Was McClellan’s Cavalry Deployment at Antietam Doctrinally Sound?

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Middle Bridge 3PM

This year, Savas Beatie published Volume II of Ezra Carmen’s monumental manuscript under the outstanding editorial pen of Tom Clemens.  Tom’s work combines the manuscript of Carmen with the Copes maps for the best primary source account of this decisive battle. The most exceptional aspect of this book is Tom’s brilliant footnotes and references.  He goes beyond merely citing a reference and includes a full degree of careful analysis.  Here is an example. 

Much is made (generally negative) of McClellan’s concentration of his cavalry, behind the center of his line.

In Landscape Turned Red, Stephen Sears has this to say:

Shortly before noon, McClellan had ventured to push several batteries across the Middle Bridge, supported by Pleasonton’s cavalry and a force of regulars from George Syke’s Fifth Corps.  He was nervous about the move-it was taken against the advice of Porter and Sykes-and he cautioned Pleasonton not to risk the batteries unduly. As an afterthought, he asked, “Can you do any good by a cavalry charge?” Pleasonton wisely ignored the suggestion.[1]

There is also a quotation in Carmen’s manuscript that criticizes the concentration of the cavalry in the center:

“Another, a gallant young cavalry officer later in the war, says: ‘It is one of the surprising features of this surprising battle that the Federal cavalry, instead of being posted, according to the practice of the centuries, on the flanks of the infantry, was used throughout the day in support of its horse batteries, in rear of he Federal center, and in a position from which it could have been impossible for it to have been uses ad cavalry, or even to have emerged mounted.’”[2]

In Tom Clemen’s footnote to this quotation, we learn that the “gallant young cavalry officer” is George B. Davis.  But Tom goes beyond identifying the author of this quote to take on the issue of the doctrinal soundness of Pleasonton’s cavalry position.  Here is the complete cite: 

George B. Davis, The Antietam Campaign, in Campaigns in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania 1862-1863, vol. 3, Papers of the Military Historical Association of Massachusetts (Boston, MA: Griffith-Stillings Press, 1903), p. 55. Davis had worked on publishing the Official Records and was the chair of the Antietam Battlefield Board, Susan Trail, Remembering Antietam, unpublished doctoral dissertation, Antietam National Battlefield Library. Davis’ opinion though worthy of respect, may be challenged by the strategic manual used as a textbook at the U.S. Military Academy in the antebellum era. Baron De Jomini, Summary on the Art of War, or a New Analytical Compend of the Principal Combinations of Strategy, Grand Strategy  and Military Policy (New York, NY: G.P. Putnam & Co., 1854, pp 305-309, discussed cavalry placement and use in various situations, including a charge upon broken infantry lines with artillery support making success possible, and cited examples to demonstrate it. McClellan’s placement was consistent with Jomini’s principals.” (My bold)[3]

Tom makes a very important point here. Jomini was studied at West Point and his book states that this is a legitimate use of cavalry.  McClellan’s employment was just as doctrinally sound in the constructs of the time as Lee’s was. Lee follows the more generally known employment of cavalry placing Fitzhugh Lee’s brigade and Pelham’s artillery are on the left flank, Thomas Munford’s brigade on the right, and Wade Hamptons brigade in reserve in the center. But as Jomini makes plain, that is by no means the only possible course of action.  Sadly, many don’t reach this point.

The conventional interpreters ignore or are unaware of this fact.  Sears says that Pleasonton “wisely ignored” McClellan’s suggestion.  George Davis sets in stone the idea that cavalry is only employed on the flanks on the battlefield “according to the practice of the centuries”. 

Some will argue that his failure to place the cavalry on the flanks prevented him from detecting the advance of A.P. Hill’s division.  The reality is that the Union signal station on Red Hill had the Federal left flank of the battlefield under constant observation and detected the advance of Hill’s division.  Some will proclaim McClellan’s failure to place cavalry on the flanks as an oversight or a mistake.   McClellan is acknowledged, even by his most virulent detractors to be to careful and methodical planner to have overlooked the flanks.  His move is a conscious decision to concentrate in the center.

