in 1861, during the american civil war, graduates of west point were given commissions in the union army as brevet 2nd lieutenants. this was because there were not enough vacancies to commission them as 2nd lieutenants. many officers have held brevet commissions for gallant actions, meritorious service or to serve in a staff position when their permanent rank did not allow it. after the war there were thousands of brevet officers. of the 1,978 civil war generals, 1,700 were brevet brigadier generals or major generals, most with a date of rank of 13 march 1865. many, like george armstrong custer held the brevet rank of major general, but wanting to remain in the army after the war was returned to his permanent rank of captain.