Youngest Leaders

[tony_gunter]

I came across an obituary for Colonel Tillman, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 41st Tennessee when he was just 21, later appointed colonel of a consolidated unit at the age of 23.

That got me googling for who the youngest leaders were. Apparently there was a 20 year old Confederate colonel at Gettysburg and a 20 year old Federal brigadier.

It's mind-boggling that men would feel comfortable being led into battle by guys that barely had hair on their chests.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Not really surprising, war is a young man's game. IIRC the average age of a British infantry battalion commander at the end of WWI was about 25, and one in his mid 30's was considered old.

 

[Scott1967]

At the time of the ACW 16 was considered to be a man , You would be surprised how many teenagers were heads of their family due to the early death of many fathers to what we now consider mundane and treatable illness.