I would go so far to venture this possibility.  McClellan has poised his cavalry for an offensive move.  The Middle Bridge corridor and Boonsboro Pike is the shortest and fastest route to the Potomac River.  It is a risky venture and one that goes against the grain of the typical McClellan portrayal as a conservative commander.  Consider that this is the first time that McClellan has concentrated his cavalry into one combat command.  It is still a relatively weak vessel compared to the mighty legions of JEB Stuart’s cavalry division.  Alfred Pleasonton, a decidedly mixed bag in terms of competence, commands the division.  But the move is in the right direction.  Not only is the cavalry division concentrated but it has also advanced across the Antietam and is poised further offensive action.  The use or potential use of cavalry as an offensive weapon is a first in the annals of the Army of the Potomac.  My point today is only to assert the legitimacy and doctrinal soundness of the employment.  McClellan’s actual use of the cavalry later that afternoon is another matter that can be discussed at another time.

For those who would say that the placement of mobile forces in the center for a decisive attack there is doctrinally unwise and never works need only ask the French Army in 1940.  That was their assumption until Guderian’s XIX Panzer Corps crossed the Meuse at Sedan and broke the French center. 

So lets take off the table the idea that McClellan’s concept for deploying the cavalry was NOT doctrinally sound.

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[1] Sears, Stephen, Landscape Turned Red The Battle of Antietam, New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1983. page 271.

[2] Carmen, Ezra. The Maryland Campaign of 1862 Volume II Antietam, edited by Tom Clemens, El Dorado CA: Savas-Beatie, 2012, page 364.

[3] Ibid

To My Colleagues on Battery B

Members of Battery B,

It was an honor to serve with all of you this weekend.  We once again demonstrated that Antietam's Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery is one of the premier volunteer living history groups around. 

Three events stand out in my mind. 

Confederate Artillery Fire

The first was on Sunday morning when with a four gun battery, we engaged the Rebs on the Dunker Church plateau.  Seeing the flash of their guns nearly a mile away, smelling the smoke and then hearing the boom seconds later was awesome.  Peter did a great job commanding the battery.   We experienced the sound of fifes and drums as we jumped into action that day, the roar of our own pieces, the smell of the powder and the smoke hanging in the fields in front of us, I couldn’t help but think of the gunners of old who stood on that field that day.  Sunday was also the day that we were introduced to our beautiful new artillery guidon and the national colors thanks to the efforts of our "Sarge" Jerry.  It was great to see as it waved around our camp for the next two days.

Photo by John Teller

The New Guidon

The second experience was the first shot on Monday morning.  This was the moment that all of us had waited for.  We had the honor of firing the first artillery shot for the real-time Cornfield program.  Ahead of us hundreds gathered and rangers prepared to read from the letters of the participants in the Cornfield.  In the misty dark air as the first sliver of orange light appeared over South Mountain, we gathered on the ground where Confederate gunners hurled shot and shell at the advancing Federals in the Cornfield.  The valley of the Antietam was covered with a line of fog.  There was an occasional hushed word or two as we took it all in.  The moment before the battle.  It seemed like we waited forever on that cold silent hill for the command to FIRE.  And when the command was issued, the ten pound Parrot that we manned that morning cracked with a unique sound of its own.  Ours was the first shot, seconds ahead of Parkers battery to our left.  The explosion echoed in the hills around us for several seconds.  The smoke hung in the air and our shadowy dark silhouettes were frozen in time.  Each of us had our own thoughts and reflections as we peered northward and listened to the rattle of musketry from the Cornfield, saw the clouds of smoke from the small arms rise above that bloody ground, and smelled the sulphur.  Thankfully, the only thing missing was the shouts and cries of wounded men.  More shots followed and the tempo of the musket fire increased.  As impressive as it was, I kept thinking that this was but two guns and maybe fifty muskets, a fraction of the actual numbers.  But in its way, it captured for us the sound, sight, and smell of that day at Antietam.  The photos taken by John, and Dave's awesome video (at the top of this post) will be great memories of that incredible moment. 

Practice

The final moment, and for me the proudest was the 21-gun salute that members of our battery fired at the conclusion of the reading of the names of the dead at the National Cemetery on Monday evening.  Jeff Baldwin, one of our own, was also the organizer of a number of other living history events at the commemoration that included the Confederate musketry program at the Cornfield on Monday morning.  He was asked to organize the salute.  Jeff could have assumed command of the detail but he generously and graciously offered that honor to me.  Jeff's job would be the more challenging one however.  You see, we are an artillery battery and while a good number of us have had experience firing muskets, we had none firing a 21-gun salute.  Jeff spent all of Monday afternoon in between our firing demonstrations at the New York Monument, whipping us into shape.  It was a tall order.  Again, we had some folks with lots of experience but we needed to get the timing down, and equally important, I, as the detail commander, needed to remember that we were not a "section" but a "detail", and that there was a difference between "order arms" and "shoulder arms", and that my commands needed to issued loudly, clearly and not too fast.  Jeff was patient but strict and in the end, got us to where we needed to be.  Twelve hours after our first shot of artillery, Battery B made its way to the Cemetery. As the speakers intoned the last names of the dead, we lined up.  God had blessed us with four days of perfect weather and now the sun began to set in the west at the end of the last day.  It was time.

