Memoir 1, Page 40, Lincoln's Generals

"With Scott to be revered and counseled"

Winfield Scott (1786-1866) was one of the longest lasting and most senior American generals of all time. By the time of the Civil War, he had served in the War of 1812, the Black-Hawk war, and the Mexican-American war. Despite being a Virginian, Scott chose to stay with the Union following secession and attempted to convince Robert E. Lee to do the same. Although Scott was too old to command the army by the time of the war, he was responsible for the Anaconda Plan that was used in the blockade of the Confederacy.

"Freemont to give impetuosity to action"

John C. Fremont (1813-1890) was also a Southerner by birth; however, he is now known as an abolitionist and was the first presidential candidate for the Republican party in 1856. He served through the beginning of the war as a general for the Union but was well known for rash decisions that ultimately led to his demotion and departure from the army.

"Butler to execute with rigor and firmness"

Benjamin Butler (1818-1893) was a Northern lawyer and politician known for his “Contraband Decision” of 1861 in which Butler refused to return runaway slaves to their Southern owners. While prior to the war, the Federal government would have had to return slaves under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Butler argued that Virginia’s secession made them a foreign power and therefore no longer within the reach of the Act and gave the Federal government the ability to capture and hold their property as “contraband of war.” The government officially adopted Butler’s policy in the Confiscation Act of 1861.

"Halleck and others to lead and discipline"

Henry Halleck (1815-1872) was an expert of military studies and General-in-Chief of the army throughout the beginning of the war. While he was a talented administrator, Halleck was rarely on the battle lines and favored careful preparation over more effective aggressive tactics. He was ultimately replaced by Ulysses S. Grant and served out the rest of the war as Grant’s Chief of Staff.

"Porter, Dupont and Farragut to keep watch on the high seas"

David Dixon Porter (1813-1891), Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803-1865), and David Farragut (1801-1870) all served as admirals for the United States Navy during the war. Working alongside General Grant, Porter and his Mississippi River fleet became a central element of the Siege of Vicksburg. Porter also played a crucial role in capturing Fort Fisher in North Carolina and thus completing the Southern blockade in February 1865. Du Pont was also instrumental in implementing the blockade, particularly around Georgia and Florida. Despite his initial success, Du Pont was ultimately removed following a failure to take Charleston in mid-1863. Similar to his foster brother David Dixon Porter, Farragut also served along the Mississippi. Despite initial failure along the river, he won a great victory in Mobile Bay in southern Alabama for which he is now remembered as saying "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!"