re: #168 GeneJockey

IIRC, Custer was one such, a Brevet General.

“Brevet” rank was a sort of unofficial additional rank given temporarily to avoid seniority issues or as a reward pending official approval of a promotion. (I think general officer rank required approval pretty high up in the War Department, or even Congress.)

IIRC, Custer had brevet rank of Major General in the regular army plus Major General of Volunteers since he was a division commander. He reverted to a regular army rank of Captain in 1866. Then promoted to Lt Colonel when taking command of the 7th Cavalry. (Plus a brevet Major General rank again as well at the request of Sheridan.)

The whole brevet system in the US is sort of an odd duck. Basically a way to handle situations where the army was spread too thin to properly officer.

en.wikipedia.org