FIRE BY DETAIL, READY, AIM, FIRE!  Seven muskets cracked in almost perfect unison

LOAD! READY AIM, FIRE!  Again a sharp, explosion on the firing line.

LOAD! READY, AIM, FIRE!  The final seven shots.

ORDER ARMS!  PRESENT ARMS!

(Photo by Gary Rohrer)

As the muskets came to salute and my sword dropped to the side, the mournful sound of Taps sounded across the lines of white marble stones at the Cemetery.  Two buglers echoed the tune penned by Daniel Butterfield 149 years ago.  I thought of those who slept here, and I thought of those living now who man the frontiers of freedom, who stand in harm’s way, and who keep this nation free. 

I was honored to work those three days with an amazing group of living history volunteers.  They include our sergeant Jerry Bucey, Brad and Janet Fountain, Jim Buchanan, Susanne Engelhardt, Jeff Baldwin, David Maher, Mike Young, Audrey Scanlon-Taylor, Tracey McIntire, and John Teller.  We owe the opportunity to participate in the 150th Commemoration to our Living History Coordinator, Antietam Ranger Christie Stanczak.  At times stern drill sergeant, black powder instructor but always a friend, Christie had the vision to organize this group five years ago, and most important to keep us safe at all our practices and demonstrations.  With her we have had the opportunity to do things and be at places that I wouldn’t have thought possible way back then, Thank you all for making this weekend for me, a most memorable experience!

Jim

West Pointers in the Maryland Campaign

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Joseph K. F. Mansfield USMA 1822

West Pointers in the Maryland Campaign

Charles Warner USMA 1862

As the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history approaches, I have turned my attention to a small group of men who fought there.  These are the graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point.  From Joseph K.F. Mansfield in the Class of 1822 to Charles Warner, the “Goat” of the Class of 1862, all told 197 graduates served in some capacity in the Maryland Campaign and most fought at Antietam.  In assembling this list, I extensively used George W. Cullum's Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.  Cullem assigned a number to each graduate.  The register contains a short biographical summary of each officer’s service in the United States Army.  Cullem provides no information on Confederate service merely stating that individual “Joined in the Rebellion of 1861‑66 against the United States.”

While some officers connection may be tenuous at best, if Cullem stated that a man participated in the Maryland Campaign, or fought at Antietam, he made my list.  I decided to also include John Reynolds though he was detached from the Army of the Potomac to command the Pennsylvania Emergency Militia.  Also listed are John Pelham and Thomas Rosser. These southern cadets left the academy immediately after Fort Sumter, just shy of their formal graduation date.  Mere attendance for some period of time does not qualify an individual for this list.  Examples in this category are Lowell Armistead, kicked out of the Academy for breaking a plate over the head of fellow cadet Jubal Early and Dunbar Ransom who left West Point to attend Norwich when his father assumed the position of superintendant there.

There were 199 men (including Pelham and Rosser) who wore the cadet gray that now fought, and in some cases, died in this most decisive of battles. 

Just thirty-three (counting Pelham and Rosser) would serve with the Confederate Army.  The vast majority, 166, remained loyal to the nation that trained them and turned them into soldiers.

Most of the generals are well known.  From Joseph Mansfield of the Class of 1862 to Fitzhugh Lee of the Class of 1856, sixty-four men wore a general’s star.  Fifty-six were field grade officers (colonels, lieutenant colonels and majors) commanding brigades, regiments or senior staff positions.  The rest, 77 in all, were company-grade officers (captains or lieutenants.) In that group are fifteen graduates of the West Point Class of 1862.  These men graduated on June 17, 1862 and most were immediately sent to join McClellan’s Army on the Peninsula.  Mere boys in many cases, by the Maryland Campaign they were already hardened veterans having fought in some cases both on the Peninsula and at Second Bull Run prior to the Maryland Campaign.  Amazingly, of the graduates of that last class, a number of these men would still be on duty leading brigades and divisions in the Spanish American War. 

