List of American Civil War generals (Acting Confederate) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The American Civil War had many brave leaders, but not all of them were officially recognized as generals by the Confederate government. This article talks about officers who acted as generals, leading troops in important battles, but whose appointments were never fully confirmed. It also includes state militia generals who fought for the Confederacy in their home states.

Sometimes, communication was difficult during the war. This meant that some officers who were appointed as generals by local commanders, like General E. Kirby Smith, never had their appointments officially approved by the Confederate President and Senate in Richmond.

Leaders Appointed by E. Kirby Smith
Officers with Unfinished Appointments
State Militia Generals
See also

Leaders Appointed by E. Kirby Smith

After the important city of Vicksburg fell, it was hard for the Confederate government in Richmond to communicate with its forces west of the Mississippi River. General E. Kirby Smith, who was in charge of that area, appointed several officers as generals. He tried to get President Jefferson Davis to make these appointments official. While some were approved, at least nine officers appointed by Smith late in the war served as generals but were never officially confirmed.

Name	Rank	Notes
Bagby, Arthur Pendleton Jr.	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 7th Texas Cavalry. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in March 1864, and later as a major general in May 1865. He was wounded in April 1863.
DeBray, Xavier	Colonel	Born in France in 1818. He was a colonel in the 26th Texas Cavalry. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in April 1864.
Gordon, Benjamin Franklin	Colonel	He fought in the Mexican–American War. He was a colonel in the 5th Missouri Cavalry. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in May 1865.
Jackman, Sidney Drake	Colonel	He was a colonel in Jackman's Missouri Cavalry. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in May 1865.
Jones, Alexander C.	Colonel	He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1850. He was a lieutenant colonel in the 44th Virginia. General E. Kirby Smith asked for him to be promoted to brigadier general in March 1865. He was paroled as a brigadier general in Texas in July 1865.
King, Wilburn Hill	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 18th Texas Infantry. He was wounded at Mansfield, Louisiana, in April 1864. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in April 1864.
Lewis, Levin Major	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 7th Missouri Infantry. He was wounded and captured in July 1863. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in May 1865.
Maclay, Robert Plunket	Major	He graduated from the United States Military Academy (USMA) in 1840. He was a major of artillery. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in May 1864. His appointment was never officially nominated to the Confederate Senate.
Randal, Horace	Colonel	He graduated from USMA in 1854. He was a colonel in the 28th Texas Cavalry. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in April 1864. His appointment was later canceled by President Jefferson Davis. He was killed in action at Jenkins' Ferry in April 1864.
Terrell, Alexander Watkins	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 34th Texas Cavalry. General E. Kirby Smith assigned him as a brigadier general in May 1865. After the war, he went to Mexico and served as a colonel in the Mexican Army for a short time.

Officers with Unfinished Appointments

Some Confederate officers are often called generals in history books, but their appointments were never fully completed or confirmed. This could be because their appointments were withdrawn, not approved by the Senate, or their official papers arrived after they had died. In some cases, promotions were given after an officer's death as a sign of respect. These officers are still important because of the commands they held or their actions in battle.

