Biography of John Marshall John Marshall (1755–1845) was a Founding Father, an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, a congressional representative from Virginia, Secretary of State, and 4th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Marshall is best known for his judicial decisions that often reflected his strong Federalist beliefs. His decision … Read more
Who was William T. Sherman? William Tecumseh Sherman’s first commission during the Civil War was as a colonel of the 13th U.S. Infantry Regiment. Because he was one of the few Union leaders who distinguished themselves at the First Battle of Bull Run, President Abraham Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general of volunteers in July … Read more
Who was Ulysses S. Grant? When the Civil War began, Ulysses S. Grant accepted an appointment as a colonel in the Illinois militia. In August, he accepted a commission as a brigadier general in the volunteer army, and on September 1, Major General John C. Frémont selected Grant to command the District of Southeast Missouri. … Read more
Who was Robert E. Lee? When the Secession Crisis escalated after Abraham Lincoln’s election to the U.S. Presidency in 1860, Robert E. Lee struggled with performing his sworn duty as a U.S. army officer and preserving his allegiance to his home state of Virginia. On April 17, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union. The next … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Lewis Armistead? Lewis Armistead was born in North Carolina in 1817 to a family with a military background. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1833 but resigned due to academic issues and conduct. His father obtained a commission in the army for him in 1839 and he served in … Read more
Who was Civil War officer James Longstreet? When the Civil War erupted, James Longstreet was serving as a paymaster for the United States Army in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He resigned his commission on June 1, 1861, and returned to Alabama where he offered his services to the Confederacy. He received a commission as a brigadier … Read more
Texas Revolution Summary The Texas Revolution — also known as the Texian War of Independence — was an armed conflict between settlers living in the Mexican province of Texas and the Mexican government. The settlers were primarily Texians — Americans who had settled in Texas — who were joined by Tejanos — Hispanic Texans, who … Read more
Who was United States Army officer George Armstrong Custer? George Custer graduated from the United States Military Academy two months after the Civil War began in 1861. He immediately received a commission in the U.S. Army in time to take part in the First Battle of Bull Run. After a brief illness, Custer returned to … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Benjamin Butler? When the Civil War began, Benjamin Butler used his considerable political influence to secure an appointment to command the 8th Massachusetts Militia Regiment in the Union Volunteer Army. On April 25, 1861, Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott placed Butler in command of the Department of Annapolis and ordered him … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Irvin McDowell? Before the Civil War, Irvin McDowell was serving as an officer in the regular army. When the fighting began, McDowell mustered into service in the volunteer army as a brigadier general in command of the Department of Northeastern Virginia. On July 16, 1861, McDowell led about 35,000 untested … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Don Carlos Buell? At the outset of the American Civil War, Don Carlos Buell was on the West Coast serving as the adjutant general of the Department of the Pacific. The War Department recalled Buell to Washington, where he helped George B. McClellan organize the Army of the Potomac, briefly … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain? In 1862, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain enlisted as a lieutenant colonel in the 20th Maine Regiment, which was a part of the Army of the Potomac throughout the American Civil War. Lacking any formal military education, Chamberlain learned from books on the subject and his battlefield experience. Chamberlain … Read more
Essential Facts About the Massachusetts Bay Colony Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1629 when King Charles I granted a charter to the Massachusetts Bay Company for the purpose of establishing a settlement between the Charles River and the Merrimack River in New England and engaging in trade. The members of the company were Puritans. … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Philip Sheridan? When the American Civil War began, army officials promoted Philip Sheridan to captain in May 1861 and assigned him to the 13th U.S. Infantry at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Sheridan served mostly in administrative roles for Major General Henry Halleck during the first year of the war. Dissatisfied with … Read more
Who was Civil War officer George McClellan? Soon after the Civil War began, George B. McClellan accepted an appointment as the commander of the Ohio Militia with the rank of major general in the Union’s volunteer army. On May 3, 1861, Washington officials placed him in command of the Department of the Ohio. By the … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Ambrose Burnside? When the American Civil War began, Ambrose Burnside raised a volunteer regiment in Rhode Island and he received a commission as a colonel in the U.S. Volunteer Army on May 2, 1861. Soon thereafter, he took part in the First Battle of Bull Run. On August 20, 1861, … Read more
Who was Civil War officer George Meade? Prior to the Civil War, George Meade was a captain in the U.S. Army. After the fighting began, the U.S. War Department promoted Meade to brigadier general in the volunteer army. In March 1862, army officials attached Meade to the Army of the Potomac in time to take … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Joseph Hooker? When the Civil War started, Joseph Hooker received an appointment as a brigadier general in the volunteer army in August 1861. During the first year of the Civil War, Joseph Hooker helped organize and train the Army of the Potomac. When Major General George McClellan launched his Peninsula … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Charles Clark? Charles Clark was a brigadier general in the Confederate Army and governor of Mississippi during the Civil War. When the Civil War began, Clark received commissions as a brigadier general and later as a major general of Mississippi state troops. When the Confederate Army absorbed the Mississippi militia, … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Simon Bolivar Buckner? Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr., was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army who surrendered Fort Donnelson to Ulysses S. Grant on February 16, 1862. After spending five months as a prisoner of war, Buckner went on to take part in the Battle of Munfordville and the Battle … Read more