William Hardee, the West Point Commandant who fought for the Confederacy

William J. Hardee. Image Source: Library of Congress.

William Hardee was an officer in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He is most well-known for his contributions to the development of military tactics and strategy. Hardee graduated from the United States Military Academy and served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. He resigned from his commission in 1861 and joined the Confederate Army, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. Hardee played a key role in many significant battles in the Western Theater. Besides his service as a military officer, Hardee contributed to the development of military tactics and strategy. He authored the book Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, which was used by both the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.

Student at West Point

Hardee started his time at West Point as a student on July 1, 1834, and graduated four years later on July 1, 1838. He ranked 26th in his class of 45 cadets. Among his classmates at the academy were future Union General Irvin McDowell and future Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard. Later, Hardee would serve with Beauregard in the Army of the Mississippi.

Infantry Training in France

In 1840, Hardee was sent to Europe to study light infantry tactics and the use of a rifled musket at the Royal Cavalry School in Saumur, France. When he returned to the United States in 1842, he was assigned to garrison duty in Louisiana for three years. On September 13, 1844, he received a promotion to Captain.

Mexican-American War

In 1845, a border dispute between Texas and Mexico prompted United States President James K. Polk to deploy troops to Texas. Army officials sent Hardee west to serve with General Zachary Taylor‘s Army of Occupation. On April 25, 1846, Mexican cavalry troopers took him captured during an ambush known as the Skirmish of La Rosia. Also known as the Thornton Affair, the encounter touched off the Mexican-American War. The Mexicans held Hardee prisoner for two weeks before exchanging him on May 10, 1846.

Later during the war, Hardee served with General Winfield Scott‘s Army of Invasion, which landed at Veracruz on March 9, 1847, and ultimately occupied Mexico City on September 8, 1847. During Scott’s campaign, Hardee received a brevet promotion to Captain “for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Affair at Medellin,” effective March 25, 1847. The army also brevetted him to Lieutenant Colonel “for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Affair with the Enemy at San Agustin, Mexico,” effective August 20, 1847.

Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics

After the Mexican-American War, Hardee served four more years in Texas. In 1852, United States Secretary of War Jefferson Davis selected Hardee to write a new manual of military tactics, addressing the adoption of rifled muskets. Hardee spent the next three years drafting his work, titled Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics. The United States Army adopted the finished product on March 29, 1855. More commonly known as Hardee’s Tactics, the manual later became the handbook used by officers on both sides of the American Civil War. Concurrent with the adoption of his work, Hardee received a brevet promotion to Major, effective March 3, 1855.

Return to West Point

In 1856, Hardee returned to the U.S. Military Academy as Commandant of Cadets. He served in that capacity from July 22, 1856, until September 8, 1860. While there, army officials promoted Hardee to Lieutenant Colonel, effective June 28, 1860.

Hardee Joins the Confederacy

After his home state of Georgia seceded from the Union, Hardee resigned his commission on January 31, 1861, and offered his services to the Confederacy. The Confederate government commissioned Hardee as a Colonel and assigned him to command Forts Morgan and Gaines at the mouth of Mobile Bay in Alabama.

Learn More About the Life and Career of William J. Hardee

Early Life

• William J. Hardee was the youngest of seven children of John and Sarah Ellis Hardee.
• Hardee’s father was a successful planter and slaveholder who also served in the state senate.

Education at the United States Military Academy

• William J. Hardee attended the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1834, to July 1, 1838.
• Hardee graduated from the United States Military Academy on July 1, 1838, ranked 26th in his class of 45 cadets.
• Among his classmates at the United States Military Academy were future Union General Irvin McDowell and future Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard, with whom Hardee would serve in the Army of the Mississippi.

Early Military Career

• Immediately upon graduation, Hardee was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the 2nd U.S. Dragoons and sent to Florida where he campaigned against the Seminole Indians during Second Seminole War.
• On December 3, 1839, he was promoted to First Lieutenant.