Seven would give their life during the Maryland Campaign.  They include Jesse Reno and Owen K. McLemore at South Mountain; Dixon Miles at Harpers Ferry; and Joseph Mansfield, Israel B. Richardson, George B. Anderson, and Henry Kingsbury on the bloody field of Sharpsburg.  Many others would not live to see the dawn of peace.  Nine months later Gettysburg claimed seven more.  John Reynolds (1841) Gettysburg Jul 1 1863, Richard Garnett (1841) Gettysburg Jul 3 1863, William D. Pender (1854)  Gettysburg Jul 3 1863, Stephen H. Weed (1854) Gettysburg Jul 2 1863, Charles E. Hazlett (M-1861) Gettysburg Jul 2 1863, Alonzo Cushing (J-1861) Gettysburg Jul 3 1863, George A. Woodruff (J-1861) Gettysburg Jul 4 1863,

Eighteen others were killed on other battlefields or from the ravages of the war.  They range from the might Stonewall who fell at Chancellorsville to young Albert Murray, Class of 1862, who died a prisoner of war in Macon Georgia. 

The casual reader will likely not recognize many of these men.  Names like Francis N. Clarke, Frederic Myers, Charles Sawtelle, and Charles N. Warner don’t immediately come to mind.  But whether leading an army, or an ordnance train, each and every one contributed to the success of his army on that bloody day.  And as the commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of that bloody day is about to begin, look at the names, contemplate the service, and mourn the lives lost.

Officers are listed within their graduating classes in order of class rank.

Class of 1822

#2 Joseph K. F. Mansfield, Major General U.S.V. 12^th Corps

Mortally Wounded/Died at Antietam September 18, 1862

Class of 1823

#2 George S. Greene, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Division, 12^th Corps

Class of 1824

#27 Dixon S. Miles, Colonel 2^nd U.S. Infantry

Killed in Action, Harpers Ferry, September 15, 1862

Class of 1827

#16 Thomas B. Stockton, Colonel 16^th Michigan, 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

Class of 1828

#28 Thomas S. Drayton, Brigadier General C.S.A. Drayton’s Brigade, D.R. Jones Division

Class of 1829

#2 Robert E. Lee, General C.S.A. Commander Army of Northern Virginia (ANV)

#5 James Barnes, Colonel 18^th Massachusetts, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

Class of 1830

 #5 William N. Pendleton, Brigadier General C.S.A. Chief of Artillery, ANV

#31 Robert C. Buchanan, Lieutenant Colonel, 4^th Infantry 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

Class of 1831

#13 Andrew Humphrey, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Division, 5^th Corps

Class of 1832

#29 Randolph Marcy, Brigadier General U.S.V. Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac (AOP)

Class of 1833

#4 Rufus King, Brigadier General U.S.V. 1^st Division, 1^st Corps Sick Leave of Absence

Class of 1835

#1 George W. Morell, Major General U.S.V. 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

#22 George G. Meade, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Division, 1^st Corps

#48 Marsena Patrick, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 1^st Corps

Class of 1837

#9 E. Parker Scammon, Colonel 30^th Ohio, 1^st Brigade, Kanawha Division, 9^th Corps

#18 Jubal A. Early, Brigadier General C.S.A.  Early’s Brigade, Ewell’s Division

#22 William H. French, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Division, 2^nd Corps

#24 John Sedwick, Major General U.S.V. 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#29 Joseph Hooker, Major General U.S.V. 1^st Corps

#48 Robert H. Chilton, Colonel C.S.A. Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant General ANV

Class of 1839

#13 Alexander Lawton, Brigadier General C.S.A. Ewell’s Division

#16 James B. Ricketts, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Division, 1^st Corps

#19 Henry J. Hunt, Brigadier General U.S.V. Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac

Class of 1840

#11 Francis N. Clarke, Major, 5^th Artillery, Artillery Commander, 2^nd Corps

#15 George Getty, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Artillery Commander, 9^th Corps

#18 William Hays, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac

Class of 1841

#8 Albion P. Howe, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Division, 4^th Corps

#26 John F. Reynolds, Brigadier General U.S.V. Pennsylvania Emergency Militia                      

Killed at Gettysburg July 1, 1863

#29 Richard B. Garnett, Brigadier General C.S.A. Garnett’s Brigade, D.R. Jones Division,       

Killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863

#34 Alfred Sully, Colonel 1^st Minnesota, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#38 Israel B. Richardson, Major General U.S.V. 1^st Division 2^nd Corps

Mortally Wounded/Died from wounds at Antietam November 3, 1862

#46 William T. H. Brooks, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Brigade, 2^nd Division 6^th Corps

