The West Point class of 1846 was one of the most distinguished classes in the history of West Point. Among the outstanding graduating cadets were George B. McClellan and Stonewall Jackson.
12 graduates became generals for the Union and 10 became generals for the Confederacy.
Robert E. Lee joined the Military after he graduated from West Point in 1828.
General Don Carlos Buell was a member of the West point class of 1841. That year had 52 graduates and Buell ranked 32nd.
Northern victories that served as turning points in the war.
Union General Charles Champion Gilbert graduated from West Point in 1846. Among his class of 59 graduating cadets, he was ranked 21st. Gilbert served in the Western Theater during the US Civil War. He is best remembered in the battles of Wilson's Creek and Perryville.
Confederate General Braxton Bragg graduated form West Point in 1837. He ranked fifth in his class that had fifty graduates that year. General Bragg played a large role in the Western Theater of the US Civil War.
The West Point class of 1846 was one of the most distinguished in the academies history. Among the best graduates was George B. McClellan and "Stonewall" Jackson. Of that class 12 served as generals for the Union and 10 served for the Confederacy.
Union General Absalom Baird graduated from West point in 1849. He was ranked ninth among his graduating class of 43 graduates. Baird served in the Western Theater of the US Civil War. His bravery earned him the Medal of Honor.Of note was that Baird served with General Sherman's March to the Sea.
Robert E. Lee joined the Military after he graduated from West Point in 1828.
Confederate General Henry Harrison Walker graduated from West Point in 1853. He was ranked 41st among the 52 graduating cadets in his class. During the US Civil War, Harrison served in the Peninsula campaign commanded defenses in Richmond and served at the Battle of Gettysburg.
No. Most West Point graduates serve in the United States Army.
Some critics of the West Point graduates claim the academy created a class of separate elite officers who made sure they protected each other in terms of the wars they fought in.One serious but untrue criticism was that the General in Chief Winfield Scott made sure that the graduates from his home state of Virginia were promoted faster and that he leaned towards the Southern graduates. This was well before the outbreak of the US Civil War.
During the course of the US Civil War, it can be said with a good degree of certainty that each side were equal when it came to strategy. It should be noted that the commanders in the South and in the North were for the most part West Point graduates and used the skills learned there during the war.
Soldiers would cook for themselves. Roads and bridges would be built by Engineering Officers. A surprisingly high number of West Point graduates started off in the Corps of Topographical Engineers.
When Jefferson Davis served as the US secretary of war, he sent three outstanding West Point graduates to observe the operations of the Crimean War. The three men were George B. McClellan, Richard Delafield and Alfred Mordecai.
Yes, graduates of the US Military Academy at West Point are offered officers' comissions upon graduation.
General Don Carlos Buell was a member of the West point class of 1841. That year had 52 graduates and Buell ranked 32nd.
US Civil War generals who served during the US Civil War and also other graduates, received a good education in engineering, however, other important areas of warfare were lacking. There were no advanced courses for the different branches of service. As an example, no major artillery studies were available. Also unlike today's West point, there was no special post graduate colleges for the study of war and war strategies. Yes, some courses spoke about Napoleonic Era strategy methods, but not to the extent that would have been most useful for the Civil War. Some tactical and fortification courses were taught, however this was not extensive.