During the Civil War, VMI was a hotbed of Confederate activity. The school's superintendent, Francis H. Smith, was a strong supporter of the Confederacy, and many of the school's students and faculty served in the Confederate Army. However, there were also a number of Union soldiers who graduated from VMI before the war.
Some of the most notable Union soldiers who graduated from VMI include:
* George Armstrong Custer: Custer was a cavalry officer who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
* John Sedgwick: Sedgwick was a general who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He is best known for his death at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.
* Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson: Jackson was a Confederate general who served in the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. He is considered to be one of the greatest generals in American history.
These are just a few of the many Union soldiers who graduated from VMI. These men served with distinction in the Union Army, and their contributions to the war effort were significant.