Class of 1842

#1 Henry L. Eustis, Colonel 10^th Massachusetts, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division, 4^th Corps

#2 John Newton, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 6^th Corps

#23 Seth Williams, Brigadier General U.S.V. Adjutant General, AOP

#24 Abner Doubleday, Brigadier General U.S.V. 1^st Division, 1^st Corps

#28 Daniel H. Hill, Major General C.S.A. D.H. Hill’s Division

#29 Napoleon J.T. Dana, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#39 George Sykes, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#40 Richard H. Anderson, Major General C.S.A. Anderson’s Division

#49 Lafayette McLaws, Major General C.S.A. McLaw’s Division

#54 James Longstreet, Major General C.S.A. Longstreet’s Command Army of Northern Virginia

Class of 1843

#1 William B. Franklin, Major General U.S.V. 6^th Corps

#7 Roswell Ripley, Brigadier General, C.S.A. Ripley’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s Division

#11 James A. Hardie, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Assistant Adjutant General, AOP

#12 Henry F. Clark, Colonel – Staff, Chief of Commissariat, AOP

#32 Rufus Ingalls, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Chief Quartermaster, AOP

Class of 1844

#7 Alfred Pleasonton, Brigadier General, U.S.V. Cavalry Division

#18 Winfield Scott Hancock, Brigadier General U.S.V. 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 6^th Corps

Class of 1845

#4 William F. Smith, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Division, 6^th Corps

#8 Fitz-John Porter, Major General U.S.V. 5^th Corps

#17 John P. Hatch, Brigadier General U.S.V. 1^st Division, 1^st Corps

Wounded at South Mountain September 14, 1862

#32 Delos B. Sacket, Colonel – Staff, Inspector General , AOP

#37 William H. Wood, Major, 17^th Infantry, Assistant Provost Marshal, AOP

#38 David A. Russell, Colonel, 7^th Massachusetts, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division, 4^th Corps

Killed Battle of Opequan September 19, 1864

Class of 1846

#2 George B. McClellan, Major General U.S.A. Commander, Army of the Potomac

#8 Jesse L. Reno, Major General U.S.V. 9^th Corps
 Killed at South Mountain (Fox Gap) September 14, 1862

#13 Darius N. Couch, Major General U.S.V. 1^st Division, 4^th Corps

#17 Thomas J. Jackson, Major General C.S.A. Jackson’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia

Mortally Wounded/Died from wounds at Chancellorsville May 10, 1863

#18 Albert L. Magilton, Colonel 4^th Pennsylvania Reserves, 2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division, 1^st Corps

#19 Truman Seymour, Brigadier General, U.S.V. 1^st Brigade, 3^rd Division, 1^st Corps

#26 Richard H. Rush, Colonel 6^th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 3^rd Brigade, Cavalry Division

#32 Samuel D. Sturgis, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Division, 9^th Corps

#41 David R. Jones, Brigadier General C.S.A. D.R. Jone’s Division, Longstreet’s Command

Died of Natural Causes Jan 20 186363

#43 George H. Gordon, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Brigade 1^st Division, 12^th Corps

#44 Frederic Myers, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Chief Quartermaster, 1^st Corps

#45 Delancey Floyd-Jones, Major 11^th Infantry, 2^nd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#46 John D. Wilkins, Captain, 3^rd Infantry, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#49 Nelson H. Davis, Major – Staff, Assistant Inspector General, AOP

Class of 1847

#8 Orlando B. Willcox, Brigadier General, U.S.V. 1^st Division, 9^th Corps

#15 Ambrose P. Hill, Major General C.S.A. A,P. Hill’s Division, Jackson’s Command

Killed in Action Petersburg  April 2 1865

#17 Horatio Gibson, Captain, 3^rd Artillery, Battery C&G, Horse Artillery, Cavalry Division, AOP

#18 Ambrose E. Burnside, Major General U.S.V. 9^th Corps

#20 John Gibbon, Brigadier General, U.S.V. 4^th Brigade, 1^st Division, 1^st Corps

#21 Clermont Best, Captain, 4^th Artillery, Artillery Commander 12^th Corps

#22 Romeyn B. Ayres, Captain, 5^th Artillery, Artillery Commander, 2^nd Division, 6^th Corps

#23 Charles Griffin, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

#27 Thomas H. Neill, Colonel, 23^rd Pennsylvania, 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 4^th Corps

