his troops for his actions against Sherman in Georgia.

David R Jones "Neighbor"

John M Jones "Rum"
Jones had a fondness for alcohol while a student at West Point.

William E Jones "Grumble"

Robert E Lee "Granny", "The Great Tycoon", "The Old Man", "Marse Robert", "Bobby", "King of Spades", "Uncle Robert"
1st nick was from very early in the war when Lee's abilities were not well regarded. 2nd nick was used by Lee's ANV staff. 5th nick was used by Union troops. 6th nick is from early in the war when Lee was assigned job of building coastal fortifications.

William H F Lee "Rooney"

James Longstreet "Old Pete", "Old War Horse"

William W Loring "Old Blizzards"

Mark P Lowrey "The Fighting Preacher"
Pre-war occupation.

John McCausland "Turkey"
Student nick from VMI

John B Magruder "Prince John"

William Mahone "Little Billy"

James G Martin "Old One Wing"
Martin lost an arm in the Mexican American War.

John H Morgan "Thunderbolt (of the Confederacy)", "The Marian of the West"
The second is a reference to Francis Marian, The Swamp Fox, partisan leader AWI.

Jean Jacques Mouton "Alfred"

Elisha F Paxton "Bull"

William N Pendleton "Parson"
Pendleton was an Episcopalian priest.

Camille A J M Prince de Polignac "Polecat" or "Prince Polecat", "The Lafayette of the South"

Leonidas Polk "The Fighting Bishop"
Polk was an Episcopalian Bishop.

Sterling Price "Old Pap", "Old Skedad"

Stephen D Ramseur "Dod"
Middle name was Dodson.

Jerome B Robertson "Aunt Polly" or "Polly"
Robertson showed unusual concern for his men's welfare.

Lawrence S Ross "Sul"
Middle name was Sullivan.

Thomas L Rosser "Savior of the Valley"
Nick given for Rosser's actions in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864.

William R Scurry "Dirty Shirt"
The 4th Texas Mounted Vols wore irregular dress.

Joseph O Shelby "Jo"

Edmund Kirby Smith "Seminole"
Smith was from Florida.

Francis H Smith "Old Spex"
Student nick from VMI.

William Smith "Extra Billy"
Nick given for the extra payments Smith received from his mail coach business.

George H Steuart "Maryland"
Home state.

Clement H Stevens "Rock"

Alexander P Stewart "Old Straight"
Stewart was known for his by the book style of command.

James E B Stewart "Jeb", "Prince Rupert" "Beauty"
The first nick taken from Stewart's initials and the second from a general in the English Civil Wars.

Meriwether Jeff Thompson "Swamp Fox of the Confederacy"

Earl van Dorn "Buck"

James A Walker "Stonewall Jim"
Commanded the Stonewall Bde.

Lucius M Walker "Marsh"
Taken from his middle name of Marshall.

Stand Watie "Degataga (Stand Firm)"

Joseph Wheeler "Fighting Joe", "Point"
Second nick from West Point where Wheeler was considered to have 'no height, width or thickness'.

John S Williams "Cerro Gordo"
Nick given for his actions at the Mexican American battle of the same name.

Ambrose R Wright "Rans"
Middle name was Ranson.

 

[Legion Para]

Nicknames of Union General's:

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?5682-Union-Generals-Nicknames


Nathaniel P Banks* "Commissary Banks" "Parade Ground" "Napoleon"
1st Nick given by Confederates after the retreat from Strasburg, where Banks lost a large quantity of supplies to Jackson. 3rd nick was sarcastically used by his own troops during the 1864 Red River campaign.
*
Francis C Barlow* "The Boy General"
Barlow had a very youthful appearance.
*
Robert C Buchanan* "Old Buck"
*
Stephen G Burbridge* "Butcher" or "The Butcher of Kentucky"
Nick given by Confederates for Burbridge's actions during the guerilla war campaign in KY.
*
Ambrose E Burnside* "Sideburns" "Burn"
*
Benjamin F Butler* "Beast" "Spoons"
Nicks given to Butler during his command of the occupation forces New Orleans.
*
Daniel Butterfield* "Little Napoleon"
Known for his bad temper and meddlesome assertiveness.
*
Samuel S Carroll* "Old Bricktop"
Red hair.
*
Joshua L Chamberlain* "Lion of the Round Top"
*
Michael Corcoran* "Mick"
*
George A Custer* "Autie" "Fanny" "Curly"
*
Lysander Cutler* "The Gray Wolf" "Woodchuck"
*
Jefferson C Davis* "Jef"
*
Philippe R D D de Trobriand* "Froggy"
*
Thomas C Devin* "Buford's Hard Hitter"
*
Grenville M Dodge* "Level Eye"
Pre-war profession as Land Surveyor.
*
Abner Doubleday* "Old 48 Hours"* "Hero of Sumter"
1st nick was for Doubleday's deliberate, methodical and careful style, as if he had all the time in the world. 2nd nick as Doubleday aimed the first cannon to fire from Ft Sumter in April 1861.
*
Neal S Dow "The Napoleon of Temperance"
*Dow was a leader in the anti-alcohol movement.

Alfred N A Duffis* "Nattie"
*
John C Fremont* "Pathfinder"
Pre-war famous explorer.
*
Ulysses S Grant* "Sam" "Unconditional Surrender" "Hero of Appomattox"
*1st nick based on Grant's initials and Uncle Sam. 2nd nick based on his initials and his terms to Forts Henry and Donaldson.

