Attention! The Greatest Generals And Military Leaders In American History
Historically, a military is only as good as its leaders, who are essential for making difficult decisions, inspiring their troops, and are ultimately held responsible for defeating the enemy. Nevertheless, there's a reason that the United States has been such a militaristic force since its inception, with much of the credit going to its brilliant, brave, and strategic generals and other leaders in matters of warfare. So at ease, soldier, and take a look at the most accomplished and remembered American generals and commanders in American history.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Helped Plan D-Day
While Dwight D. Eisenhower might best be remembered as the 34th president of the United States, before that, he was an incredibly capable general. Although he was denied his request to serve in Europe during World War I, in World War II he became a five-star general, serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in the European Theater.
As a general, he pulled off some of the greatest military accomplishments of the 20th century which included the invasion of Normandy on D-Day as well as the invasion of North Africa.
Thomas Jonathan Jackson Was Nicknamed "Stonewall" For A Reason
Considered as one of the best Confederate generals of the American Civil War, Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" for his ferocity on the battlefield. He was also renowned for moving his troops at such a quick and efficient pace, especially during the Valley Campaign, that his soldiers started to be called the general's "foot cavalry."
Although he may have won a decisive victory at Chancellorsville, he also ended up losing his life when he was shot by one of his own men after an evening reconnaissance mission.
James Mattis Resigned As Secretary Of State
James Mattis joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Central Washington University, rising through the ranks until finally becoming general. During his career in the Marines, he became a four-star general, commanding forces in the Persian Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan.
His other positions included commander of the United States Joint Forces Command, commander of the United States Central Command, and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Then, in January 2017, he was selected to serve as the 26th secretary of defense, until he resigned in January 2019.
George Custer Is Known For More Than The Battle Of Little Bighorn
Although George Armstrong Custer graduated from West Point at the bottom of his class in 1861, Union generals saw his potential and he was assigned as brigadier general of volunteers at just 23.
Nevertheless, just days later, he demonstrated his valor at the Battle of Gettysburg and continued to have victories at Cedar Creek, and played a major role in the defeat of Confederate forces at Appomattox Courthouse. After the Civil War, Custer remained in the army during the Indian Wars and was killed while leading the 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.
Winfield Scott Was Known As "The Grand Old Man Of The Army"
Winfield Scott had an extensive military career, serving as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, participating in conflicts including the War of 1812, numerous battles with Native Americans, the Mexican-American War, and the beginning of the Civil War. In 1841, he was named the Commanding General of the United States Army.
Referred to as "Old Fuss and Feathers" and the "Grand Old Man of the Army," Scott was also the Whig's party presidential candidate in the 1852 election, although Franklin Pierce ultimately won.
William T. Sherman Is Still Despised In The South
The bane of the Confederacy, William T. Sherman was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Known for his mind for strategizing on the battlefield, Sherman has also been criticized for his brutal scorched earth tactics, living by the method of total war against the Confederacy.
In 1864, Sherman took over from Grant as the Union commander of the Western Theater, and in 1869 became the Commanding General of the Army. He is described by military theorist and historian B.H. Lidell Hart as "the first modern general."
John J. Pershing Holds A Record For Rank In The Army
Also known as "Black Jack," John J. Pershing was a United States Army officer, serving in World War I as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces and was notable for refusing to have his American soldier integrated into British and French forces, as well as allowing all-black units to fight within the French army.
Currently, he is the only American to be promoted in his lifetime to General of the Armies rank, the highest rank possible, which would make him an unofficial six-star general today. After World War I, Pershing was also a mentor to other legendary generals such as Marshall, Eisenhower, and Patton, among others.
Robert E. Lee Gave The Union Quite A Fight
Robert E. Lee was the son of the Revolutionary War officer Henry Lee III and graduated from the United States Military Academy at the top of his class. When Virginia seceded from the Union after the 1861 Richmond Convention during the American Civil War, Lee stayed with his state, even after being offered a senior Union command.
In 1862, Lee was given command of the Army of North Virginia, and being at a great disadvantage fighting for the Confederacy; he demonstrated his military prowess time and time again. By the end of the American Civil War, Lee was the Confederate States Army commander, and senior military advised to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
There's A Reason George Washington Is Remembered The Way He Is
On top of being Founding Father and the first president of the United States, George Washington began his military career with the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War. Being the man he was, it didn't take long for him to be assigned the Continental Army's Commanding General.
