I am a fan of Civil War history. I also like to study leadership and good leadership qualities. This article tells the story of West Point Class brothers in arms from the class of 1846.
The objective of the article is to summarize some of the best facts and leaders from John Waugh’s book The Class of 1846: From the West Point Class to Appomattox. We’ll focus on the leaders that were best at getting their people to where they had not been.
Let me start with a short synopsis of the book from the Kirkus Reviews:
The “brothers’ fight” of Civil War legend and historical cliché is grounded in firm fact. The war definitely split many actual families along partisan lines. In addition, a sizeable number of celebrated officers in blue and in gray had been bosom buddies at West Point.
They were subsequently comrades and mess-mates in the prewar Federal army. In an exceedingly well-written narrative, Waugh tackles this subject head-on. In the book he follows school friends of the 1846 West Point graduating class.
He covered their four rigorous years at the Academy through the questionable heroics of the Mexican War. Also included were the early Indian wars on the Great Plains to the grim carnage of America’s Iliad.
The “Class of `46” produced ten generals on the Union side, including the ultimately unsuccessful George McClellan (who at least survived the war). The class also included nine on the Confederate, including those fabled warriors “Stonewall” Jackson and A.P. Hill (both of whom were killed). and the luckless, ultimately bitter George Pickett, who had graduated last in his class.
By a perversity of fate, the number-one man in the class (McClellan was ranked second) never made it higher than colonel during the conflict. Wonderful, poignant stories were covered. They were, in the past, often alluded to but rarely told, and even more rarely told so well.
The class of 1846 at West Point cut their teeth as military leaders in the Mexican War, and in the process, they forged strong relationships. Years later, they would test their skills against each other.
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Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill and George Pickett were just a few members of this unique class.
Here is a list of each of the 59 members of the class, their side of battle, and their highest rank achieved. Also included is a summary of their contribution, and their class rank:
Adams, John: Class Rank: 25, Highest rank: Confederate Brig Gen, Killed at the Battle of Franklin, 1864.
Bacon, Rufus: Class Rank: 23. Committed suicide in 1846.
Botts Archibald: Class Rank: 57. Died in Mexico, 1847.
Couch, Darius Nash: Class Rank: 13. Highest Rank: Union Major General.
Derby, George Horatio: Class Rank: 7. Died as the WTBS began while a celebrated humorist.
Dutton, William: Class Rank 15. Highest Rank: Union Colonel. Died in 1862.
Easley, Thomas; Class Rank: 48. Killed in the Mexican War in 1847.
Foster, John Gray: Class Rank: 4. Highest Rank: Union Major General.
Fry, Birkett Davenport: Dismissed from the Academy. Highest Rank: Confederate Brig Gen.
Gardner, William Montgomery: Class Rank: 55. Highest Rank: Confederate Brig Gen.
Gibbon, John: Graduated in 1847. Highest Rank: Union Major General.
Gordon, George Henry: Class Rank: 43. Highest Rank: Union Major General
Hardcastle, Edmund Lafayette: Class Rank: 5. Resigned from the Army in 1856.
Hill, Ambrose Powell: Graduated in 1847. Highest Rank: Confederate Lt Gen. Killed at Petersburg, 1865.
Jackson, Thomas Jonathan: Class Rank: 17. Highest Rank: Confederate Lt Gen. Mortally wounded at Chancellorsville in 1863.
Jones, David Rumph: Class Rank: 41. Highest Rank: Confederate Major General. Died in 1863.
Lowe, Thomas J: Dismissed for irrepressibly questionable conduct.
McClellan, George Brinton: Class Rank: 2. Highest Rank: Union Major General.
Maury, Dabney Herndon: Class Rank: 37. Highest Rank: Confederate Major General.
Maxey, Samuel Bell; Class Rank: 58. Highest Rank: Confederate Major General.
Oakes, James: Class Rank: 34. Highest Rank: Union Brig Gen.
Pickett, George Edward: Class Rank: 59. Highest Rank: Confederate Major General.
Raymond, Samuel H: Died at West Point in 1845.
Reno, Jesse Lee: Class Rank: 8. Highest Rank; Union Major General. Killed at South Mountain in 1862.
Rodgers, Alexander Perry: Class Rank; 30. Killed in the Mexican War in 1947.
Seymour, Charles Seafort: Class Rank: 1. Highest Rank: Union Colonel.
Stoneman, George: Class Rank: 33. Highest Rank: Union Major General.
Stuart, James: Class Rank: 39. Killed in the Indian Wars in 1851.
Sturgis, Samuel Davis: Class Rank: 32. Highest Rank: Union Major General.
