Posted on Apr 3, 2016
LTC Stephen F.
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Most members of the class of 1838 fought in either the Mexican War or Indian Wars or both. Many died before the Civil War and several were killed in the Civil War. Many were wounded in combat.
I was interested to learn that two future CSA officers served as the highest officers at West Point. P.G.T. Beauregard served as Superintendent USMA 23 – 28 January 1861 as a Major. William Joseph Hardee served as Commandant of Cadets USMA 1856 – 1860.

Most of those who fought in the Civil war fought for the Union; but, some fought for the confederacy.
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1. GEN (CSA) Pierre Gustave T. Beauregard was twice wounded in the Mexican War.
2. Brevet MG William Farquhar Barry fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars
3. MG Irwin McDowel fought in the Mexican War.
4. LTG (CSA) William Joseph Hardee fought in the Mexican War

A. GEN (CSA) Pierre Gustave T. Beauregard was wounded twice in the Mexican war. P.G.T. Beauregard served as Superintendent USMA 23 – 28 January 1861 when he resigned as a Brevet Major and accepted a commission in the CSA. He commanded the attack on Fort Sumter. Beauregard was graduate number 942.
B. Brevet MG William Farquhar Barry fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. He was a BG of Volunteers in 1861 and served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac 1861-82; defenses of Washington, D.C [1862-64; and Sherman’s Army 1864 -66. Barry was graduate number 957.
C. MG Irwin McDowell fought in the Mexican War. He was the first Commander of the Army of the Potomac from May 27 – July 25, 1861. MG US Volunteers in 1862. McDowell was graduate number 963.
D. LTG (CSA) William Joseph Hardee fought in the Mexican War. Served as Commandant of Cadets USMA 1856 – 1860 and he resigned in 1861 as a LTC and accepted a commission in the CSA. Hardee was graduate number 966.
E. All of the above; other [please explain] at least 13 other members of the class or cadets who didn't graduate.
FYI CWO4 Terrence Clark SPC (Join to see)MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. MSG Roy Cheever Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PO3 Edward Riddle MAJ Roland McDonald CPL Ronald Keyes Jr CSM Charles Hayden CWO3 (Join to see) CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw COL (Join to see) SPC Michael TerrellSPC Maurice Evans MCPO Hilary Kunz COL Lisandro Murphy Ken Kraetzer
Edited >1 y ago
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LTC Stephen F.
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Edited >1 y ago
I was interested to learn that two future CSA officers served as the highest officers at West Point. P.G.T. Beauregard served as Superintendent USMA 23 – 28 January 1861 as a Major. William Joseph Hardee served as Commandant of Cadets USMA 1856 – 1860.
A cadet who did not graduate, William F Graham was the first Superintendent at The Citadel from 1843 to 1844.
Two CSA officers accepted commissions in the Egyptian Army after the Civil War: Henry Hopkins Sibley served as a BG in the Egyptian Army 1869 – 1873 and Alexander Welch Reynolds served as a COL in the Egyptian Army 1870 – 1876.
Since RallyPoint truncates survey selection text I am posting information about the other members of the class of 1838 that were not included and then the full text of each survey choice below:
A. GEN (CSA) Pierre Gustave T. Beauregard was wounded twice in the Mexican war. P.G.T. Beauregard served as Superintendent USMA 23 – 28 January 1861 when he resigned as a Brevet Major and accepted a commission in the CSA. He commanded the attack on Fort Sumter. Beauregard was graduate number 942.
B. Brevet MG William Farquhar Barry fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. He was a BG of Volunteers in 1861 and served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac 1861-82; defenses of Washington, D.C [1862-64; and Sherman’s Army 1864 -66. Barry was graduate number 957.
C. MG Irwin McDowell fought in the Mexican War. He was the first Commander of the Army of the Potomac from May 27 – July 25, 1861. MG US Volunteers in 1862. McDowell was graduate number 963.
D. LTG (CSA) William Joseph Hardee fought in the Mexican War. Served as Commandant of Cadets USMA 1856 – 1860 and he resigned in 1861 as a LTC and accepted a commission in the CSA. Hardee was graduate number 966.
E. All of the above; other [please explain] at least 13 other members of the class or cadets who didn't graduate.
COL Buckner Board fought in the Indian Wars and resigned. He accepted a commission as COL of Kentucky volunteers and resigned in 1862. Board was graduate number 950.
COL (CSA) William B. Blair fought in the Mexican War and resigned in 1861 as a Captain. Then he accepted a commission as a CSA COL. He served as a Professor at VMI. Blair was graduate number 951.
LTC (CSA) Milton A. Haynes fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. He was a LTC in 1st Tenn Artillery. Haynes was graduate number 958.
Brevet MG William Augustus Nichols fought in the Mexican War. He was Chief of Staff for General Sherman and after the Civil War was Chief of Staff for General Sheridan 1866 - 1869 Nichols was graduate number 959.
Brevet MG Langdon Cheves Easton fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. He was Chief of Quartermasters for Sherman’s Amy 1864 – 1865. Easton was graduate number 962.
Brevet MG Robert Seaman Granger fought in the Mexican War. POW 1861 – 1862. BG of Kentucky volunteers in 1862. Brevet MG in 1864. Granger was graduate number 968.
BG (CSA) Henry Hopkins Sibley fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. Resigned as a MAJ in 1861 and accepted a commission as a BG in the CSA. Served as a BG in the Egyptian Army 1869 – 1873. Sibley was graduate number 971.
MG (CSA) Edward Johnson fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. Resigned as a CPT in 1861 and accepted a commission as a MG in the CSA. Johnson was graduate number 972.
BG (CSA) Alexander Welch Reynolds fought in the Mexican War and the Indian Wars. AWOL 1861. Accepted a commission as BG in the CSA. Served as a COL in the Egyptian Army 1870 – 1876. Reynolds was graduate number 975.
MG Andrew Jackson Smith fought in the Mexican War. BG of volunteers in 1862 and promoted to MG of Volunteers in 1864. Smith was graduate number 976.
Former cadets who didn’t graduate:
Brevet MAJ Rennselaer W. Foote fought in the Mexican War and in the US Civil War and was killed in action at Gaines Mill, VA on 27 June 1862.
William F Graham was the first Superintendent at The Citadel 1843 to 1844.
BG George Washington Smith was a BG of volunteers from 1862 to 1865 when he was honorably mustered out.
FYI CSM Charles Hayden LTC (Join to see) MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SSG Franklin Briant SGT Tiffanie G. SGT Mary G.CPL Ronald Keyes Jr SFC William Farrell SPC Michael Terrell SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D MAJ Roland McDonald SFC William Farrell SSG Franklin Briant SSG William Jones SSG Michael Noll MCPO Hilary Kunz MAJ Wayne WickizerSGM Hilbert ChristensenCPO William Glen (W.G.) Powell1stSgt Eugene Harless
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COL Jonathan Cohen
COL Jonathan Cohen
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Great info! I believe Sibley...unless it was another Sibley, commanded troops in the Civil War at the battles of Val Verde and Glorietta Pass in New Mexico and Colorado respectively; he was known as the "Walking Whiskey Keg." I know you are looking at USMA 1838, but Grant graduated USMA in 1843 and served in the Mexican War and Lee graduated in 1929 and was an engineer/topographer in the Mexican War. Great stuff though!
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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Thank you!
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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Wasn't General Robert E. Lee also a member of that class?
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
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General Robert E. Lee graduated with the USMA Class of 1829 SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth. He was graduate number 542.
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