He then successfully led American forces and the French for the independence of the United States during the Revolutionary War. Considered one of the country's greatest generals and presidents, he is remembered as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."
Ulysses S. Grant Played Major Role In The Success Of The Union Army
Ulysses S. Grant graduated from West Point in 1843 before making a name for himself during the Mexican-American War. He subsequently retired from the military in 1848 before rejoining the Union Army during the American Civil War in 1861.
After the Vicksburg campaign's success, Abraham Lincoln promoted him to Lieutenant General, where he fiercely opposed Robert E. Lee, which eventually led to Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. A week after Lincoln's assassination, President Andrew Johnson promoted Grant to General of the Army in 1966 before serving as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877.
Douglas MacArthur Was Both A General And A Showman
Born in 1880, Douglas MacArthur was valedictorian at the West Texas Military Academy for high school and First Captain at West Point, graduating at the top of his class. For his valor during the occupation of Veracruz, he was promoted from major to colonel. As a brigadier general in World War I, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice and the Silver Star seven times.
During World War II, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in the Pacific and is one of five men to become General of the Army. He is remembered for his intensity, dramatics, and military genius.
Matthew B. Ridgway Was Essential During World War II And The Korean War
Although he did not see combat in World War II after graduating from West Point, Matthew Ridgway would see more than enough during World War II as the Commanding General of the 82nd airborne division, fighting in Sicily, Italy, and France.
He was then commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, where he led troops during the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Varsity, and the Invasion of Germany. The general also played a key role during the Korean War, with historians crediting him with turning the war on the UN's side. In 1986, his military career was recognized when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf Led The Success Of Operation Desert Storm
After being commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1956, H. Norman Schwarzkopf served in the Vietnam War as an adviser to the South Vietnamese Army and battalion commander., earning three Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Legion of Merit. Following Vietnam, he continued to rise in the army, resulting in his command of the 24th Mechanized Infantry during the Invasion of Grenada in 1983.
In 1988, he took command of the United States Central Comand and was a key planner and leader of Operation Desert Storm, which defeated the Iraqi Army, liberating Kuwait. He retired from the military shortly after the war.
Henry H. Arnold Was One Of The First Military Pilots
Learning to fly from the legendary Wright Brothers, Henry H. Arnold became one of the first military pilots in the world. After supervising the expansion of the Air Service during World War I, he commanded the Army Air Force during World War II, developing it into the most powerful in the world.
During his time in the military, he was General of the Army, General of the Air Force, Chief of the Air Corps, and is the only Air Force general to have a five-star rank in two branches of the military.
George Marshall Helped Develop Military Command As We Know It Today
A five-star general of the Army, George Marshall, went directly to the Philippines in 1902 after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute, serving as a commander during the Philippine-American War. As an instructor a the Army War College, he helped to modernize the command and staff process, which greatly aided the United States during the World War.
Winston Churchill considered Marshall as the "organizer of victory" for his performance in World War II. Marshall would also eventually become Chief of Staff under presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under Truman.
Chester Nimitz Ruled The Seas
Although he was initially denied entrance to West Point, Chester Nimitz went on to attend the United States Naval Academy, which he graduated from on January 30, 1905. Focusing his studies on submarines, he was involved in making their transition from gasoline to diesel in 1917 and gaining approval for the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.
During World War II, he was Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and the Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas. From 1945 to 1947, he was also Chief of Naval Operations and was the last surviving officer to serve as fleet admiral.
Omar Bradley Commanded Massive Amounts Of Troops During World War II
Omar Bradley graduated from West point along with Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1915 and took up a job at the War Department before becoming commander of the United States Army Infantry School in 1941. In the heat of World War II, Bradley helped develop the first airborne division and led the First United States Army during the Invasion of Normandy.
He would then go on to command the Twelfth United States Army, the largest force led under a single field commander. After the war, Bradley was the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and helped oversee policies during the Korean War.
William Halsey Jr. Was Feared In The Pacific
Nicknamed "Bull," William Halsey Jr. graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1904 and fought under the Great White Fleet during World War I, personally commanding the USS Shaw. After some time commanding the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, he was promoted to rear admiral.
At the beginning of World War II, he was charged with the USS Enterprise, which led raids against the Japanese in the War in the Pacific. He held the position of commander of the Third Fleet for the remainder of the war and was eventually promoted to fleet admiral in 1945, retiring in 1947.