Taylor, Oliver Hazzard Perry: Class Rank: 31. Killed in the Indian Wars in 1858.
Turnley, Parmenas Taylor: Class Rank: 40. Highest Rank: Union Captain. Disabled and retired in 1863.
Wilcox, Cadmus Maecellus: Class Rank: 54. Highest Rank: Confederate Major General.
Wilson, Clarendon J.L.: Class Rank; 9. Died in New Mexico Territory in 1853.
The most famous of The Class of 1846
The West Point graduating class of 1846 included the three biggest names known to most anyone; George McClellan, Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, and George Pickett.
Historically, it was the largest at the time and now, the most famous class of West Point. A fascinating war, with stories of friends fighting friends.
West point class of 1846 … George B. McClellan
Future General George B. McClellan, the Commander of the Army of the Potomac at the start of the Civil War graduated second in that class. I’ve read he was once referred to as ‘the only man who could strut while sitting down.’
General McClellan was fired by Lincoln in November of 1862 and replaced with Burnside. The reason? Lincoln had finally had enough of McClellan’s paranoia that the Confederate Army was too big for him to handle.
There was something I find most amusing that Lincoln stated at the time. I paraphrase: ‘I’d like to borrow the army if you’re not using it.’
Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson
Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, hailing from Jackson’s Mill, Virginia, had faced an uphill struggle at West Point. He was known to burn coal into the late night hours, trading his sleeping time for much-needed study.
He had a difficult time with his drawing lessons and had many idiosyncrasies. He was known to keep his body in as straight a position as possible, fearing any bending or unnatural position could cause harm to his internal organs.
He graduated 17th in the class and went on from there to be commended for his bravery and brilliance with artillery in the Mexican-American War. Afterwards, he went to teach at Virginia Military Institute until the secession and Civil War.
It was during a move of Union forces towards the Confederate position on Henry Hill at Manassas in July, 1861 that he acquired his famous nickname ‘Stonewall.’
Jackson’s mindset was to stand his ground and resort to bayonets if needed. Confederate General Barnard Bee, before dying shortly thereafter, is reported to have observed, “Yonder stands Jackson, like a stone wall.”
It remains unclear to this day in what tone or inflection that statement was made. Its possible General Bee was disgusted with Jackson not seeming to move foward from his viewpoint. Or it may have been said in complete admiration as to Jackson seeming impenetrable and holding his ground.
Nonetheless, the name struck a chord, not only with the South, but the North as well. Henceforth Tom Jackson was ‘Stonewall’ and his Brigade, the ‘Stonewall Brigade’.
Stonewall commanded the (Shenandoah) Valley District, and there he played the Union Army like a chess master. He was known to show up very surprisingly where the Union forces would least want or expect him. Even the ‘Stonewall Brigade,’ themselves marched relentlessly knowing “no more than the buttons on their coats” where they were going.
Jackson was very keen to fast-pace his brigade to far apart areas to keep different commands of union armies from joining together. This was a talent for which he was very successful.
Through his keen sense of ‘knowing’ what the Union forces were going to do next, his ability to flank and rear the opposing armies was unparalleled.
Though he struggled with his lessons at West Point, Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson certainly proved himself a military genius during the Civil War.
George E. Pickett and “Pickett’s Charge”
After the first volley of cannonade and shot from Union and Confederate forces were fired at Gettysburg, General Pickett enters the historic scene. He is well known for leading the famous and very courageous charge at Gettysburg.
Having rode up to Longstreet, (who wouldn’t look Pickett in the eye as he knew it was hopeless,) Pickett asked for the order affirming he should charge his brigade, which he did.
It was hopeless as Longstreet already knew. Pickett ended up sitting on his horse in tears as he watched the slaughter.
When later asked to rally his troops, he exclaimed: ”I have no brigade.” Robert E. Lee also wept that evening over the battle.
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The bottom line
We all fear failure. At best, this makes us hesitate. At worst, it leads to total stagnation. One of the most common reasons for resistance is fear of the unknown. People will only take active steps toward the unknown if they genuinely believe – and perhaps more importantly, feel – that the risks of standing still are greater than those of moving forward in a new direction. When we talk about comfort zones we’re really referring to routines. We love them. They make us secure.
No single group of men at West Point–or possibly any academy–has been so indelibly written into history as the class of 1846. The names are legendary: Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, George B. McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill, Darius Nash Couch, George Edward Pickett, Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, and George Stoneman.
The class fought in three wars, produced twenty generals, and left the nation a lasting legacy of bravery, brilliance, and bloodshed.
