The Old Guys

[MikeyB]

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?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Offhand, could add Confederate Generals William 'Extra Billy' Smith (born 1797) and Theophilus Holmes (born 1804) to the list of oldest generals.

But think Union General Winfield Scott (born 1786) might easily take the prize here.

 

[Tennessee Union Gal]

It's got to be Winfield Scott, but the oldest field commander? I think George Greene.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It's got to be Winfield Scott, but the oldest field commander? I think George Greene.

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.

 

[MikeyB]

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.

that is interesting. You never hear about Smith, I guess because he lost.

 

[mwalker6043]

Isaac Trimble
Hannibal Day - he was a colonel acting as a brigadier at Gettysburg. Got a brevet promotion to brigadier in March 1865.

 

[NedBaldwin]

Wool was the oldest

Dix was old
JJ Abercrombie was old
David Hunter and AS Johnston were around the same age as Mansfield

Harney and Twiggs were old if you count them.
Totten (BG) was Chief Engineer of the army and old

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?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

that is interesting. You never hear about Smith, I guess because he lost.

'Extra Billy' Smith was considered by his contemporaries to be a strange individual who was somewhat unconventional in his command style on the field. (He despised and looked down on West Pointers – calling them 'West Pinters'). Apparently, he also wore a tall beaver hat and carried a blue umbrella during battle.

In the field, though, Smith displayed bravery and was quite effective at times.

As a Colonel, he led the 49th VA at First Manassas, then performed competently enough in charge of the same regiment during the Peninsula Campaign. He temporarily commanded a brigade at Antietam, where he was wounded three times. After being promoted to B-G on Jan. 31, 1863, he performed inconspicuously as a brigade commander at Chancellorsville, then at Gettysburg. (He was criticized for his performances in this latter battle).

After Gettysburg, he resigned his commission and served as Governor of Virginia from January 1, 1864, until the end of the war.

To sum him up, thought he was an unorthodox small unit commander, who was brave enough, but probably not suited to command at Brigade (or higher unit) level. Think by the time of Gettysburg, the high command had become wary of his leadership style and his ability to fit into the Army command structure.

 

[John Hartwell]

Lee's about the youngest on that list, isn't he? Mid-50s when the war began. That's not a "senior citizen general."

 

[EHParks]

Lee's about the youngest on that list, isn't he? Mid-50s when the war began. That's not a "senior citizen general."

His heart was old by then.

 

[NedBaldwin]

Curtis should be on the list - he was a couple years older than Lee

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?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Lee's about the youngest on that list, isn't he? Mid-50s when the war began. That's not a "senior citizen general."

Not if one considers it in the context that the average male life expectancy in the U.S. was around 40 years in 1860 (compared to almost 80 years in 2020).

Think the strain and effects of four years of combat would undoubtedly have adversely impacted on this life span too.

 

[CavRTO]

'Extra Billy' Smith was considered by his contemporaries to be a strange individual who was somewhat unconventional in his command style on the field. (He despised and looked down on West Pointers – calling them 'West Pinters'). Apparently, he also wore a tall beaver hat and carried a blue umbrella during battle.

In the field, though, Smith displayed bravery and was quite effective at times.

As a Colonel, he led the 49th VA at First Manassas, then performed competently enough in charge of the same regiment during the Peninsula Campaign. He temporarily commanded a brigade at Antietam, where he was wounded three times. After being promoted to B-G on Jan. 31, 1863, he performed inconspicuously as a brigade commander at Chancellorsville, then at Gettysburg. (He was criticized for his performances in this latter battle).

After Gettysburg, he resigned his commission and served as Governor of Virginia from January 1, 1864, until the end of the war.

To sum him up, thought he was an unorthodox small unit commander, who was brave enough, but probably not suited to command at Brigade (or higher unit) level. Think by the time of Gettysburg, the high command had become wary of his leadership style and his ability to fit into the Army command structure.

Excellent candidate for the Peter Principle award.

 

[Nathan Towne]

Daniel Donelson had been born in 1801.

R.E. Lee wasn't that old. He was born in January of 1807. Joe Johnston was born in February of the same year.

Leo Polk was actually older that R.E. Lee. He was born in 1806. Gideon Pillow was older, as well, also born in 1806. Same with John Floyd. And Henry Wise.

U.S. you can add Daniel Tyler in.

 

[DixieRifles]

R.E. Lee wasn't that old. He was born in January of 1807. Joe Johnston was born in February of the same year.

So what is the criteria are we looking for? What is old? Also someone mentioned field officers; are we looking for any general??

I considered A. S. Johnston(1803) but he isn't as old as I expected.

 

[danny]

Henry Wise died in 1876 at age 70 and is buried in Hollywood

Albert Pike Born: December 29, 1809

Theophilus Hunter Holmes (November 13, 1804]

 

[Pollaco]

John Magruder was just as old as Lee.

 

[Pollaco]

John Magruder was just as old as Lee.

As was Joseph E. Johnston.

 

[Pollaco]

If you're still looking to add to the list, David Hunter was no spring chicken. Joseph Totten, maybe?

 

[Jamieva]

If you are going to list Lee, Joseph E Johnston is about 2 weeks younger.