George C. Patton Is One Of The Main Faces Of World War II
After graduating from West Point, where he designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber or "Patton Saber," he got his first taste of warfare during the 1916 Pancho Villa Expedition and part of the United States Tank Corps during World War I.
By World War II, he commanded the 2nd Armored Division, eventually becoming the Seventh United States Army commander in the Mediterranean and the United States Army Central in France and Germany after the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Despite his inherent gift for military leadership and his ability to inspire his troops, he was sometimes at odds with Allied high command.
Chesty Puller is History's Most Decorated Marine
Inspired by the 5th Marines at Belleau Wood during World War I, Chesty Puller enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1917. Puller first saw action in the military fighting guerillas in Haiti and Nicaragua during the Banana Wars.
He demonstrated his bravery and intellect in World War II and the Korean War, becoming the most decorated Marine in history, receiving five Navy Crosses and an Army Distinguished Service. When he retired in 1955, he had reached the rank of lieutenant general.
Nathanael Greene Was The Fighting Quaker
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army best known for fighting in the American Revolutionary War.
He earned a lifelong reputation as General George Washington's most talented and dependable officer. Greene drove Cornwallis out of South Carolina and earned the nickname of "the Fighting Quaker." After the war, he became a planter in the South.
Raymond A. Spruance Is A Navy Hero
Born in 1886 in Baltimore, Maryland, Raymond Ames Spruance became a United States Navy admiral during World War II.
Spruance is mostly known for commanding U.S. naval forces during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which was one of the most significant Navy battles of all-time. He also commanded Task Force 16 at the Battle of Midway.
David Farragut Made History During The Civil War
One of the most important figures from the American Civil War was David Glasgow Farragut. He was a flag officer in the United States Navy and was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in U.S. Navy history.
Farragut is mainly remembered for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
John Paul Jones Is The Father Of The American Navy
Not to be confused with one of the members of Led Zeppelin, this John Paul Jones was a Scottish-American naval captain.
Jones was the United States' first well-known naval commander in the American Revolutionary War. After fighting for the U.S., he joined the Imperial Russian Navy and became their rear admiral.
Andrew Jackson Was A Prominent Military Leader
While Andrew Jackson is best-known for being the seventh president of the United States, he was also a military leader.
Jackson gained fame as a general in the United States Army. He led troops during the Creek War and won at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Also, his victory in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 was monumental.
Philip Sheridan Was A Key Player During the Civil War
Also known as "Little Phil" or "Fightin' Phil," Philip Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War.
Sheridan became a major general rather quickly compared to most soldiers and is known for his close relationship with Ulysses S. Grant. His troops were instrumental at forcing Robert E. Lee's surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse.
Marquis De Lafayette Is A French & American Historic Figure
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette was a French aristocrat and military officer known for his contributions during the American Revolutionary War.
He commanded several American troops across numerous battles with one of the most important being the siege of Yorktown. After returning to France, he was a key figure in the French Revolution and July Revolution.
Theodore Roosevelt Led The Rough Riders
Before he became the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt served as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley.
In 1898, Roosevelt helped plan a highly successful naval war against Spain. After resigning from the Navy, Roosevelt formed and led the Rough Riders and fought the Spanish army in Cuba.
Curtis LeMay Was Essential During World War II
Born in 1906 in Columbus, Ohio, Curtis LeMay is best known as an American Air Force general who made one of the biggest decisions in military history.
LeMay implemented an effective, yet drastic strategic attack campaign in the Pacific theater of World War II. He later became the Air Force's Chief of Staff.
James Longstreet Was Robert E. Lee's Righthand Man
Those familiar with the American Civil War should know James Longstreet. He was one of the foremost Confederate generals and was the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee.
Lee gave him the nickname "Old War Horse." Longstreet later became a corps commander for most of the battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia.
William Henry Harrison fought his way to The White House
Although contemporary readings consider William Henry Harrison a malign figure thanks to his expansionist policies as Governor of Indiana that saw him seize millions of acres of land from Native Americans, his military victories along the way made him incredibly popular at the time.
According to the National Park Service, the crowning moment that all but enshrined his path to the presidency (short as it was) was his victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe. When Tecumseh — a charismatic and tactical chief who is now a legendary figure in Canadian history — tried to establish a confederation of all Native American nations near the Tippecanoe River, Harrison destroyed his plans with 1,000 men at his back.
