The American Civil War of 1861 to 1865 was the deadliest war in United States history, fought over slavery and the survival of the Union. It also produced a generation of famous commanders on both sides. Here are four of the greatest, each linked to the battles that made their name, with the plain fact that the Confederates among them fought to defend slavery.
Ulysses S. Grant. The Union general who took Vicksburg, was made general-in-chief, and ground Lee's army down to surrender at Appomattox; later the 18th US president.
Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant at his headquarters at Cold Harbor, Virginia, in 1864, photographed by Mathew Brady's studio. National Portrait Gallery, Washington. Public domain
William Tecumseh Sherman. Grant's friend and hammer, who captured Atlanta and marched to the sea, waging the 'hard war' that broke the Confederacy's economy.
Robert E. Lee photographed by Mathew Brady on 16 April 1865, a week after his surrender at Appomattox. National Portrait Gallery, Washington. Public domain
Stonewall Jackson. Lee's right arm, master of the fast march and the flank attack, killed by his own men at the height of Chancellorsville.
A war that changed the country
The Union generals Grant and Sherman won by wearing the South down and wrecking its capacity to fight; the Confederates Lee and Jackson won brilliant battles but served a losing cause. The war killed hundreds of thousands, preserved the United States and ended slavery. See where they fought among the greatest battles in American history.
Territory lost by the Confederacy year by year from 1861 to 1865, as Union armies and fleets closed in. Adapted from a map in the US Army's American Military History. Public domain
Frequently asked questions
Who were the greatest commanders of the American Civil War?
The most famous are the Union generals Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, and the Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
Who was the best general of the Civil War?
It is debated: Lee is praised for battlefield brilliance, but Grant won the war, combining several armies into a strategy that wore the Confederacy down.
Which side won the American Civil War?
The Union won. The Confederacy surrendered in 1865; the war preserved the United States and ended slavery.
What was the Civil War fought over?
Fundamentally over slavery and whether the southern states could leave the Union to protect it; the Confederacy was founded to defend slavery.
Why is Lee still famous if he lost?
For his skill in battle and a later 'Lost Cause' legend; historians credit his ability while rejecting the myth and stressing the cause he served.
Where can I read about their battles?
Each commander links to their key battles, and the greatest battles in American history covers Gettysburg, Antietam and more.
Take command in the Civil War
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