In this week’s essay I will be writing about the lives of four generals that took part in the US Civil War. Two of the generals I will be writing about are from the Union side of the war, and the other two are from the Confederate side. The two Union generals I will be writing about are: generals Ulysses S. Grant and Joshua Chamberlain The two Confederate generals I will be writing about are: generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.
The Two Union Generals
General Ulysses S. Grant: Grant was born on April 27th, 1822, in a place called Point Pleasant, which was located in Ohio. During his pretty normal childhood, he didn’t seem to be the type of person that would join the military or let alone become a military general! He was a rather shy person as a child, not at all a confident and outgoing kind of person. When he was seventeen he was accepted into a US Military Academy at West Point. During his education at this military academy, he was not a fantastic student. He got average grades, and rather disliked the place. In 1843 he graduated, and his military career began.
When the US Civil War began, Grant was put in charge as general of the Western Campaigns, for the Union army. He was very effective in the western campaigns, and even invaded the Confederates. Because of his successes, the US president at the time, Lincoln promoted him to general of all the Union armys, in 1863. During his time as top general during the Civil war, he and the Confederate general, Lee, went back and forth. Grant successfully managed the campaign of Atlanta, which helped destroy the Confederates.
After the Civil War, Grant was elected as the president of the US, in 1868. During his presidency he was heavily involved in the plans of rebuilding or reconstruction of the south of the US. He served two terms during his presidency. After his presidency he lived a more quiet life, but struggled with money. Near the end of his life he began writing short magazine articles about his life, he then made a deal with famous author, Mark Twain, to write his memoir. On July 23rd, 1885, Grant passed away from throat cancer, in New York.
Joshua Chamberlain: Chamberlain was born on September 8th, 1828, in the US state of Maine(which was recently added to the Union). Chamberlain was an intelligent and gentleman sort, he actually was a College Professor before the Civil War broke out. When the state of Maine began organizing regiments for the war Chamberlain was organized into one of these regiments. Chamberlain started as the regimental colonel, but later on in the war he was promoted to brigadier general, and was even given a Medal of Honor for his bravery. His most important moments in the war were; his determined stand in Gettysburg, and the commanding of the surrender ceremony at Appomattox. After the war he went back home to Maine, and even served a term as the governor of Maine. He was also the President of Bowdoin College. He passed away on February 14th, 1914.
The Two Confederate Generals
Stonewall Jackson: Jackson was born on January 21st, 1824. His real name was Thomas Jonathan Jackson(“Stonewall” was a nickname); he was born in Clarksburg West Virginia. His childhood was a rough one; his father and sister passed away when he was quite young. His mother, who had remarried, also passed away when he was still a child. So most of childhood he was raised by his Uncles. In 1842 he began studying at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in 1846, and his military career began.
Jackson when the US Civil War began, he was placed as commander of the VMI Corps of Cadets, then he was placed as Colonial. He trained the troops that were later called the “stonewall brigade. During the very first battle of Bull Run in July of 1861, Jackson’s skills were shown, when he filled a gap in the defensive line against the Union attack. This successful tactic gave him the nickname of “Stonewall,” which people still call him to this day. Jackson continued fighting in the Civil War, with mostly successes. But suddenly his military career came to a close on May 2nd, 1863, when he was shot in the arm, accidentally by the 18th North Carolina Infantry regiment. On May 10th, Jackson passed away from the complications caused by his wound, at the age of thirty nine. Jackson is remembered by historians today for being one of the best tactical commanders, and for his bravery.
Robert E. Lee: Lee was born on January 18th, 1807, in Stratford Virginia. Lee was born into a rather politically involved family, his father having been a war hero during the American Revolution. Also one of his relatives was a US President once. When he was eighteen years of age he began studying at the West Point Military Academy. There he was incredibly successful getting perfect scores in artillery, infantry, and cavalry. After he graduated in 1829, his military career began. Though he wanted the US to remain a united country, he still turned down an offer from Abraham Lincoln, to command the Union army, and on April 18th, 1861 he agreed to help lead the Confederate army. His time fighting in the Civil war was full of ups and downs. Near the end of the war his men suffered greatly when it came to casualties, and in 1865, he surrendered to Grant and the Union army. After the civil war, he returned back to his family, and lived a more quiet life, even becoming a president of a small College in Western Virginia; this College is now known as Washington and Lee College. He also supported the reconstruction movement. On Oct 12th, 1870, Lee passed away from the complications of a very serious stroke. Lee even after his death was remembered as being a great general.
Conclusion
In this history essay I wrote about four US Civil War generals, Ulysses S. Grant, Joshua Chamberlin, Stonewall Jackson. and Robert E. Lee.
The Dreamer 