Joseph Hooker was as fearless as he was rebellious
As PBS explained, Major General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker first distinguished himself in battle during the Mexican-American War, which earned him the rank of lieutenant colonel. However, the first of his many heated disagreements with superior offers throughout his career compelled him to leave the U.S. Army in 1853. That is until the American Civil War broke out.
Although his rebellious reputation made him an unlikely prospect, an impassioned letter to Abraham Lincoln led to his appointment as brigadier general. His fearless and aggressive style of command made him a serious military asset at the battles of Williamsburg and Antietam, but his defeat at Chancellorsville and further friction with higher-ups left his military career floundering.
Adolphus W. Greely was a true adventurer
According to Arlington National Cemetery, Major General Adolphus W. Greely commanded the Union's 81st Regiment during the American Civil War, but he showed his true heartiness after the war was over. He spent most of his Army career in the Signal Corps and helped to establish America's Weather Bureau, which gave him some unique experience to lead a perilous expedition.
Although Greely's voyage to the Arctic Circle didn't go according to plan and resulted in heavy casualties, he nonetheless survived two Arctic winters without ever being resupplied. By the time of his passing in 1935, Greely also co-founded the National Geographic Society and received the Medal of Honor.
Zachary Taylor led troops in four different wars
While there are a few examples of war heroes who have parlayed their military leadership into successful presidential candidacies, even the best of them didn't come into The White House with the military résumé that Zachary Taylor had. Before he rose to the rank of general, he had already served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and the Second Seminole War.
Yet, according to the National Park Service, General Taylor's legend truly began in the Mexican-American War, as Taylor was not only instrumental in pushing Mexican forces out of Texas, but led successful campaigns into Mexico itself. Although he took heavy losses at Monterray, Taylor was nonetheless able to defeat General Antonio López de Santa Anna at Buena Vista, despite being severely outnumbered.
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben helped the U.S. exist
Before he ever set foot in America, Major General Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Baron de Steuben was a celebrated Prussian military leader who had even impressed the legendary Frederick the Great. However, the National Park Service explained that a lack of opportunities in Europe led him to join the American Revolution as a volunteer officer.
Once he arrived, his most significant contribution to the war effort was no less than the complete transformation of the Continental Army. Despite a language barrier between him and the army, he was nonetheless able to standardize and simplify their drills and set a precendent for ranking officers working directly with troops.
Ernest J. King took a big risk that paid off in World War II
According to the U.S. Naval Institute, Admiral Ernest J. King's invasion plan to attack Guadalcanal in August of 1942 was considered so foolhardy and straining on U.S. naval resources that would have otherwise been diverted to Europe that other officers called it "Operation Shoestring." However, he believed that America's navy could learn fast from what they experienced and tried in that campaign and Keep the Japanese navy off balance.
Indeed, his aggressive strategy soon paid off and officers quickly developed new techniques to address flaws in the nation's naval doctrine that were laid bare by this trial by fire. The momentum gained from King's plan was part of what carried the U.S. Navy to victory in the Battle of Midway, which was the beginning of the end for Japan's naval prospects in World War II.
Holland Smith changed combat forever in World War II
Although he was nicknamed "Howlin' Mad" for his infamously short temper, Marine Corps General Holland M. Smith's legendary status is much better explained by his other informal title, "The father of modern U.S. amphibious warfare." Although he was always a decorated war hero by the time World War II started, the training he instilled in soldiers — which allowed for unprecedented insertions into battlefields — brought U.S. forces major victories in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters.
According to Marine Corps University, this training program earned him a Distinguished Service Medal, while his planning of the Gilbert, Marshall Islands, Marianas, and Iwo Jima operations earned him three additional gold stars.
James Mattis is practically a modern-day Sun Tzu
Despite his nickname of "Mad Dog" for his daring leadership style that established him as every bit the warrior his troops were, Marine General James Mattis can likely be credited for ensuring America's modern campaigns didn't get more chaotic than they already were. Although he was known for his fearsome rhetoric when entering the field and his frankness about the horrors of war, his call sign of "Chaos" didn't give him enough credit.
That's because he was as philosophical a military leader as he was a practical one. He literally co-wrote the book on counterinsurgency and was dedicated to instilling respect for the rules of engagement and for civilian populations. As Business Insider quoted him as saying, "If in order to kill the enemy you have to kill an innocent, don't take the shot. Don't create more enemies than you take out by some immoral act."
