Confederate Generals - Nicknames

[Le Ricain]

The ACW was a great time for giving nicknames to generals. There were many sources for these nicks including newspapers (Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson), the enemy (Nathan 'That Devil Forrest' Forrest), pre-war professions (Leonidas 'The Fighting Bishop' Polk) and finally from the troops and colleagues of the particular general. In many cases the nicks give an insight into the various generals' personalities, appearance and characteristics. I have tried to add some explanations to some of the less well known nicks.

Edward P Alexander “The Cuss with a Spy Glass”
Nick given by Union troops to Alexander, who due to a hand injury preferred to use a telescope rather than binoculars when aiming his artillery.

George T Anderson “Tige”

Richad H Anderson “Fighting Dick”

James J Archer “Sally”
Archer had a frail and slight physique.

Lewis A Armistead “Lo”
Short for Lothario. Armistead was shy around women and remained a bachelor during his life.

Turner Ashby “The Black Knight of the Confederacy”

Pierre G T Beauregard “The Little Creole”, “Bory”, “The Little Frenchman”, “Felix”, “Little Napoleon”

Tyree H Bell “Forrest's Right Arm”

Henry L Benning “Old Rock”

John Bratton “Old Reliable”

Simon B Buckner “Simon the Poet”
Buckner's hobby during the war was writing poetry.

William L Cabell “Old Tige”

James R Chalmers “Little Un”
Nick given to Chalmers by Forrest.

Patrick R Cleburne “The Stonewall Jackson of the West”

Thomas L Clingman “Prince of Politicians”

Raleigh E Colston “Polly” or “Old Polly”
Nickname from his student days at VMI

Jubal A Early “Old Jubilee”, “Old Jube”, “Bad Old Man”, "Wooden Man"
The third nick was one used by R E Lee. The fourth nic was given by his troops for his stoicism.

Arnold Elzey “The Blucher of the Confederacy”
Nick given by Beauregard in reference to Elzey's actions at 1st Manassas.

Clement A Evans “The Reverend General”
Post war nick.

Nathan G Evans “Shanks”

Richard S Ewell “Stumpy”, “Baldy”, “Old Baldy”, “Old Bald Head”
The first nick given as Ewell had lost a leg at Groveton in 1862.

Nathan B Forrest “That Devil Forrest”, “Wizard of the Saddle”

Martin W Gary “The Bald Eagle of Edgefield”

Roger W Hanson “Old Flintlock”

William J Hardee “Old Reliable”

William P Hardeman “Gotch”

Henry Heth “Harry”

Ambrose P Hill “Little Powell”

Theophilus H Holmes “Granny”
Nick given by his troops as Holmes had poor health and seemed unequal to the responsibility of defending Little Rock.

John B Hood “Sam”, “Old Wooden Head”
First nick was from West Point student days. The second was from his troops for his aggressive lead from the front style of leadership.

Alfred E Jackson “Old Mudwall”
While commanding the Stonewall Bde in 1864, his troops did not think much of his command abilities.

Thomas J Jackson “Stonewall””Old Blue Light” “Old Jack” “Tom Fool”
1st nick from 1st Manassas. 2nd nick referred to Jackson's eyes especially their glow when he was in combat. 4th nick referred to his eccentric mannerisms.

William H Jackson “Red”

William L Jackson “Mudwall”
Nick given by Union troops, probably in reference to William being a second cousin to Stonewall Jackson.

Micah Jenkins “The Prince of Edisto”, “The Darling of all South Carolina”

Adam R Johnson “Stovepipe”
Captured the town of Newburgh, IN with 12 men and two joints of stove pipe made into a fake cannon.

Edward Johnson “Old Allegheny” "Old Clubby"
1st nick given after battle of Allegheny Mountain, Dec 1861. 2nd nick was due to his need to use a hickory stick when moving about on foot.

Joseph E Johnston “Retreating Joe” "Old Joe"
1st Nick given by his troops for his actions against Sherman in Georgia.

David R Jones “Neighbor”

John M Jones “Rum”
Jones had a fondness for alcohol while a student at West Point.

