University of Mary Washington Eagle Scholar Student Research Submissions Spring 5-8-2020 Faithful Unto Death: The West Point Class of 1861 and the First Manassas Campaign Jessie Fitzgerald Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Fitzgerald, Jessie, "Faithful Unto Death: The West Point Class of 1861 and the First Manassas Campaign" (2020). Student Research Submissions. 322. https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/322 This Honors Project is brought to you for free and open access by Eagle Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Research Submissions by an authorized administrator of Eagle Scholar. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Faithful Unto Death: The West Point Class of 1861 and the First Manassas Campaign Jessie Fitzgerald History 485: Historical Research Dr. Porter Blakemore April 24, 2020 The West Point Class of 1861 graduated on the eve of the American Civil War as a class defined by regional and political lines. As the secession crisis heated up, cadets appointed from southern states resigned and went south, some just two weeks shy of graduating, while northern cadets remained at West Point. Two months after graduation, the class exhibited their military ability and the value of their training during the Manassas Campaign in July of 1861. They also demonstrated a commitment of duty to the causes and countries they fought for. Furthermore, they showed devotion to each other, even as they fought on opposite sides of the war. The Civil War careers of six exemplary members of the class demonstrated the influence and significance of West Point to the war.