This is a complete list of brigadier generals in the United States Regular Army before February 2, 1901. The grade of brigadier general (or one-star general) is ordinarily the fourth-highest in the peacetime Army, ranking above colonel and below major general (two-star general).
The grade of brigadier general was the highest peacetime rank in the Regular Army during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and the second-highest for most of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was also rare: until 1901 there were fewer than twenty brigadier generals on active duty at any given time. Even during times of war, the number of Regular Army brigadier generals remained relatively constant, because rather than expand the permanent military establishment to meet transient wartime requirements, the Regular Army served as a cadre for a much larger temporary force of volunteers and conscripts. Many famous generals of the American Civil War held high rank only in the volunteer service, and reverted to much lower permanent grades in the Regular Army when the volunteers were disbanded after the war.
The number of Regular Army brigadier generals increased dramatically when the Army was reorganized after the Spanish–American War. In addition to increasing the number of brigadier generals of the line from six to fifteen, the Army instituted a practice of funneling a succession of senior colonels through each vacancy in the grade of brigadier general, each officer in turn being promoted and retired at the higher rank and retired pay after only one day in grade. The reorganization took effect on February 2, 1901.Act of February 2, 1901. Heitman, pp 21–23; Wade, "Roads to the Top."
Taxonomy Historically, the United States Army included two components: the permanently established Regular Army, which constituted the peacetime force; and, during time of war, a much larger non-permanent establishment comprising various volunteer, conscript, and federalized state forces.The Army Register separately lists each officer's appointments in the permanent and non-permanent establishments of the United States Army. Appointments in the volunteer service are listed under the non-permanent establishment, while Regular Army appointments are listed under the permanent establishment.
There were two types of brigadier generals in the Regular Army: A brigadier general of the line was an officer who was commissioned in the permanent grade of brigadier general and therefore maintained that personal rank regardless of assignment.For statutory definitions of "general officer of the line" and "general officer of the staff," see Sec. 4, Act of June 3, 1916. A brigadier general of the staff was an officer who held the ex officio rank of brigadier general only while occupying an office designated by statute to carry that rank.
Brigadier generals in the non-permanent or non-federal establishments included the following: A brigadier general of militia was appointed or elected to that rank in one of the state militia forces. A brigadier general of levies was appointed to that rank in the federal volunteer forces raised during the Northwest Indian War. A brigadier general of volunteers was appointed to that rank in the United States Volunteers during the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, or the Spanish–American War.For lists of brigadier generals in the United States Volunteers, see Heitman or Eicher and Eicher. A brigadier general of state volunteers was appointed to that rank in one of the non-federal volunteer forces raised by individual states during the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, or the Spanish–American War. A brigadier general in the Provisional Army was appointed to that rank in the non-permanent Regular Army augmentation force called the Provisional Army of the United States authorized during the Quasi-War by the Act of May 28, 1798.Syrett, pp 384–388. A brigadier general in the Eventual Army was appointed to that rank in the non-permanent Regular Army augmentation force called the Eventual Army of the United States authorized during the Quasi-War by the Act of March 2, 1799.
Brigadier generals in other establishments included the following: A brigadier general in the Continental Army was appointed to that rank in the United States Army's predecessor organization during the American Revolution. A brigadier general in the Army of the Confederate States of America was the Confederate States Army equivalent of a Regular Army brigadier general during the Civil War. A brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States was the Confederate States Army equivalent of a brigadier general of volunteers during the Civil War.
In addition, honorary brevet ranks of brigadier general were conferred in several organizations:During the War of 1812, brevet brigadier generals were functionally equivalent to substantive brigadier generals, but over the ensuing decades brevet ranks lost their authority and became strictly honorary distinctions. For background, see Fry. A brevet brigadier general was awarded that brevet rank in the Regular Army, typically for actions in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, or the Civil War. A brevet brigadier general of volunteers was awarded that brevet rank in the United States Volunteers, typically for actions in the Civil War or the Spanish–American War. A brevet brigadier general of militia was awarded that brevet rank in one of the state militia forces.
List of brigadier generals before February 2, 1901 The following list of brigadier generals includes all officers appointed to that rank in the line or staff of the United States Regular Army prior to February 2, 1901.The list of brigadier generals is taken from Heitman, pp. 21–23. It does not include officers who held that rank solely by brevet or in the non-permanent or non-federal establishments, such as brigadier generals of militia or volunteers.
Entries are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was appointed to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the officer's name; date of rank;Dates of rank are taken from Heitman. date the officer vacated the active-duty rank;Dates vacated are taken from Heitman. An officer could vacate the active-duty rank of brigadier general via death, retirement, resignation, discharge, promotion to a higher permanent grade, or reversion to a lower permanent grade upon relinquishing an office bearing the statutory rank of brigadier general. number of years on active duty as brigadier general (Yrs);The number of years on active duty as brigadier general is taken to be the difference between the officer's date of rank and the date on which his active duty commission as brigadier general was vacated, rounded to the nearest whole year. It includes periods during which the officer served at a higher brevet or temporary rank without vacating a permanent grade of brigadier general, but not periods during which the officer reverted to a lower permanent grade after serving as a brigadier general of the staff. and other biographical notes.Biographical notes include years of birth and death; dates of promotion to higher permanent grade; dates of service as brigadier general or higher in the staff or non-permanent establishment; and other unusual career events such as death in office or awards of the Medal of Honor, Thanks of Congress, Congressional Gold Medal, or Congressional Sword. Dates are taken from Heitman, the Army Register, Eicher and Eicher, or Marquis Who's Who.