Class of 1848

#3 James C. Duane, Captain, Corps of Engineers, Chief Engineer, AOP

#5 Robert S. Williamson, Captain Topographical Engineers, Topographical Engineer 9^th Corps

#9 Joseph C. Clark, Captain, 4^th Artillery, Battery E, 4^th Artillery 2^nd Division, 9^th Corps

#11 John C. Tidball, Captain, 2^nd Artillery, Battery A, 2^nd Artillery, Horse Artillery Cavalry Division

#16 John Buford, Brigadier General U.S.V. Chief of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac

Died Natural Causes Dec 16 1863

#36 Nathan G. Evans, Brigadier General, C.S.A. Evans Brigade, Longstreet’s Command

Class of 1849

#2 John G. Parke, Major General U.S.V. Chief of Staff 9^th Corps

#13 Edward R. Platt, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Assistant Inspector General 6^th Corps

#22 Edward M. Hudson, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Aide de Camp to George B. McClellan

#31 Samuel B. Holabird, Colonel – Staff, Chief Quartermaster, 12^th Corps

#35 Alfred Cumming, Colonel, C.S.A. Wilcox’s Brigade, Anderson’s Division

Class of 1850

#2 Gouvenuer Warren, Colonel, 5^th New York, 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#17 Armistead L. Long, Colonel C.S.A. Military Secretary to Robert E. Lee

#18 Robert Ransom, Brigadier General C.S.A. Ransom’s Brigade, Walker’s Division

#25 Elisha G. Marshall, Colonel, 13^th New York, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

Class of 1851

#1 George L. Andrews, Colonel, 2^nd Massachusetts, 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 12^th Corps

#15 John Edwards, Captain, 3^rd Artillery, Battery L&M, 3^rd Artillery, 9^th Corps

#42 Lawrence S. Baker, Colonel, C.S.A. 1^st North Carolina Cavalry, Hampton’s Brigade

Class of 1852

#7 Henry W. Slocum, Major General U.S.V. 1^st Division, 6^th Corps

#10 George B. Anderson, Brigadier General, C.S.A. G.B. Anderson’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s Division

Mortally Wounded at Antietam Died October 16, 1862

#19 George L. Hartsuff, Brigadier General U.S.V. 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 1^st Corps

#27 John D. O’Connell, Captain, 14^th Infantry, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#38 George Crook, Colonel, 36^th Ohio, 2^nd Brigade, Kanawha Division, 9^th Corps

Class of 1853

#8 Matthew Blunt, Captain, 12^th Infantry, 1^st Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#24 N. Bowman Sweitzer, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Aide de Camp to George B. McClellan

#29 Thomas Wilson, Captain – Staff, Commissary of Subsistence, AOP

#44 John B. Hood, Brigadier General, C.S.A. Hood’s Division, Longstreet’s Command

#49 James B. McIntyre, Captain, 4^th Cavalry, Cavalry Escort, Headquarters AOP

Class of 1854

#3 Thomas H. Ruger, Colonel 3^rd Wisconsin, 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 12^th Corps

#4 Oliver O. Howard, Brigadier General U.S.V. 2^nd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#13 James E. B. Stuart, Major General C.S.A. Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia

Killed in Action, Yellow Tavern May 12, 1864

#17 Stephen D. Lee, Colonel C.S.A. Lee’s Artillery Battalion, Longstreet’s Command

#19 William D. Pender, Brigadier General, C.S.A. Pender’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division

Killed in Action, Gettysburg July 3, 1863

#27 Stephen D. Weed, Captain, 5^th Artillery, Battery I, 5^th Artillery, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

 Killed in Action, Gettysburg July 3, 1863

#30 George A. Gordon, Captain, 2^nd Cavalry, Provost Guard AOP

#32 Benjamin F. Davis, Colonel, 8^th New York Cavalry, 5^th Brigade, Cavalry Division

Killed in Action, Kelly’s Ford June 9, 1863

#38 Charles G. Sawtelle, Captain – Staff, Acting Chief Quartermaster, AOP

Class of 1855

#1 Cyrus B. Comstock, First Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, Engineer Battalion, AOP

#8 David M. Gregg, Colonel 8^th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 2^nd Brigade, Cavalry Division

#13 Alexander S. Webb, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Chief of Staff, 5^th Corps

#17 Albert V. Coburn, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Assistant Adjutant General, AOP

Died Natural Causes June 17, 1863

#19 George D. Ruggles, Colonel – Staff, Assistant Adjutant General, AOP

#21 Alfred T.A. Torbert, Colonel 1^st New Jersey, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division, 6^th Corps