Assignment to France and Marriage

• In October 1840, William J. Hardee received an assignment to study at the Royal Cavalry School in Saumur, France.
• Hardee married Elizabeth Dummett on November 16, 1840. Their marriage produced three daughters and a son.
• On September 13, 1844, he was promoted to Captain.

Hardee in the Mexican-American War

• In 1845, William J. Hardee was sent west to serve with General Zachary Taylor’s Army of Occupation.
• On April 25, 1846, Mexican cavalry troopers took Hardee prisoner during an ambush known as Skirmish of La Rosia. He was held prisoner for two weeks until he was exchanged on May 10, 1846.
• During the Mexican-American War, Hardee served with General Winfield Scott’s Army of Invasion.
• He was brevetted to captain “for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Affair at Medellin,” effective March 25, 1847,
• Hardee was brevetted to Lieutenant Colonel “for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Affair with the Enemy at San Agustin, Mexico,” effective August 20, 1847.

“Hardee’s Tactics”

• In 1852, U.S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis selected William J. Hardee to write a new manual of military tactics addressing the adoption of rifled muskets.
• Between 1852 and 1855, William J. Hardee drafted a manual of military tactics entitled Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics.
• The U.S. Army adopted his Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics on March 29, 1855.
• More commonly known as “Hardee’s Tactics,” it later became the handbook used by officers on both sides of the Civil War.
• Hardee was brevetted to Major, effective March 3, 1855.

Hardee Becomes a Widower and Returns to West Point

• William J. Hardee’s wife died of tuberculosis in 1853. In order to continue his military career, Hardee entrusted the care of his four young children to his wife’s sister who lived in St. Augustine, Florida.
• Hardee served at the U.S. Military Academy as Commandant of Cadets from July 22, 1856, until September 8, 1860.
• He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, effective June 28, 1860.

Hardee Joins the Confederate Army

• After his home state of Georgia seceded from the Union, Hardee resigned from his U.S. Army commission on January 31, 1861, and offered his services to the Confederacy.
• At the beginning of the Civil War, Hardee was commissioned as a Colonel in the Confederate Army and assigned to command Forts Morgan and Gaines at the mouth of Mobile Bay in Alabama.
• On June 17, 1861, William J. Hardee was promoted to Brigadier General.
• In June 1861, he was sent to the West where he was tasked with organizing and training troops for the defense of Arkansas’ northern border.
• Hardee’s reputation for solving difficult problems with limited resources impressed his men, earning him the nickname, “Old Reliable.”
• Hardee was appointed as Major General commanding a division, effective October 7, 1861.
• From December 4, 1861, through February 23, 1862, he briefly commanded the Central Army of Kentucky.
• In 1862, the Confederate War Department sent his command to western Tennessee where it was merged into the Army of the Mississippi on March 29, 1862.

Hardee at the Battle of Shiloh

At the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862), William J. Hardee received a slight arm wound as he commanded the 3rd Corps of Johnston’s army. After the Confederate defeat, he continued to command the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Mississippi while it was besieged by Major General Henry Halleck and his Union troops at the Siege of Corinth (April 29 to May 30, 1862).

Hardee and the Army of the Mississippi

• On July 5, 1862, General Braxton Bragg issued General Orders, No. 22, temporarily handing off command of the Army of the Mississippi to Hardee.
• Hardee commanded the Army of the Mississippi from July 5 to August 15, 1862.
• On August 15, 1862, Bragg issued General Orders, No. 116 (Department No. 2) assigning Hardee to command the left wing of the Army of the Mississippi.
• During the Confederate Heartland Campaign, Hardee’s wing of the Army of the Mississippi took part in the Confederate success at the Battle of Munfordville (September 14–17, 1862).
• Hardee’s wing of the Army of the Mississippi took part in the Battle of Perryville (October 8, 1862).
• Hardee disagreed with Bragg’s decision to end the Confederate Heartland Campaign and retreat to Tennessee.
• William J. Hardee was promoted to Lieutenant General, effective October 10, 1862.

