Rulers of the South

12" Wooden Ruler made in U.S.A. of American-grown basswood. Generals, or general officers, were the senior military leaders of the Confederacy during the American Civil War of 1861-1865. They answered to Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy and commander in chief of the Confederate Army, Navy, and Marines. These men had often earlier military experience. For example, the first entry on our ruler, Albert Sydney Johnston (1803-1862) had previously been general in the Army of Texas, and in the United States Army. He was the highest-ranking officer, Union or Confederate, to be killed during the entire Civil War. President Davis said that the loss of General Johnston "was the turning point of our fate." A general without prior military experience was Tennessee-born Leonidas Polk (1806-1864), bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, who gave up that position to become a major general in the Confederate Army, and became known as Sewanee’s Fighting Bishop. Probably the best-know