#33 Robert C. Hill, Colonel, C.S.A. 48^th North Carolina, Manning’s Brigade, Walker’s Division

Class of 1856

#2 David C. Houston, Major – Staff, Chief Engineer, 1^st Corps

#3 Miles D. McAlester, First Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, Engineer Officer AOP

#9 Porter Parker, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence

#16 Wesley Owens, Captain, 5^th Cavalry, 1^st Brigade, Cavalry Division

#28 James W. Forsyth, Captain, 18^th Infantry, Aide de Camp to George B. McClellan

#29 Thomas W. Walker, Captain, 3^rd Infantry, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#31 Joseph H. Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel–Staff, Acting Assistant Adjutant General 2^nd Corps

#35 Herman Biggs, Lieutenant Colonel – Staff, Chief Quartermaster, 9^th Corps

#39 Owen K. McLemore, Lieutenant Colonel, C.S.A. 4^th Alabama, Law’s Brigade

Killed at South Mountain, September 14, 1862

#41 William P. Sanders, Captain, 6^th Cavalry, 1^st Brigade, Cavalry Division

Mortally Wounded/Died from wounds at Knoxville Nov 19 1863

#45 Fitzhugh Lee, Brigadier General C.S.A. Lee’s Brigade, Cavalry Division, ANF

Class of 1857

#3 E. Porter Alexander, Lieutenant Colonel, C.S.A. Ordnance Officer, ANV

#16 Francis Beach, Colonel, 16^th Connecticut, 2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division, 9^th Corps

#17 William Sinclair, Colonel 6^th Pennsylvania Reserves, 1^st Brigade, 3^rd Division, 1^st Corps

#20 Marcus Reno, Captain, 1^st Cavalry, Quartermaster Guard, AOP

#27 Ira Claflin, First Lieutenant, 6^th Cavalry, 1^st Brigade, Cavalry Division

Class of 1858

#8 Marcus P. Miller, First Lieutenant, 4^th Artillery, Battery G, 4^th Artillery, Artillery Reserve

#13 Samuel McKee, Captain, 1^st Cavalry, Cavalry Division

Mortally Wounded/Died from wounds at Cold Harbor June 3,  1864

#14 James J. Van Horn, Captain, 8^th Infantry, Aide de Camp to Provost Marshal General, AOP

#18 Royal T. Frank, Captain, 8^th Infantry, Provost Guard, AOP

Class of 1859

#12 Eugene M. Baker, Captain, 1^st Cavalry, AOP

#13 Norman J. Hall, Colonel, 7^th Michigan, 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#18 Caleb H. Carlton, Captain, 4^th Infantry, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

Class of 1860

#4 Nicolas Bowen, First Lieutenant, Topographical Engineers, Sr. Topographical Engineer, AOP

#9 Alanson Randol, First Lieutenant, 1^st Artillery, Btry E&G, First Artillery, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#12 John M. Wilson, First Lieutenant, Topographical Engineers, Topographical Engineer, AOP

#13 Josiah H. Kellogg, Captain, 1^st Cavalry, AOP

#16 Daniel D. Lynn, First Lieutenant, 6^th Infantry, 2^nd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#18 Alexander Pennington, First Lieutenant, 2^nd Artillery, Battery A, 2^nd Artillery, Horse Artillery

#23 James P. Martin, First Lieutenant, 7^th Infantry, Aide de Camp to George B. McClellan

#25 William G. Jones, Lieutenant Colonel, 71^st Pennsylvania, Acting Aide de Camp 2^nd Corps

Killed at Chickamauga September 19, 1863

#31 Francis Huger, Captain, C.S.A. Huger’s Battery, Saunder’s Battalion

#33 John Newman Andrews, First Lieutenant, 8^th Infantry, 2^nd Battalion, 12^th Infantry, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

Class of May 1861

#2 Charles Cross, First Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, Engineer Battalion, AOP

Killed Franklin’s Crossing, Virginia Jun 5 1863

#4 Henry Kingsbury, Colonel, 11^th Connecticut, 2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division, 9^th Corps

Mortally Wounded and Died at Antietam September 18, 1862

#5 Adelbert Ames, Colonel, 20^th Maine, 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

#8 Emory Upton, First Lieutenant, 5^th Artillery, Artillery Brigade, 1^st Division, 6^th Corps

#12 Samuel N. Benjamin, First Lieutenant, Battery F, 2^nd Artillery, 1^st Division, 9^th Corps

