For most of the first half of the 19th Century this rank, like that of full General, existed only on paper. Until the American Civil War, only one officer was ever promoted to this rank, Winfield Scott, an honorary, or brevet, promotion in 1855. George Washington was listed as a Lieutenant General on the Continental Army rolls after his death since he wore three stars, but his actual military title was General and Commander In Chief. The first full promotion to Lieutenant General did not take place until Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to that rank and elevated to Commanding General of the United States Army in 1864.Note that the Confederate States Army had already been using the rank of "lieutenant general" for its corps commanders prior to the U.S. Army's adoption of the term. The two ranks were not synonymous. Dozens of men held the rank in the Confederate army, while eight men were full generals.

An Army or Marine Corps Lieutenant General typically commands a corps-sized unit (20,000 to 45,000 soldiers).

Famous American Lieutenant Generals

Historic usage:

• George Washington, Posthumously promoted to General of the Armies in 1976.
• Winfield Scott
• Philip Sheridan
• William Sherman

Current usage:

• Ricardo Sanchez Commander U.S. V Corps, former Commander of U.S. ground forces in Iraq
• William Hood Simpson, Commander of U.S. Ninth Army during WWII
• Robert Sink, former Commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Band of Brothers), the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Strategic Army Corps.
• Walton Walker, Commander of XX Corps during WWII, and 8th Army during the Korean War. Posthumously promoted to full General.

Notes

Military ranks of the United States Army | Military ranks of the United States Air Force | United States Marine Corps ranks