Henry W Halleck* "Old Brains"
Halleck was a noted expert on military studies.
*
Winfield S Hancock* "The Superb"
Taken from a wire sent by McClellan after battle of Williamsburg ("Hancock was superb")
*
Alexander Hays* "Fighting Elleck"
*
Joseph Hooker* "Fighting Joe"
Newspaper typo dropped the '-' in header, 'Fighting – Joe Hooker'.
*
Oliver O Howard* "The Christian General"
A born-again Christian, Howard made spiritual strengthening a daily part of his troops routine.
*
Andrew A Humphreys "Old Goggle Eyes"
Humphreys wore eye glasses.
*
David Hunter* "The Hound"
Nick given by Confederates for his actions in the Shenandoah Valley including the burning of VMI.
*
Philip Kearney* "The Magnificent" "Long Marcher"
Nick, Kearney le Magnifique, given by the French Army Chasseurs d'Afrique for actions during the Algerian War of the 1840's.
*
Hugh J Kilpatrick* "Kill Cavalry"
Employed tactics that were considered as a reckless waste of his troopers' lives and of his horses.
*
John A Logan* "Black Jack"
Nick given for his dark eyes, hair and complexion.
*
George B McClellan* "Little Mac" "Young Napoleon" "Virginia Creeper" "Mac the Unready"
3rd nick is a play on words for the Virginia Creeper, a plant of the grape family.
*
Ranald S MacKenzie* "Perpetual Punisher"
Known for his harsh discipline.
*
George G Meade* "Old Snapping Turtle" "Old Four Eyes"
Meade was famous for his terrible temper and he wore eye glasses.
*
Thomas F Meagher* "Meagher of the Sword"
Meagher was a prominent Irish Nationalist. Nick was in reference to one of his speeches.
*
Robert H Milroy* "The War Eagle"
*
Ormsby M Mitchel* "Old Stars"
Pre-war profession as an astronomer.
*
Joseph A Mower* "Fighting Joe"
*
William Nelson* "Bull"
*
Richard J Oglesby* "Uncle Dick"
*
Joshua T Owen* "Paddy"
Nick was given for commanding an Irish Rgt, 69th PA, although Owen was born in Wales.
*
John F Reynolds* "Old Common Sense"
*
Israel B Richardson* "Fighting Dick" "Greasy Dick"
*
William S Rosecrans* "Old Rosey" "The Wild Dutchman" "The Great Decliner"
*
William P Sanders* "Doc"
Unusual nick as Sanders had no medical training.
*
Alexander Schimmelfennig* "Schimmel"
*
Winfield Scott* "Old Fuss and Feathers"
*
John Sedgwick* "Uncle John"
*
Philip H Sheridan* "Little Phil"
*
Thomas W Sherman* "Tim"
*
William T Sherman* "Cump" "Uncle Billy" "Attila of the American Continent" "Devil"
4th nick was given by Confederates for Sherman's march through GA.
*
Henry W Slocum "Speculator" "Slow Come"
1st nick as Slocum had many ongoing financial initiatives. 2nd nick given at Gettysburg, where Slocum was judged to have been indecisive and slow to advance to the battle field.
*
William F Smith* "Baldy"
Nick given while a student at West Point. In later life, Smith was not particularly bald.
*
Edwin V Sumner* "Bull" or "Old Bullhead"
During an action against Indians prior to ACW, a spent bullet bounced off his head.
*
George Sykes* "Tardy George" "Slow Trot"
In the early battles, Sykes was judged to have failed to demonstrate an aggressive manner.
*
George H Thomas* "Slow Trot" "Pap" "Rock of Chickamauga" "The Sledge (hammer) of Nashville"
1st nick given while Thomas was a student at West Point where he suffered from an injured back.
*
Alfred T A Torbert* "Daisy"
Nick given while a student at West Point.
*
Ivan V T Turchin* "John Basil" "The Russian Thunderbolt" "The Mad Cossack"
1st nick was the Anglicising of his Russian two first names. 3rd nick was given by the Confederates after the so called 'Rape of Athens (AL)' in May 1862.
*
Lewis Wallace* "Lew" "Saviour of Cincinnati"
*
Gouverneur K Warren* "Hero of Little Round Top"
*
Alpheus S Williams "Pap"
*
August von Willich* "Papa"
Willich showed great concern for the well being of his troops.
*

 

[OpnCoronet]

Many Civil War figures have nick names, "Stonewall" Jackson, Thomas "The Rock of Chickamauga" for example. Recently I read one I had never heard before "Sherman The Great Flanker". Was this a common nickname for Sherman? Perhaps I have not read enough books about General Sherman to have seen this nick name. Please note that the term was from a book of Civil War Letters written by Johannes Van Lente and would have be originally been written in Dutch.

I am with you, in that I am not a student of Sherman's life, but this is the first I have seen that particular nick-name for Sherman. It is a fairly accurate description of his tactics, especially in his Atlanta Campaign, but I am unaware of it being used as a descriptive of Sherman.
On other threads, I have speculated, that in Sherman's place in a Union Army, Johnston, would probably have been an even better practitioner of Sherman's tactics, than Sherman himself.

 

[Northern Light]

Lewis A Armistead "Lo"
Short for Lothario. Armistead was shy around women and remained a bachelor during his life.

Armistead was actually married twice, and had a son, but all three died before the war.