Battlefield Commanders in an earlier Civil War

Douglas

While the traditional 1861 Civil War opening is most commonly used, the earlier possibilities for a Civil War between 1850 and 1860 are occasionally used in time lines here, too. In the few of these I've seen, we often see the commanders from our Civil War rush to the top of the command structure, and simply take command a few years earlier than they would have in OTL.

Of course, that's not really how things work. The generals of an 1850 Civil War differ from those of an 1855 Civil War differ from those of an 1859 Civil War. But who are they? Who are we likely to see as battlefield commanders for the North and South in an earlier Civil War? Winfield Scott might not be too old to command the northern armies, for one...but who else is likely to be a "big name" in an earlier ACW?
 
Thande

Thande

Donor
One would assume the Mexican-American War veterans would become more important as you go backwards...
 

Dave Howery

Thande said:
One would assume the Mexican-American War veterans would become more important as you go backwards...
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more important? Hell, they were pretty damn important in the OTL ACW. Practically every 'big name' leader in the ACW served in Mexico too... Grant, Lee, Beauregard, Thomas, Johnston and Johnnston, Hooker, Burnside, Bragg, two Kearnys, Pope, Meade, McClellan, McDowell, Jackson, Jefferson Davis himself, Buckner, Magruder, Longstreet, Pickett, Armistead, Hebert, Pemerton, Sherman, Halleck, Reynolds, Hancock, Buell, Ewell, Early.... granted, some of these served in CA or NM instead of Mexico with Taylor/Scott, but they still served. Remember that there wasn't really any wars between the Mexican and ACW, only some conflicts with Native Americans, which were hardly the same as fighting against another modern industrialized nation. When the ACW rolled around, the veterans of the Mexican war were the only ones with appropriate combat experience...
 
MrP

MrP

Banned
I'm not much up on the US Army in the period, but a trundle around Wiki revealed a few possibilities.

Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775 – February 24, 1828)

After the war, the U.S. Army was reduced in size. By 1821, he was the only major general in the service and President James Monroe made him commanding general. Despite a stroke he suffered in 1821, he functioned well in his new post. He reorganized the army staff into the form it retained for the rest of the century. He advised the secretaries of war and the presidents on military policy. He also pushed for the establishment of two post-graduate schools for the military, the precursors of present day staff and command colleges.[1] Another first was his creation in 1822 of the General Recruiting Service as the first organisation responsible for providing manpower for the Army.[2]
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John Ellis Wool (February 20,[1] 1784 – November 10, 1869)

By the time of the Mexican-American War, he was widely considered one of the most capable officers in the army and a superb organizer. He was one of the four general officers of the United States Army in 1861, and was the one who saw the most Civil War service. When the war began, Wool, at age 77, a brigadier general for 20 years, commanded the Department of the East. He was the oldest general on either side of the war.
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William Selby Harney (22 August 1800 – 9 May 1889)

During the Mexican-American War he was appointed colonel and commanded the 2nd Dragoons. The 2nd Dragoons were attached to John E. Wool's command during the Chihuahua Expedition and the Battle of Buena Vista. Harney joined Winfield Scott's Army as senior cavalry officer Fighting with distinction at the battle of Cerro Gordo he received a promotion to brevet brigadier general. On May 14, 1849, on the death of Bvt. Major General William J. Worth, Harney assumed command of Military Department Number Five, which comprised almost all of the settled portion of Texas. While on leave in Paris he was recalled to lead an expedition against the Sioux after the Grattan Massacre culminating in the Battle of Ash Hollow in 1855. After the Battle of Ash Hollow, Harney was known amongst the Sioux as "Woman Killer." He was then placed in command of the Department of Oregon. During this time he sent troops under Captain George E. Pickett to San Juan Island precipitating the Pig War. Due to these altercations with the British he was recalled. Briefly in command of troops during the Utah War he was again recalled and placed in command of troops sent to deal with the Bleeding Kansas affair. Promoted to full brigadier general on June 14, 1858 he was one of four general officers in the regular army at the opening of the Civil War.
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Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)

Irvin McDowell (October 15, 1818 – May 4, 1885)
 

GreatScottMarty

possibly Zebulon Pike or Fremont?

One more question, I don't think a lot of the future ACW commanders were even out of the army yet. I believe Grant was in Santa Clara drinking his commission away, while McClellan wouldn't take the railroad position until 1854 or 55. So what is the effect of most of these men still being active and does it change their views of seccession? A few notable Southern battlefield commanders were on the fence in 1860 would secession be less appetizing to them than it was 10 years later?
 
Fearless Leader

Fearless Leader

Donor
GreatScottMarty said:
possibly Zebulon Pike or Fremont?

One more question, I don't think a lot of the future ACW commanders were even out of the army yet. I believe Grant was in Santa Clara drinking his commission away, while McClellan wouldn't take the railroad position until 1854 or 55. So what is the effect of most of these men still being active and does it change their views of seccession? A few notable Southern battlefield commanders were on the fence in 1860 would secession be less appetizing to them than it was 10 years later?
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Zebulon Pike's a no show unless you have TTL's civil war take place before 1813 when he was killed by a flying rock (no joke! Look it up!).

If you're having a war in the 1850's I'd wager a bunch of the same old guys who fought in OTL would eventually rise to the surface especially as younger officers began to replace the older ones with a prolonged conflict.

A few names which haven't been mentioned yet are Winifield Scott and Jefferson Davis, both of whom served in the Mexican American War. With a ACW in the 1850's expect Scott to take a more active role due to better health. In regards to Davis, I'd wager had he not been elected president of the CSA in OTL he would have been given command of the Confederacy's armies.
 
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