14 Responses to Question of the Week: Best and worst nicknames?
Best one: “Extra Billy” Smith. Simple but captures William Smith, simultaneously a brigadier general and governor of Virginia.
Runner up: strictly speaking may not be a nickname but certainly a colorful descriptor, goggle eyed snapping turtle, supposedly given to George Meade.
My favorite odd clothing-related nicknames belong to the German-born artillerist Hubert “Leatherbreeches” Dilger and the horseman Vincent “Clawhammer” Witcher.
William “Shotpouch” Walker, for the number of times he was he was injured in battle. I think it was the eighth shot that finally did him in near Atalanta in 1864.
I think “Slow Come” for General Henry W. Slocum qualifies as both best and worst. Best for originality, worst for the recipient for just how personal and biting the nickname is.
Best: “Stonewall” Jackson
“Tige” Anderson
“Fighting Joe” Hooker – which Robert Lee turned into “Mr. F. J. Hooker”
“Prince John” Magruder
“Boo” George Washington Custis Lee
“Peter” (“Rock” in Greek) Longstreet
Worst: “Baldy” Smith
“Tardy” and “Slow Trot” Sykes
What were the best and worst Civil War nicknames?
Best one: “Extra Billy” Smith. Simple but captures William Smith, simultaneously a brigadier general and governor of Virginia.
Runner up: strictly speaking may not be a nickname but certainly a colorful descriptor, goggle eyed snapping turtle, supposedly given to George Meade.
Worst – William Mudwall Jackson as the worst.
“Old fuss and feathers,” General Winfield Scott
Best — Uncle Billy for General Sherman
Worst – Granny Lee for General Lee
Best? Obviously Stonewall!!! Worst: Agree with Fuss and feathers.
Best – “The Tycoon” for A. Lincoln
Worst – “Old Forty-Eight Hours” for Abner Doubleday (for his alleged slothful style)
William R Scurry “Dirty Shirt”. Worst
George H. Thomas with the simultaneous worst and some of the best: “Slow Trot” amd “Rock of Chickamauga/Sledge of Nashville”
Ain’t no worst. They’re all colorful. Best of the second tier: Stovepipe Johnson, Shanks Evans and Allegheny Johnson.
My favorite odd clothing-related nicknames belong to the German-born artillerist Hubert “Leatherbreeches” Dilger and the horseman Vincent “Clawhammer” Witcher.
William “Shotpouch” Walker, for the number of times he was he was injured in battle. I think it was the eighth shot that finally did him in near Atalanta in 1864.
Best its a tie – Grant “Unconditional Surrender” and John Bell Hood “Old Wooden Head”
Worst – William T. Sherman “Cump”
I think “Slow Come” for General Henry W. Slocum qualifies as both best and worst. Best for originality, worst for the recipient for just how personal and biting the nickname is.
Best: “Stonewall” Jackson
“Tige” Anderson
“Fighting Joe” Hooker – which Robert Lee turned into “Mr. F. J. Hooker”
“Prince John” Magruder
“Boo” George Washington Custis Lee
“Peter” (“Rock” in Greek) Longstreet
Worst: “Baldy” Smith
“Tardy” and “Slow Trot” Sykes