Name	Rank	Notes
Ashby, Henry Marshall	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry. He was commissioned as a brigadier general in April 1865, but the official papers were never delivered.
Ashby, Turner	Colonel Brigadier General May 23, 1862 unconfirmed at death	He was a colonel in the 7th Virginia Cavalry. He led cavalry during Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign in 1862. He was killed in action in June 1862. His promotion to brigadier general was not confirmed before his death.
Barry, John D.	Colonel Brigadier General appointed August 2, 1864 unconfirmed canceled a few days later	He was a colonel in the 18th North Carolina Infantry. He was wounded four times. He was appointed brigadier general in August 1864, but his appointment was canceled when his superior officer returned.
Bartow, Francis Stebbins	Colonel Brigadier General posthumous	He was a colonel in the 8th Georgia Infantry. He was killed at the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861. The Confederate Congress gave him the rank of acting brigadier general after his death as an honor.
Benton, Samuel	Colonel Brigadier General rank: July 26, 1864 died before commission received	He was a colonel in the 37th Mississippi Infantry. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Atlanta in July 1864. He died before receiving his official papers as a brigadier general.
Bowles, Pinckney Downie	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 4th Alabama Infantry. Some sources say he was commissioned brigadier general in April 1865, but this was after the Confederate Senate had stopped meeting.
Brevard, Jr. Theodore W.	Colonel Brigadier General rank: March 22, 1865 nom: March 28, 1865 unconfirmed	He was a colonel in the 11th Florida Infantry. He was one of the last officers President Jefferson Davis appointed as a general in March 1865, but it was never confirmed.
Browne, William Montague "Constitution"	Colonel Brigadier General temporary rank: from November 11, 1864 unconfirmed: rejected	He was an aide to President Jefferson Davis. His nomination as a temporary brigadier general in November 1864 was rejected by the Confederate Senate.
Cobb, Thomas Reade Rootes	Colonel Brigadier General rank: November 1, 1862 unconfirmed: died	He was a colonel who formed Cobb's Legion. He was mortally wounded at Fredericksburg in December 1862. His promotion to brigadier general was not confirmed before his death.
Dearing, James	Colonel Brigadier General rank: April 29, 1864 not confirmed; continued as brigade commander	He was a colonel in the 8th Regular Cavalry. He was appointed brigadier general in April 1864, but it was not confirmed. He was mortally wounded in a duel in April 1865.
Deshler, James	Colonel Brigadier General rank: July 28, 1863 not confirmed	He graduated from USMA in 1854. He was a colonel in the artillery. He was appointed brigadier general in July 1863, but it was not confirmed. He was killed by a shell at Chickamauga in September 1863.
Dunovant, John	Colonel Brigadier General (temporary) rank: August 22, 1864 unconfirmed at death	He was a colonel in the 5th South Carolina Cavalry. He was appointed temporary brigadier general in August 1864. He was killed during the Siege of Petersburg in October 1864. His appointment was not confirmed before his death.
Fauntleroy, Thomas Turner	Brigadier General, Provisional Army of Virginia Major Refused brigadier general appointment	He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He resigned as a colonel from the U.S. Army in May 1861. He was recommended for brigadier general in July 1861 but refused the appointment.
Fiser, John Calvin	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 17th Mississippi Infantry. He lost his right arm at Knoxville in November 1863. His appointment as brigadier general was never confirmed.
Frazer, John W.	Colonel Brigadier General nom or appt: May 3, 1863 rank: May 19, 1863 unconfirmed	He graduated from USMA in 1849. He was a colonel in the 28th Alabama Infantry. His brigadier general appointment was not confirmed. He was captured at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, in September 1863.
Garrott, Isham Warren	Colonel Brigadier General rank: May 28, 1863	He was a colonel in the 20th Alabama Infantry. He was killed at Vicksburg in June 1863. His commission as brigadier general was received after his death and was not confirmed.
Girardey, Victor J. B.	Brigadier General (temporary) rank: July 30, 1864 commissioned: August 3, 1864 unconfirmed?	Born in France in 1837. He was promoted to temporary brigadier general in July 1864 for his actions at the Battle of the Crater. He was killed in August 1864. Some sources say his appointment was not confirmed.
Godwin, Archibald C.	Colonel Brigadier General rank: August 5, 1864 unconfirmed	He was a colonel in the 57th North Carolina Infantry. He was killed at Third Winchester in September 1864. His appointment as brigadier general was not confirmed.
Goggin, James M.	Major Brigadier General rank: December 4, 1864 cancelled unconfirmed	He was a major who commanded a brigade at Cedar Creek. His brigadier general appointment in December 1864 was canceled and not confirmed.
Hagan, James	Colonel	Born in Ireland in 1822. He was a colonel in the 3rd Alabama Cavalry. He was appointed acting brigadier general in early 1865, but his commission was never delivered.
Hannon, Moses Wright	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 53rd Alabama Cavalry. He was appointed brigadier general in early 1865, but his commission was never delivered.