William E Jones “Grumble”

Robert E Lee “Granny”, “The Great Tycoon”, “The Old Man”, “Marse Robert”, “Bobby”, “King of Spades”, “Uncle Robert”
1st nick was from very early in the war when Lee's abilities were not well regarded. 2nd nick was used by Lee's ANV staff. 5th nick was used by Union troops. 6th nick is from early in the war when Lee was assigned job of building coastal fortifications.

William H F Lee “Rooney”

James Longstreet “Old Pete”, “Old War Horse”

William W Loring “Old Blizzards”

Mark P Lowrey “The Fighting Preacher”
Pre-war occupation.

John McCausland “Turkey”
Student nick from VMI

John B Magruder “Prince John”

William Mahone “Little Billy”

James G Martin “Old One Wing”
Martin lost an arm in the Mexican American War.

John H Morgan “Thunderbolt (of the Confederacy)”, “The Marian of the West”
The second is a reference to Francis Marian, The Swamp Fox, partisan leader AWI.

Jean Jacques Mouton “Alfred”

Elisha F Paxton “Bull”

William N Pendleton “Parson”
Pendleton was an Episcopalian priest.

Camille A J M Prince de Polignac “Polecat” or “Prince Polecat”, “The Lafayette of the South”

Leonidas Polk “The Fighting Bishop”
Polk was an Episcopalian Bishop.

Sterling Price “Old Pap”, “Old Skedad”

Stephen D Ramseur “Dod”
Middle name was Dodson.

Jerome B Robertson “Aunt Polly” or “Polly”
Robertson showed unusual concern for his men's welfare.

Lawrence S Ross “Sul”
Middle name was Sullivan.

Thomas L Rosser “Savior of the Valley”
Nick given for Rosser's actions in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864.

William R Scurry “Dirty Shirt”
The 4th Texas Mounted Vols wore irregular dress.

Joseph O Shelby “Jo”

Edmund Kirby Smith “Seminole”
Smith was from Florida.

Francis H Smith “Old Spex”
Student nick from VMI.

William Smith “Extra Billy”
Nick given for the extra payments Smith received from his mail coach business.

George H Steuart “Maryland”
Home state.

Clement H Stevens “Rock”

Alexander P Stewart “Old Straight”
Stewart was known for his by the book style of command.

James E B Stewart “Jeb”, “Prince Rupert” “Beauty”
The first nick taken from Stewart's initials and the second from a general in the English Civil Wars.

Meriwether Jeff Thompson “Swamp Fox of the Confederacy”

Earl van Dorn “Buck”

James A Walker “Stonewall Jim”
Commanded the Stonewall Bde.

Lucius M Walker “Marsh”
Taken from his middle name of Marshall.

Stand Watie “Degataga (Stand Firm)”

Joseph Wheeler “Fighting Joe”, “Point”
Second nick from West Point where Wheeler was considered to have 'no height, width or thickness'.

John S Williams “Cerro Gordo”
Nick given for his actions at the Mexican American battle of the same name.

Ambrose R Wright “Rans”
Middle name was Ranson.

[GoldSpear]

Very nice. Thanks for that.

[Le Ricain]

Very nice. Thanks for that.

Thanks for your comments. I was beginning to worry, because the other thread on Union Generals' nicks was getting the majority of hits and comments.

[Jabberwock]

I just found a new one. Early's troops called him the "Wooden Man" for his stoicism.

[Le Ricain]

I just found a new one. Early's troops called him the "Wooden Man" for his stoicism.

Thanks, I will add the nic to the list.

[Dadaan]

Just stumbled on this, great list!

[Le Ricain]

Just stumbled on this, great list!

Thanks. There is also a list for the Union generals somewhere in this history forum.

[Dadaan]

Thanks, looks like I'll be looking up that Union one now.

[Pocus]

Know that the next patch will show the nicknames of generals in the Element detail, after their regular name.

[Le Ricain]

Know that the next patch will show the nicknames of generals in the Element detail, after their regular name.

[soloswolf]

Good stuff.

Maybe flavor names for divisions/corps someday? Not that you guys are busy or anything.