15 Important Civil War People
- Abraham Lincoln- Lincoln was the Union president and he created the Emancipation Proclamation. He was a thinking man and used technology to help win the war. He once said that if he could win the war without freeing a slave, he would do it. He was killed by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865.
- Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson- An important Confederate general. He never backed down and during the First Battle of Bull Run, received his nickname after standing heroically in the Union's way. He was shot by his own men and died on May 10, 1863.
- Ulysses S. Grant- The leader of the Union Army. He was a raging alcoholic but always had a good plan. He was the man who defeated the Confederate Army and General Lee surrendered to him at Appomattox Court House. He wasn't a man who cared about being clean, and he was the 18th president of the United States. He died on July 23, 1885.
- Robert E. Lee- Lead general of the Confederate Army. He was born in the South, trained in the North, but fought for the South when the Civil War started. he was a brilliant strategist and he planned his attacks well. When he was defeated by Grant (see 3) he surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. He died October 12, 1870.
- Winfield Scott- Union general and strategist. He created the Anaconda Plan meant to cut off the South. He had a lifelong ambition to be president, but never achieved the goal. He died on may 29, 1866.
- Jefferson Davis- The Confederate president. He orchestrated what the army did. He was captured by the Union on May 10, 1865, in Irwinville, Georgia. He died on December 6, 1889.
- Irvin McDowell- Union Major General. He was a failure at Bull Run, and was replaced by George McClellan. He retired to Virginia, and died on May 4, 1885.
- Albert Sidney Johnston- Believed to be the greatest Confederate general of all time (Lee had not arrived yet.) He was wounded behind the right knee most likely by friendly fire. He did not think the injury was serious and bled to death a few minutes later on April 6, 1862.
- Ambrose Burnside- A Union general. He wasn't a very good one either. He lost battles a lot, and was declined control of the army, TWICE! He was eventually given the position, but wanted to resign after a while. He was refused at first, but eventually was replaced by Joseph Hooker (see 10). He died on September 13, 1881. He is also known for his sideburns, as they are called now.
- Joseph Hooker- A Union general. His nickname was "Fighting Joe." When he fought Confederate troops, he was wounded in the foot. When he recovered, he found Burnside in control of the army. He battled him through the press, and eventually gained control of the army. He died on October 31, 1879.
- George Meade- A Union general. Took over as McClellan's right hand man after Hooker was wounded. He tried to get Hooker to be more aggressive, but it didn't work. After the Battle of Chancellorsville, Meade was offered control of the army and he took it. He died of pneumonia on November 7, 1872.
- George Pickett- A Confederate general. He was famous for his charge at Gettysburg, in which everyone in the charge died. He went to West Point, and finished dead last in his class. He died on July 30, 1875.
- David Farragut- A Latino Union Navy commander. During one battle, he had to tie himself to the rigging to stay in the battle, due to dizziness. He is famous for his quote "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" He died on August 14, 1870.
- Fredrick Douglas- A runaway slave. After making it to the North, he hid in England, and some friends bought his freedom. He then became a leader of the Underground Railroad. He was the owner of The North Star, a newspaper. He died on February 20, 1895.
- William T. Sherman- A Union general. He is especially famous for his march to Savannah, in which he burned every town he went through. He wanted to show Confederates how bad war could be if they didn't give up. He died on February 14, 1891.