Harris, David Bullock	Colonel	He was the Chief Engineer of the Confederate Army. He was said to have been verbally promoted to brigadier general by Jefferson Davis, but he died in 1864 before it could be processed.
Harrison Jr, George P.	Colonel	He received a provisional appointment to brigadier general in 1865, but it was never officially confirmed before the war ended.
Hatton, Robert Hopkins	Colonel Brigadier General not confirmed: died	He was a U.S. Representative before the war. He was a colonel in the 17th Tennessee Infantry. He was appointed brigadier general in May 1862 but was killed in action days later, so it was not confirmed.
Henderson, Robert Johnson	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 42nd Georgia Infantry. He was promoted to acting brigadier general by General Joseph E. Johnston in March 1865, but it was not officially appointed or confirmed.
Hodge, George B.	Colonel Brigadier General nominations rejected paroled as brig. gen.	He was a colonel who led a cavalry brigade. He was nominated twice for brigadier general, but the Confederate Senate rejected his nominations. He was paroled as a brigadier general at the end of the war.
Johnson, Adam Rankin "Stovepipe"	Colonel Brigadier General (not confirmed)	He was a colonel in the 10th Kentucky Partisan Rangers. He was known for using "Quaker cannons" (stove pipes) to trick enemies. He was appointed brigadier general in September 1864, but it was not confirmed by the Senate. He was accidentally shot and blinded by his own men in August 1864.
Jones, John R.	Lt. Colonel Brigadier General (not confirmed)	He was a lieutenant colonel in the 33rd Virginia Infantry. He was appointed brigadier general in June 1862, but his confirmation was postponed and never approved. He was relieved of command and later captured.
Martin, John Donelson	Colonel Acting Brigadier General appointed April 29, 1862	He was a colonel who commanded a brigade at Shiloh and Corinth. He was appointed acting brigadier general after Shiloh. He was mortally wounded and died at Corinth in October 1862.
Moore, Samuel Preston	Colonel Surgeon General	He was the Surgeon General of the Confederate Army. He is often mistakenly listed as a brigadier general, but proposals to give his position that rank failed.
Munford, Thomas Taylor	Colonel Assigned {Acting Brigadier General} not commissioned/commission never received	He was a colonel in the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. He was assigned as a brigadier general in November 1864, but his official papers were never received. He commanded a cavalry division at the end of the war.
Northrop, Lucius B.	Colonel Brigadier General rank: November 26, 1864 nomination not sent for Senate confirmation	He was the Commissary General of the Confederacy. He was appointed brigadier general in November 1864, but his nomination was never sent to the Senate for approval.
O'Neal, Edward Asbury	Colonel Brigadier General: commission cancelled	He was a colonel in the 26th Alabama Infantry. He was wounded multiple times. His brigadier general commission was canceled by Robert E. Lee.
Pegram, William "Willie"	Colonel Acting brigadier general	He was a colonel in the artillery. He was an acting brigadier general in March 1865. He was mortally wounded at Five Forks in April 1865.
Phifer, Charles W.	Major Acting brigadier general appt: May 25, 1862 canceled: October 16, 1862	He was a major in the 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion. He was appointed acting brigadier general in May 1862, but the appointment was not confirmed and later canceled.
Porterfield, George	Colonel Acting Brigadier General	He was a colonel in the 25th Virginia Infantry. He was an acting brigadier general in command of the Department of Northwestern Virginia early in the war. He later resigned and took no further part in the war.
Rains, James Edwards	Colonel Brigadier General rank, nom: November 4, 1862 not confirmed, died	He was a colonel in the 11th Tennessee Infantry. He was killed at Stones River in December 1862. His promotion to brigadier general was not confirmed before his death.
Robertson, Felix Huston	Colonel Brigadier General (temporary) rank: July 26, 1864 nom: rejected: February 22, 1865	He was a colonel in charge of artillery. He was appointed temporary brigadier general in July 1864, but his nomination was rejected by the Confederate Senate. He was severely wounded in November 1864. He was the only native Texan appointed a Confederate general, even though his appointment was rejected.
Rucker, Edmund Winchester	Colonel Brigadier General (Acting)	He was nominated as acting brigadier general in November 1864, but it was not confirmed by the Confederate Congress.
Semmes, Raphael "Beeswax", "Bim"	Rear Admiral, Confederate States Navy Brigadier General appointed April 5, 1865 (unconfirmed)	He was a famous Confederate Navy commander, known for the CSS Alabama. He was appointed a brigadier general by President Davis in April 1865 to command defenses, but it was not confirmed.
Taylor, Thomas H.	Colonel Brigadier General unconfirmed	He was a colonel who commanded a brigade at Cumberland Gap. He was appointed brigadier general in November 1862, but President Davis did not nominate him to the Senate for that rank.
Thomas, Bryan Morel	Colonel Brigadier General rank: August 4, 1864 not confirmed	He was a colonel who commanded a mixed brigade in the Department of the Gulf. He was appointed brigadier general in August 1864, but it was not confirmed.
Walker, Francis Marion	Colonel	He was a colonel in the 19th Tennessee Infantry. He was killed at Atlanta in June 1864. His commission was received one day after his death and was not confirmed.

