Union Generals - Nicknames

[Le Ricain]

The ACW was a great time for giving nicknames to generals. There were many sources for these nicks including newspapers (George 'The Rock of Chickamauga' Thomas), the enemy (Nathaniel 'Commissary' Banks), pre-war professions (John 'Pathfinder' Fremont) and finally from the troops and colleagues of the particular general. In many cases the nicks give an insight into the various generals' personalities and character. I have tried to add some explanations to some of the less well known nicks.

Nathaniel P Banks* “Commissary Banks” “Parade Ground” "Napoleon"
1st Nick given by Confederates after the retreat from Strasburg, where Banks lost a large quantity of supplies to Jackson. 3rd nick was sarcastically used by his own troops during the 1864 Red River campaign.
*
Francis C Barlow* “The Boy General”
Barlow had a very youthful appearance.
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Robert C Buchanan* “Old Buck”
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Stephen G Burbridge* “Butcher” or “The Butcher of Kentucky”
Nick given by Confederates for Burbridge's actions during the guerilla war campaign in KY.
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Ambrose E Burnside* “Sideburns” ”Burn”
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Benjamin F Butler* “Beast” “Spoons”
Nicks given to Butler during his command of the occupation forces New Orleans.
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Daniel Butterfield* “Little Napoleon”
Known for his bad temper and meddlesome assertiveness.
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Samuel S Carroll* “Old Bricktop”
Red hair.
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Joshua L Chamberlain* “Lion of the Round Top”
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Michael Corcoran* “Mick”
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George A Custer* “Autie” “Fanny” “Curly”
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Lysander Cutler* “The Gray Wolf” “Woodchuck”
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Jefferson C Davis* “Jef”
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Philippe R D D de Trobriand* “Froggy”
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Thomas C Devin* “Buford’s Hard Hitter”
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Grenville M Dodge* “Level Eye”
Pre-war profession as Land Surveyor.
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Abner Doubleday* “Old 48 Hours”* “Hero of Sumter”
1st nick was for Doubleday’s deliberate, methodical and careful style, as if he had all the time in the world. 2nd nick as Doubleday aimed the first cannon to fire from Ft Sumter in April 1861.
*
Neal S Dow “The Napoleon of Temperance”
*Dow was a leader in the anti-alcohol movement.

Alfred N A Duffis* “Nattie”
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John C Fremont* “Pathfinder”
Pre-war famous explorer.
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Ulysses S Grant* “Sam” “Unconditional Surrender” “Hero of Appomattox”
*1st nick based on Grant's initials and Uncle Sam. 2nd nick based on his initials and his terms to Forts Henry and Donaldson.

Henry W Halleck* “Old Brains”
Halleck was a noted expert on military studies.
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Winfield S Hancock* “The Superb”
Taken from a wire sent by McClellan after battle of Williamsburg (“Hancock was superb”)
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Alexander Hays* “Fighting Elleck”
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Joseph Hooker* “Fighting Joe”
Newspaper typo dropped the ‘-‘ in header, ‘Fighting – Joe Hooker’.
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Oliver O Howard* “The Christian General”
A born-again Christian, Howard made spiritual strengthening a daily part of his troops routine.
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Andrew A Humphreys “Old Goggle Eyes”
Humphreys wore eye glasses.
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David Hunter* “The Hound”
Nick given by Confederates for his actions in the Shenandoah Valley including the burning of VMI.
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Philip Kearney* “The Magnificent” “Long Marcher”
Nick, Kearney le Magnifique, given by the French Army Chasseurs d’Afrique for actions during the Algerian War of the 1840’s.
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Hugh J Kilpatrick* “Kill Cavalry”
Employed tactics that were considered as a reckless waste of his troopers’ lives and of his horses.
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John A Logan* “Black Jack”
Nick given for his dark eyes, hair and complexion.
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George B McClellan* “Little Mac” “Young Napoleon” “Virginia Creeper” “Mac the Unready”
3rd nick is a play on words for the Virginia Creeper, a plant of the grape family.
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Ranald S MacKenzie* “Perpetual Punisher”
Known for his harsh discipline.
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George G Meade* “Old Snapping Turtle” “Old Four Eyes”
Meade was famous for his terrible temper and he wore eye glasses.
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Thomas F Meagher* “Meagher of the Sword”
Meagher was a prominent Irish Nationalist. Nick was in reference to one of his speeches.
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Robert H Milroy* “The War Eagle”
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Ormsby M Mitchel* “Old Stars”
Pre-war profession as an astronomer.
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Joseph A Mower* “Fighting Joe”
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William Nelson* “Bull”
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Richard J Oglesby* “Uncle Dick”
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Joshua T Owen* “Paddy”
Nick was given for commanding an Irish Rgt, 69th PA, although Owen was born in Wales.
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John F Reynolds* “Old Common Sense”
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Israel B Richardson* “Fighting Dick” “Greasy Dick”
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William S Rosecrans* “Old Rosey” “The Wild Dutchman” “The Great Decliner”
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William P Sanders* “Doc”
Unusual nick as Sanders had no medical training.
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Alexander Schimmelfennig* “Schimmel”
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Winfield Scott* “Old Fuss and Feathers”
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John Sedgwick* “Uncle John”
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Philip H Sheridan* “Little Phil”
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Thomas W Sherman* “Tim”
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William T Sherman* “Cump” “Uncle Billy” “Attila of the American Continent” "Devil"
4th nick was given by Confederates for Sherman's march through GA.
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Henry W Slocum “Speculator” “Slow Come”
1st nick as Slocum had many ongoing financial initiatives. 2nd nick given at Gettysburg, where Slocum was judged to have been indecisive and slow to advance to the battle field.
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William F Smith* “Baldy”
Nick given while a student at West Point. In later life, Smith was not particularly bald.
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Edwin V Sumner* “Bull” or “Old Bullhead”
During an action against Indians prior to ACW, a spent bullet bounced off his head.
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George Sykes* “Tardy George” “Slow Trot”
In the early battles, Sykes was judged to have failed to demonstrate an aggressive manner.
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George H Thomas* “Slow Trot” “Pap” “Rock of Chickamauga” “The Sledge (hammer) of Nashville”
1st nick given while Thomas was a student at West Point where he suffered from an injured back.
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Alfred T A Torbert* “Daisy”
Nick given while a student at West Point.
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Ivan V T Turchin* “John Basil” “The Russian Thunderbolt” "The Mad Cossack"
1st nick was the Anglicising of his Russian two first names. 3rd nick was given by the Confederates after the so called 'Rape of Athens (AL)' in May 1862.
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Lewis Wallace* “Lew” “Saviour of Cincinnati”
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Gouverneur K Warren* “Hero of Little Round Top”
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Alpheus S Williams "Pap"
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August von Willich* “Papa”
Willich showed great concern for the well being of his troops.
*

