The Old Guys

[ErnieMac]

Add William Nelson Pendleton (born 1809) to the list. Also Sterling Price (1809) and Ben McCulloch (1811).

 

[Pollaco]

Daniel Tyler

 

[DBF]

"Senior" is in the eye of the beholder - After all didn't you think your grandfather was old back when he was the age you are now?

 

[infomanpa]

For no particular reason, I tried coming up with a list of senior citizen generals. Who am i missing?

Robert E. Lee
Edwin Sumner
John Wool
George Greene
Samuel Heintzelman
Joseph K. Mansfield
Robert Patterson
Winfield Scott
David Twiggs
Samuel Cooper

What do you think of the name's on this list? Quite a varied mix of distinguished and undistinguished characters. Saving me look up each guy's birthdate, anyone know offhand who was oldest?

It would have helped the ensuing discussion to give your definition of the age when "senior citizenship" begins.

 

[rpkennedy]

"Senior" is in the eye of the beholder - After all didn't you think your grandfather was old back when he was the age you are now?

To illustrate this point, when Brigadier General William Harrow gave a rousing pre-battle speech to some of his men on July 2 at Gettysburg, several of his men would write things along the lines of "Bully for the old man!". In July 1863, William Harrow was 40 years old.

Ryan

 

[Bentonville]

That's an interesting further distinction regarding field command.

Think 'Extra Billy' Smith (born 1797) would trump George Greene (born 1801) on this score, as the oldest field commander.

'Extra Billy' was promoted to B-G on Jan. 31, 1863, and led a Brigade at Chancellorsville, then at Gettysburg, before resigning on July 10, 1863.

Interestingly, the two oldest opposing Generals on the field at Gettysburg, were Union B-G George Greene and Confederate B-G 'Extra Billy' Smith, who both fought against each other at Culp's Hill, on July 3.

I love the nickname but why 'Extra Billy'?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

I love the nickname but why 'Extra Billy'?

Because he would charge 'extra fees' for the numerous extra routes he created during the 1830's while delivering mail between Washington D.C. and Milledgeville, GA. A subsequent postal service investigation found that William (Bill) Smith charged 'extra fees' and he became became widely known by the nickname, 'Extra Billy'.

 

[Bentonville]

Because he would charge 'extra fees' for the numerous extra routes he created during the 1830's while delivering mail between Washington D.C. and Milledgeville, GA. A subsequent postal service investigation found that William (Bill) Smith charged 'extra fees' and he became became widely known by the nickname, 'Extra Billy'.

Thanks much. I take it overnight mails current prices were set in the 1830s.