State Militia Generals

At the start of the Civil War, many states had their own military units called militias. In the Union, most state militias joined the federal army. But in the Confederacy, some states kept their militia units for local defense. Since many battles happened in the South, some of these state militia units, and their generals, saw a lot of fighting.

These generals were fighting for the Confederate cause and sometimes commanded many troops. However, they were officially state militia generals, not generals in the Confederate States Army.

Here are some important state militia generals from the Confederate States who led troops in battles or campaigns in their home states.

Name	Rank	Notes
Alcorn, James Lusk	Brigadier General, Mississippi Militia	He was a brigadier general of the Mississippi State militia. He was captured at Helena, Arkansas, and later exchanged.
Anderson, Charles David	Brigadier General, Georgia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the 3rd Georgia Militia brigade. His brigade fought in the Atlanta campaign and against Sherman's March to the Sea. He was wounded at Griswoldville in November 1864.
Boggs, James	Brigadier General, Virginia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the Provisional Army of Virginia. He served in Jackson's Valley Campaign.
John T. Hughes	Brigadier General, Missouri Militia	He was a colonel in the Missouri State Guard. He fought in battles like Carthage and Wilson's Creek. He was killed at the First Battle of Independence, Missouri, in August 1862. He was promoted to brigadier general after his death.
Carson, James Harvey	Brigadier General, Virginia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the Virginia militia. He served in Jackson's Valley Campaign.
Carswell, Reuben Walker	Brigadier General, Georgia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the 1st Brigade, Georgia militia. He served in the Atlanta campaign.
Chapman, Augustus A.	Brigadier General, Virginia Militia	He was a U.S. Representative before the war. He was a brigadier general in the Virginia militia. He served in the Kanawha Campaign.
Chase, William Henry	Major General, Florida Militia	He was a U.S. Army Major who designed many forts. As a Florida militia colonel, he demanded the surrender of Fort Pickens in January 1861.
Clark, Edward	Brigadier General, Texas Militia Colonel, Confederate States Army	He was the acting governor of Texas. He was a brigadier general of the Texas state militia in 1865. He was wounded at Pleasant Hill in April 1864.
Clark, John Bullock	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard	He was a U.S. Representative before the war. He was a brigadier general of the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard. He was wounded at Wilson's Creek.
Clark, Meriwether Lewis Sr.	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard Colonel, Confederate States Army	He was the son of the famous explorer William Clark. He was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. He was captured at Sailor's Creek.
Dahlgren, Charles G.	Brigadier General, Mississippi Militia	He was the brother of Union Navy Admiral John A. Dahlgren. He was a brigadier general in the Mississippi State Troops.
de Saussure, Wilmot Gibbes	Brigadier General, South Carolina Militia	He was a brigadier general in the South Carolina militia. He served in the Second Battle of Charleston Harbor.
Ford, John Salmon	Brigadier General, Texas Militia Colonel, Confederate States Army	He was a Texas Ranger and a colonel in the Confederate Army. He was a brigadier general in the Texas militia. He commanded forces at the Battle of Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War.
Garlington, Albert Creswell	Brigadier General, South Carolina Militia	He was a brigadier general and Adjutant General of the South Carolina militia. He served in the Carolinas campaign.
Greene, Colton	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard Colonel, 3rd Missouri Cavalry (CSA) Acting brigadier general (CSA)	He was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. He was also an acting brigadier general in the Confederate States Army.
Harman, William Henry	Brigadier General, Virginia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the Virginia militia. He commanded forces that seized Harper's Ferry. He was killed at Waynesboro, Virginia, in March 1865.
Harper, Kenton	Major General, Virginia Militia	He was a major general in the Virginia militia. He also commanded forces that seized Harper's Ferry.
Harris, Jeptha Vining	Brigadier General, Mississippi Militia	He was a brigadier general in the Mississippi militia. He was captured at Vicksburg.
Harrison, Sr., George Paul	Brigadier General, Georgia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the Georgia militia, involved in coastal defense. He was captured in December 1864.
McBride, James Haggin	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard Colonel, Confederate States Army	He was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. He commanded the 7th Division at the Siege of Lexington, Missouri.
McCay, Henry Kent	Brigadier General, Georgia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the 4th Brigade, Georgia Militia. He fought at Griswoldville.
Meem, Gilbert Simrall	Brigadier General, Virginia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the Virginia militia. He served in Jackson's Valley Campaign.
Pearce, Nicholas Bartlett	Brigadier General, Arkansas State Troops Major, Confederate States Army	He was a brigadier general in the Arkansas State Troops. He served in the Commissary Department for the rest of the war.
Phillips, Pleasant J.	Brigadier General, Georgia Militia	He was a brigadier general in the 2nd Brigade, Georgia militia. He served in the Atlanta campaign.
Rains, George W.	Brigadier General, Georgia Militia Colonel, Confederate States Army	He established and commanded the Confederate Powderworks. He was a brigadier general in the Georgia militia.
Smith, Francis Henney	Brevet Brigadier General, Virginia Militia Colonel, Confederate States Army	He was the Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He was a brevet brigadier general in the Virginia militia. He led the VMI Corps of Cadets battalion in several actions.
Steen, Alexander E.	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard Colonel, Confederate States Army	He was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. He was killed at the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862.
Thompson, Meriwether Jefferson	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard	He was the mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri. He was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. He surrendered at Chalk Bluff, Arkansas, in May 1865.
Tupper, Tulius Cicero	Major General, Mississippi State Troops	He was commissioned as a major general of the Mississippi State Troops.
Watkins, Nathaniel W.	Brigadier General, Missouri State Guard	He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard.

List of American Civil War generals (Acting Confederate) facts for kids

Contents

Leaders Appointed by E. Kirby Smith

Officers with Unfinished Appointments

State Militia Generals

See also