Hardee and the Army of Tennessee

• On November 20, Bragg issued General Orders, No. 151, reorganizing the Army of the Mississippi as the Army of Tennessee. Bragg subdivided the army into three corps and placed Hardee in command of one of the corps, designated simply as Hardee’s Corps.
• Hardee commanded Hardee’s Corps of the Army of Tennessee during the Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862–January 2, 1863).

Transfer to Alabama and Second Marriage

• On July 14, 1863, the Confederate War Department transferred Hardee to Alabama, where he assumed temporary command of the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana from July 24 through October or November 1863.
• On January 13, 1864, he married Mary Foreman Lewis, the 26-year-old daughter of an Alabama plantation owner. Their marriage lasted nine years but produced no children.

Hardee in Tennessee

• On October 23, 1863, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced Leonidas Polk with Hardee as commander of the 1st Corps of the Army of Tennessee.
• On November 23, 1863, Hardee’s Corps checked Major General William T. Sherman’s assault against the right flank of Bragg’s army at Tunnel Hill.
• After the loss of Chattanooga, Hardee lobbied for Bragg’s removal as commander of the Army of Tennessee.
• After Bragg’s resignation, Hardee assumed command of the Army of Tennessee from December 2 to December 16, 1863.

Hardee During the Atlanta Campaign

• In the spring and summer of 1864, he served as a corps commander with the Army of Tennessee under General Joseph E. Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign.
• During the Atlanta Campaign, Hardee led his troops in combat at the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge (May 7-13, 1864), the Battle of Resaca (May 13-15, 1864), the Battle of Adairsville (May 17, 1864), the Battle of New Hope Church (May 25-26, 1864), the Battle of Dallas (May 26–June 1, 1864), and the Battle of Pickett’s Mill (May 27, 1864).
• After Jefferson Davis replaced Joseph E. Johnston with John Bell Hood as commander of the Army of Tennessee on July 17, 1864, Hardee continued to serve as a corps commander.

Hardee Criticized by John Bell Hood

• General John Bell Hood blamed Hardee for Rebel setbacks at the Battle of Peachtree Creek (July 20, 1864), the Battle of Utoy Creek (August 5-7, 1864), and the Battle of Jonesboro (August 31-September 1, 1864).
• Unwilling to serve as a scapegoat for Hood’s failures and mounting casualty totals, Hardee requested a transfer from the Army of Tennessee in September 1864.

Hardee Transferred to South Carolina

• On September 28, 1864, President Davis relieved Hardee from duty with the Army of Tennessee and placed him in charge of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
• Hardee assumed command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida on October 5, 1864.
• As commander of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, Hardee inherited the insurmountable task of trying to check Sherman’s March to the Sea (November 15, 1864–December 21, 1864).
• On December 20, 1864, Hardee evacuated his troops from Savannah, Georgia enabling Sherman’s forces to occupy the city the next day.

Hardee Joins With Johnston

• On February 22, 1865, Robert E. Lee, merged Hardee’s department with the remnants of the Army of Tennessee. Lee placed General Joseph E. Johnston in command of the combined force.
• On March 16, 1865, Hardee’s forces were able to slow Sherman’s march through the Carolinas at the Battle of Averasboro.
• While defending the Confederate right flank during the Battle of Bentonville (March 19–21, 1865), Hardee learned that his only son, seventeen-year-old Willie, a private with the 8th Texas Cavalry, had been killed during the engagement.

Surrender at Bennett Place

• On April 26, 1865, Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his forces, including Hardee’s command, to Sherman at Bennett Place, virtually ending major organized combat in the American Civil War.

Post-War Life

Following the conclusion of the Civil War, Hardee settled in Alabama, where he tried to restore his wife’s family plantation. He later moved to Selma where he engaged in the insurance business and he served as president of the Selma and Meridian Railroad.