[Jabberwock]

"Napoleon" P. Banks - sarcastically used by his own troops during the Red River campaign.

[Le Ricain]

"Napoleon" P. Banks - sarcastically used by his own troops during the Red River campaign.

Thanks, Jabberwock. I have added your Banks' nick to the list above.

[Spharv2]

Hugh J Kilpatrick* “Kill Cavalry”
Employed tactics that were considered as a reckless waste of his troopers’ lives.

Most of the things I've read about Kilpatrick say that he got this nickname not because he was careless with his soldiers, but because he would push so hard that he'd leave a trail of dead and lame horses in his wake...generally leaving his force near useless before too long.

[Le Ricain]

Most of the things I've read about Kilpatrick say that he got this nickname not because he was careless with his soldiers, but because he would push so hard that he'd leave a trail of dead and lame horses in his wake...generally leaving his force near useless before too long.

Kilpatrick's insentivity extended to both his horses and to his men. He had a tendency to take off on wild goose chases without giving a second thought to the losses in horses such adventures entailed and to making rash charges which caused severe casualties amongst his men, such as at 2nd Bull Run and at Gettysburg.

The role of cavalry had changed in the ACW to one of intelligence gathering and intelligence denying (screening). The time of cavalry charges against infantry fixed in place had passed. However, cavalry charges and exploits such as riding around the enemy's army made for good newspaper coverage, albeit at a cost in men and horses.

[Yellowhammer]

Ivan Turchin was known by the Confederates as the 'Mad Cossack', due to his treatment of the people of Athens, Alabama in 1862 ("I close my eyes for one hour").

The presiding officer at Turchin's subsequent court-martial was future President Garfield; Turchin was convicted and dismissed from service. President Lincoln reinstated Turchin and promoted him to Brigadier General (under pressure from the press - Turchin had been engaged against Lincoln's brother-in-law CSA Col. Ben Helm) .

[Le Ricain]

Ivan Turchin was known by the Confederates as the 'Mad Cossack', due to his treatment of the people of Athens, Alabama in 1862 ("I close my eyes for one hour").

The presiding officer at Turchin's subsequent court-martial was future President Garfield; Turchin was convicted and dismissed from service. President Lincoln reinstated Turchin and promoted him to Brigadier General (under pressure from the press - Turchin had been engaged against Lincoln's brother-in-law CSA Col. Ben Helm) .

Yellowhammer,

Thanks for your contribution. I have added it to the list above.

[mike1962]

To this very day there are parts of the south that refer to Sherman as the "Devil".

[Le Ricain]

To this very day there are parts of the south that refer to Sherman as the "Devil".

Mike1962,

Good one...I had forgotten that one.