Memorial Day–formerly  known as Decoration Day–was first observed on May 30, 1868, shortly after the Civil War, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, so that the  roots of the holiday were very much entwined with the War Between the States. It’s always celebrated on the last Monday of May–a date close to the day of reunification of the country after the Civil War.

　　In the course of this deadly and divisive war, there were over a thousand soldiers who reached the rank of general, many of them becoming national heroes, and namesakes for babies born during and after the war. There were countless little Grants and Lees, just as there were Lincolns and Jeffersons and Davises.  Looking at the rolls of officers on both sides, we find some interesting names–both first and last, as well as names attached to battlegrounds– that could still be inspiring today.

　　UNION GENERALS’ FIRST NAMES

　　ABSALOM

　　ADIN

　　ALBION

　　ALPHEUS

　　AMIEL

　　AUGUST

　　CASSIUSCUVIERDARIUS

　　EBENEZER

　　EMERSON

　　EMORY

　　ERASMUS

　　GREEN

　　GUSTAVUS

　　ISHAM

　　JASPER

　　JEREMIAH

　　JUSTUSKENNERLAFAYETTE

　　LORENZO

　　MARCELLUS

　　NAPOLEON

　　ORLANDO

　　ORRIS

　　PLEASANT

　　REGISROMEYNSPEEDSULLIVANTHEOPHILOUSTRUMAN

　　ULYSSESZEALOUS

　　CONFEDERATE GENERALS’ FIRST NAMES

　　ALPHEUSARMISTEADBIRKETT

　　BRAXTON

　　CADMUSCARNOTCLAUDIUS

　　CULLENELKANAHEPPAEVANDER

　　GUSTAVUS

　　JUBAL

　　LEONIDASMAXCY (sort of cute)OTHOTHEOPHOLUSTURNER

　　TYREE

　　ZACHARIAH

　　ZEBULON

　　SOME SURNAMES FROM BOTH SIDES

　　ASHBYAUGURBAIRD

　　BARNUM

　　BEE

　　BERRY

　　BOWEN

　　CLAYCULLUMDEWEY

　　DUNCAN

　　EATON

　　EGAN

　　FRAZER

　　FROST

　　GRAHAM

　　LOGAN

　　MAURYMAXBYMcCLELLANMEADE

　　PAXTON

　　PERRY

　　POE

　　QUINBY

　　RIPLEY

　　ROUSSEAUSAXTONSHEPARD

　　SHERIDAN

　　SORRELSPRAGUESULLY

　　SWEENY

　　TUCKER

　　VINTON

　　CIVIL WAR BATTLE-RELATED NAMES

　　AMELIA (SPRINGS)ANDERSON

　　AUBURN

　　BAXTERBRISTOECHANTILLYCORINTHDALTON

　　DOVER

　　MARIETTAMcALLISTERPHILIPPISABINE (PASS)SHILOHSUMPTER