#15 Charles E. Hazlett, First Lieutenant, Battery D, 5^th Artillery, 1^st Division, 5^th Corps

Killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863

#23 Francis A. Davies, Captain, 16^th Infantry, Co. D, 3^rd Infantry, 2^nd Division 5^th Corps

#25 Malbone F. Watson, First Lieutenant, 5^th Artillery, Battery I, 5^th Artillery, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#26 John B. Williams, First Lieutenant, Co G, 3^rd Infantry, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#33 Leonard Martin, First Lieutenant, Battery F, 5^th Artillery, 2^nd Division, 6^th Corps

#34 John S. Poland, Captain, 2^nd Infantry, 2^nd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#44 Mathis W. Henry, First Lieutenant, C.S.A. Horse Artillery, Stuart’s Cavalry Division

* John Pelham, Major, C.S.A. Horse Artillery, Stuart’s Cavalry Division

* Thomas Rosser, Colonel, C.S.A. 5^th Virginia Cavalry, Stuart’s Cavalry Division

Class of June 1861

#3 Arthur H. Dutton, Colonel 21^st Connecticut, 2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division, 9^th Corps

Killed Bermuda Hundred June 5 1864

#5 Daniel W. Flagler, First Lieutenant, Ordnance, Ordnance Officer, 9^th Corps

#8 William H. Harris, First Lieutenant, Ordnance, Assistant Ordnance Officer, AOP

#12 Alonzo H. Cushing, First Lieutenant, 4^th Artillery, Assistant Topographical Engineer, AOP

Killed Gettysburg July 3, 1863

#16 George A. Woodruff, First Lieutenant, Battery I, 1^st Artillery, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

Mortally Wounded and Died at Gettysburg July 4, 1863

#17 Joseph C. Audenreid, Captain-Staff, Aide de Camp, 2^nd Corps

#19 Peter C. Hains, First Lieutenant, Topographical Engineers, Battery M, 2^nd Artillery, Horse Artillery, Cavalry Division

#20 Francis H. Parker, Second Artillery Ordnance, Assistant Ordnance Officer, AOP

#22 Joseph B. Campbell, Captain-Staff, Battery B, 4^th Artillery, 1^st Division, 1^st Corps

#23 Henry E. Noyes, First Lieutenant, 2^nd Cavalry, HQ, AOP

#25 William D. Fuller, First Lieutenant, 3^rd Artillery, Reserve Ammunition Column, AOP

#28 Leroy S. Elbert, First Lieutenant, 3^rd Cavalry, Acting Aide de Camp, Cavalry Division

#30 Eugene Carter, First Lieutenant, 8^th Infantry, AOP

#34 George A. Custer, Captain-Staff, Aide de Camp, HQ AOP

Class of 1862

#2 George L. Gillespie, Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, Engineer Company, AOP

#4 Charles R. Suter, Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, Assistant Engineer, 1^st Corps

#6 Samuel M. Mansfield, Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers,  Enroute to 12^th Corps

#12 Frank B. Hamilton, Second Artillery, 3^rd Artillery, AOP

#14 Tully McCrea, Second Lieutenant, 1^st Artillery, Battery I, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#15 James M. Lancaster, Second Lieutenant, 3^rd Artillery, Battery C, Horse Artillery, Cavalry Division

#16 John Egan, Second Lieutenant, 1^st Artillery, Battery I, 2^nd Division, 2^nd Corps

#20 William C. Bartlett, Second Lieutenant, 3^rd Artillery, Artillery Reserve,  AOP

#21 James E. Wilson, Second Lieutenant, 5^th Artillery, Battery G, 2^nd Artillery, 1^st Division, 4^th Corps

#22 John H. Calef, Second Lieutenant, 5^th Artillery, Battery K, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#23 Samuel B. McIntire, Second Lieutenant, 5^th Artilery, Battery I, 2^nd Division, 5^th Corps

#24 Albert M. Murray, Second Lieutenant, 5^th Artillery, Battery A, 3^rd Division, 9^th Corps

Died in the Military Prison at Macon as a POW Aug 12 1864

#26 James H. Lord, Second Lieutenant, 2^nd Artillery, Battery E, 1^st Division, 9^th Corps

#27 James J. Frederick, Second Lieutenant, 3^rd Cavalry, Escort Headquarters, AOP

Killed fom fall from horse  August 4, 1864

#28 Charles N. Warner, Second Lieutenant, 4^th Artillery, Battery D, 1^st Division, 6^th Corps