The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-18
FAMILIAR MILITARY NICKNAMEs
by Which Some of Our Most Noted
Generals Are Known.


Pine Crest Villa, Fla, Sept. 16.-In his
article on Confederate Generals, repub-
lished in the Morning News last week,
Wilson refers to Gen. Longstreet as "Old
Peter" That is little TOO dignifed his
nickname was odd Pete" among army
officers, as he was called pete" while
cadet at West Point Academy. In a con-
versation with me one day, Gen. Long
street said he was also nicknamed dur
ing the civil war; Bull of the Woods"
complimentary to his fighting qualities.
The term old is a common prefix to
nicknames in military as well as civil life
The name of odd Abe" Lincoln was a
household word during the civil war, as
was "Old Hickory" applied to Gen Jack
son, and "Old Tippecanoe" applied to
Gen. Harrison. both of whom became
Presidents, as well as Gen. Zachary Tay-
lor, known as "Old Rough and Ready"
During the civil war Georgia had in the
field Gen. Henry l.. Benning of Columbus.
who was called "Old Rock" because OF
his firmness, and Gen. George T. Auder-
son Of Atlanta, who was Familiarity known
as "Old Tige." He was one of the few
GeorglanS in the regular army from civil
life before the war. Gen. Jubal A. Early
was somewhat disrespectfully called "Old
Jube" because he was so stern and I'M
sociable. Gen. James E. b. Stuart was
called "Jeb" on account of his initials
Probably the most famous nickname is
that of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, who Is
known to the world as Gen. "StoneWall'
Jackson To speak of Gen. T. J. jackson
to thousands of people would in no wise
connect the TWO names in their minds. He
had his soldiers standing against the en-
envy like "stonewall,", and as stone
walr' Jackson he will be known and hon.
ored while the world lasts. There was,
however, a general in the army of the
same name, whose men wavered, as he
did, and he was known as Gen. "Mudwall"
Jackson.
The great union soldier, Gen. George b.
Mcclellan, being very small of stature, was
konwn as Little Mac" while Gen. Joseph
Wheeler, in the Southern army, and stil4
smaller, was called Little Joe" Wheeler
To-day, and back in the old army, the
general is known and beloved as "Old Joe"
Wheeler.
Lieut.. Gen. Winfield Scott, owing to his
excessive vanity and love of a snowy uni
form, was nlcknamed in no complimentary
manner, odd Fuss and Feathers" Gen.
Nelson a. Miles has been singled out TO
inherit this nickname in his old age should
ms present vanity and love of fine mill
tary trappiugs continue to grow on him.
/ Nearly all the nicknames given to mill
| tary men have been bestowed as token of
affectionate regard or high estimate of
their military genius The late Gen. VIII
liam II. Fitzhugh Lee was affectionately
called Rooney" while a soldier and the
other plain Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was famil-
iary referred TO as "Fitz" Lee. one of the
most endearing military nicknames was
that given Gen. George H. Thomas, whose
soldiers so loved and honored him that they
called him 'Old Pap" Thomas for he had
1atheriy care for them. My profound res
pect for the exquisite courtesy and kindly
dignity OF Gen. Robert Il. Lee, has always
led me TO protest against the too familiar
remark, Il fought with ODD Bob Lee"
even when spoken with all the warmth of
an old soldiers love
Owing TO the confusion in names of
generals in the Southern army during the
clvil war, the use OF certain uicknames
was made imperative. Now there was