Jonathan M. Wainwright survived true horror in World War II
According to Arlington National Cemetery, General Jonathan Wainwright's defense of the Phillippines and his men after they had all but run out of food and supplies and faced Japanese attacks earned him the informal title of "The Hero of Bataan and Corregidor." However, his true fortitude shone even through the unimaginable torment he experienced after reluctantly surrendering Corregidor in 1942.
Not only did Wainwright survive a Bataan Death March to a Japanese prison camp, but he spent three years in the camp's brutal conditions before he was finally rescued and famously reunited with General Douglas MacArthur in August 1945. He also received the Medal of Honor for his efforts to protect his troops.
Claire Chennault fought in World War II before the U.S. did
Although the United States didn't officially enter World War II until the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack of 1941, that doesn't mean that some American military personnel weren't already involved in it. Perhaps the most significant of these leaders was Air Force General Claire L. Chennault, who Arlington National Cemetery credits for training the Chinese Air force during the Sino-Japanese War.
Three years into his time dealing with one of the precursors for World War II, Chennault also assembled a group of volunteer pilots to fight alongside their Chinese allies, who were known as the "Flying Tigers." Their involvement. proved effective enough that the Flying Tigers were incorporated into the 14th Air Force once America joined the Second World War.
Winfield Scott Hancock held strong in a pivotal moment
Not to be confused with his legendary namesake Winfield Scott, General Winfield Scott Hancock was recognized as one of the best commanders in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. However, he is particularly known for his crucial defense of Cemetery Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Although the battle itself widely recognized as the turning point of the Civil War, the point when it was abundantly clear that Confederate forces had no chance of victory in Gettysburg came after General Pickett's disastrous charge up to the hill. While the attack was an ill-conceived blunder, Hancock's defensive leadership was also a significant factor in why it turned out so badly. According to National Park Service, he also commanded troops throughout America's many engagements against Native American nations and unsuccessfully ran for president in 1880.
John L. Clem was a child soldier who made history
Although he retired shortly before America's involvement in World War I as a major general, John L. Clem began his military career when he was ten years old. According to Arlington National Cemetery, he had tried to volunteer for an Ohio regiment after the outbreak of the American Civil War, but was understandably turned away for being too young.
However, he remained patriotically persistent and tried again in Michigan, where the 22nd Infantry Regiment accepted him as a drummer boy. However, after he shot a Confederate officer who made fun of his size during the Battle of Chickamauga, Clem was promoted to sergeant at 12. This makes him the youngest noncommissioned officer in U.S. military history. He was also the only Civil War veteran still serving by the time of his retirement.
Smedley Butler may well have saved America
By his own admission, General Smedley Butler had a complicated legacy. Although he is revered in America as a war hero and two-time Medal of Honor winner, he's reviled in nations like Haiti and Nicaragua for overthrowing democratically-elected leaders. As Rolling Stone quoted him as saying, "I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for big business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism."
Although this legacy filled him with some understandable regrets, it nonetheless gave him the tools he needed to sniff out an attempted fascist coup by prominent American businessmen like Gerald C. MacGuire. Considering his pedigree, MacGuire thought he could recruit Butler to his scheme, only to be told that Butler would turn his coup attempt into an all-out civil war if MacGuire went through with it.
George Dewey was granted an unprecedented title
Admiral George Dewey is the only man in American history to be granted command of the entire U.S. Navy (making him the equivalent to a rare five-star general). After he was hand-picked by Theodore Roosevelt to command the Asiatic Squadron during the Spanish-American War, Dewey's leadership during the Battle of Manila Bay compelled the president to tell him, "Every American is your debtor."
That's because this battle was as decisive as it got for America's chances of victory in the war. According to the Theodore Roosevelt Center, not only did Dewey's command of the American fleet devastate the entire Spanish fleet in one fell swoop, but was instrumental in seeing The Phillippines transferred from a Spanish territory to an American one.
Alexander A. Vandegrift helped make a risky plan work
Although the National World War II Museum emphasized that Marine General Alexander A. Vandegrift had already had an impressive, decades-spanning career by the time World War II broke out, his actions during that conflict made him a national hero. Specifically, his "tenacity, courage, and resourcefulness" during the Guadalcanal Campaign.
Vandegrift led the 1st Marine Division in the Solomon Islands, where he faced an experienced and determined Japanese force in what turned out to be five months of brutal fighting. After his division emerged victorious, Vandegrift received a Medal Of Honor and eventually became Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.