Latest News
March 5, 2012
Applications for the NAMUN 2013 Secretariat are now available here.
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February 24, 2012
NAMUN XXVII closes another great year. Thank you to all staff and delegates who participated!
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February 22, 2012
The Wednesday Edition of The Diplomat is now available online! Printed copies will be available in the afternoon.
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February 21, 2012
NAMUN XXVII
University of Toronto
Conference Schedule available here.
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January 31, 2012
Background guides for committees have been posted.
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Characters of the United States Civil War
Delegates are expected to write a position paper outlining their respective country's or character's position with respect to their committee topics. This should be a minimum 500 word paper (not exceeding 1500 words) outlining the relevance of their country/character in the committee. Delegates must send this paper prior to February 20th to the President of the committee.
Ammar Keshodia, President of the General Assembly: ammar.keshodia@namun.org
Liam Salichuk, President of Special Committees: liam.salichuk@namun.org
Patrick Langille, President of the Historical Council: patrick.langille@namun.org
North:
General Joseph Hooker
A veteran of the Spanish-American War, Hooker was not the premier strategist of the Union Army. He was prone to drink, to raucous behaviour (“hooker” acquired it’s modern meaning because of his company), and disliked the cautious generalship of the recently removed General McClellan. However, while as a General, he took care to feed the soldiers regularly, and improved camp life. Hooker’s defeat at the Battle of Chancellorsville launched Lee’s campaign North.
General George Meade
Meade despised the cautious tactics of McClellan as well, but also did not successfully implement them. Meade was responsible to the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, however, he was often reluctant to pursue battle, though when it was forced upon him he thought decisively. Meade made sure to make use of new technology and avoided assaulting defensive positions.
Major General John Sedgwick
Sedgwick was an unaggressive general, but was well-liked by his men and fellow officers which largely explained why he was kept. His delayed crossing of the Rappahannock River contributed to Robert E. Lee’s victory there. John Sedgwick died at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, a demise which was universally lamented, even among Confederate officers, many of whom knew him.
Maj. Gen. George Sykes
George Sykes was a lackluster officer. Prone to hesitancy, he served a largely uneventful tenure in the Army of the Potomac, eventually being withdrawn to civilian duty in the Department of Kansas. He was usually slow to react, and the only event which his name has become associated with was when his 3rd Division drove the Confederates across the Wheatfield during the Battle of Gettysburg, nicknamed “The Valley of Death” in the South, however there is little to note of any personal contribution by Sykes.
Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock
Known as “The Thunderbolt of the Union”, and from a prominent military family, Winfield Scott Hancock was one of the rare talented, decisive officers in the Union Army. Some contend his ability to hold Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg was what lead to the defeat of the Confederacy. He however was sometimes brash, as he ordered the 1st Minnesota to charge a Confederate brigade four times it’s size, killing 87% of them. This however gave the Union lines time to reorganize during the pivotal days at Gettysburg.
Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles
Sickles had been a lawyer during the Antebellum era. He was an overly brash general, leading his III Corps into an area where it was virtually destroyed. He was badly wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, losing his leg to canon fire being too close to the lines, and as such his career ended there.
Maj. Gen. Henry Slocum
Nicknamed “Slow Come” for his inaction, Henry Slocum was another of the Union’s slow moving generals. He was frequently late for battles, leading to some Union defeats. He was criticized by fellow generals for stopping at a tavern on his way to the Battle of Gettysburg. He was also prone to insubordination, he and his fellow officers (largely due to Slocum) all ignored their generals orders at the Battle of South Mountain, which did lead to the Union Victory.
Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton
Being from a disgraced political family, Pleasonton was aggressively ambitious, however his military career did not advance as quickly as he had hoped. He was prone to self-aggrandizing, having claimed to have “saved the Union Army”, having claimed to have temporarily halted Stonewall Jackson’s Corps. Joseph Hooker believed it and reported this to Abraham Lincoln. He was also a pretentious man, refusing a command as he could not accept the men in “their present condition”.
Gen. Robert O. Tyler
Tyler was the artillery commander of the Union Army. He was a skillful artillerist, with his strategic placement of guns making a significant contribution to many battles, including Gettysburg. He was also experienced in providing and organizing supply trains. Robert O. Tyler was a practical, methodical officer, however he was also not as indecisive as many of his fellow officers.
Brig. Gen. Abner Doubleday
Known as “Old Forty-Eight Hours”, Abner Doubleday’s indecision was not due to poor training, he had earlier been a good officer while commanding the defense of Fort Sumter at the start of the war, he bore a personal grudge against George Meade for not mentioning him in despatches when his Corps broke the Confederate Lines at Stone Mountain. Doubleday largely acted slowly purely out of his personal distaste for George Meade.
Brig. Gen. John C. Caldwell
Caldwell as a gallant officer. He was wounded several times in battle, at Seven Pines, at Gettysburg, and twice at Fredricksburg. However, George Sykes gave him poorly worded orders at the Battle of Gettysburg and this lead to ineffective command by Caldwell. He was exonerated of blame but it hurt his reputation among his fellow officers.
Maj. Gen. David B. Birney
Birney was an abolitionist from Alabama. His participation in the war was largely political. He was disliked by his own troops and most of his fellow officers. He was known to be cold, dour, and puritanical. He was a sickly man who would die of malaria in 1864.
Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys
Humphreys was the head military engineer in the Union Army. He was known for decisive decision making, as well as personal gallantry. It was Humphreys’ Corps which would carry the retreat of Robert E. Lee, leading to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House.
Maj. Gen. John Newton
Newton was a Virginian, but a believer in the Union (rather than an Abolitionist). He was decisive, however, he was prone to making decisions which effected public opinion. He was later an officer under William T. Sherman’s infamous March to the Sea, which burned civilian homes, livelihoods, and the City of Atlanta.
Brig. Gen. John Buford
Buford was a dashing cavalry commander from Kentucky. Having few family connections left in the South, he remained in the Union army. He was unafraid to pursue retreating Confederates, and was known for hard hitting, if slightly brash cavalry tactics.
South:
Robert E. Lee
Refusing an offer of command of the Union Army, Robert E. Lee then took up command of the Army of Northern Virginia upon the secession of his home state. Lee was known for defensive tactics, and a strong belief that the army should conduct itself well upon an invasion of the North. That is, no looting, rape, burning of homes or other actions normally associated with a Union Army. His invasion of the North was a unique mix of defensive and offensive tactics, pioneering the use of battlefield defenses.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
Longstreet, known as “Ol’ War Horse”, played a significant role in the Confederate Victories at Bull Run, Fredricksburg, and Chickamauga. He disagreed with Lee’s infantry advance at Gettysburg, but implemented it anyway. This became known as “Pickett’s Charge”, and was disastrous for the Confederacy. He was not politically a Confederate, and joined the Union cause after the war becoming a Republican politician during the days of Reconstruction.
Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell
Ewell was an eccentric figure, known to be extremely vulgar in speech. Ewell won several battles during Jackson’s Valley Campaign, defeating much larger Union Armies. He was direct, however, most of his victories were as a subordinate to Stonewall Jackson. His failure to quickly take Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg has been criticized by some as the moment the South had lost the war.
Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill
Hill was a rising star in the Confederate army. As a colonel, he performed bravely and acted quickly at the Battle of Bull Run. Hill was promoted again to Lieutenant General upon the death of Stonewall Jackson. It was Hill’s scouts which reported the first signs of the Union advances during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart
Stuart was a cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use of cavalry in support of offensive operations. While he cultivated a cavalier image (red-lined gray cape, yellow sash, hat cocked to the side with a ostrich plume, red flower in his lapel, often sporting cologne), his serious work made him the trusted eyes and ears of Robert E. Lee's army and inspired Southern morale.
Maj. Gen. George Pickett
George Pickett was a vain man, prone to getting into duels. He was known for dressing quite lavishly. His division was cut to pieces at the action known as Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg, where more than 50% of his men were killed or wounded. His advance however, was known as "The High Water Mark" of the Confederacy, being the farthest North Souther troops made during the conflict.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood
One of the better brigade and division commanders in the Confederate States Army, Hood as he was promoted to lead larger, independent commands late in the war, his career was marred by his decisive defeats leading an army in the Atlanta Campaign and the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. He was considered by many in the South after the war as the man who let the Cause die.
Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early
Jubal Early was an important subordinate officer in the Army of Northern Virginia. He lead a raid which hit the outskirts of Washington D.C. Early had originally been opposed to secession however upon Lincoln's call for volunteers he quickly joined the Cause. Early was known for his short temper and enthusiasm, gaining himself the nickname "Old Jubilant".
Maj. Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson
Johnson was the replacement of General Stonewall Jackson. He had a club foot and carried a cane which he would use to beat his soldiers if they performed badly. However, he was indecisive and did not take advantage of several attacks other forces had made.
Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson
A fervent supporter of the Cause, Anderson was known for his aggressive tactics. His Corps broke the Union lines at the Second Battle of Bull Run leading to the Confederate victory there. His armies were some of the best performing at the Battle of Gettysburg, participating in the final minutes of Pickett?s Charge. He was later captured and placed in a Union prisoner of war camp until the end of the war.
Maj. Gen. Henry Heth
It was Heth that inadvertently started the Battle of Gettysburg. He sent a section into the town which contained a boot warehouse. This lead to the spotting of Union troops and the beginning of the battle which won the war for the North.
Brig. Gen. Wade Hampton
Hampton was from a prominent South Carolina family, his grandfather being a Revolutionary War hero. The Hamptons were one of the wealthiest families in the South. He had been a senator for South Carolina and was appointed to a colonelcy despite his lack of military experience. He made up for this by being able to personally finance the weapons and uniforms of his regiments. He was a brash general, wounded five times. He was one of the best cavalry generals in the Confederate army.
Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
The nephew of Robert E. Lee, Fitzhugh Lee was skillful at implementing policies delaying the Northern Armies. His cavalry were known for their skillful maneuvering, leading to important flanking attacks at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fitzhugh Lee would lead the final Confederate Charge of the War on April 9th 1865 at Farmville, Virginia.
John R. Chambliss
Chambliss was a cavalry general. Coming from a family of wealthy planters, Chambliss resigned his army post in Pennsylvania to fight for the newly seceded Southern States. Chambliss defended Lee?s communication lines during the invasion of the North, successfully holding them the entire campaign.
Stonewall Jackson
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was a general under Robert E. Lee. He was known for his eccentric behavior and brash, but effective, battle tactics. Stonewall Jackson is remembered as one of the most colourful characters in the War Between the States.