best civil war soldiers?

Question

i have heard people say that the confederate had the best soldiers. and i have heard people say the union werent as good in the new england area but better than the confederate if you looked at the michigan and other western union areas. is that true? i guess i kind of agree because in the wisconson and other areas around there there are more wooded areas than the south. tell me who you think had the best soldiers? why please be specific. thanks

Answer 1

The shock troops of the Confederacy had to be Hood's Division

Their reputation as the premier shock troop or formation of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia came during Longstreet's massive assault on John Pope's left flank at the Second Battle of Bull Run. At Antietem, Hood's division came to the relief of Stonewall Jackson's corps on the Confederate left flank at Jackson was impressed with Hood's performance and recommended his promotion to major general.

Altho, Hood's division missed Chanclorsville and Fredricksburg, their division, composed of 5 regiments from Alabama, 9 regiments from Georgia, 1 regiment from Arkansas, and 3 regiments from Texas, most notably the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas assumed the leading position in the Division. They nearly took Little Round Top at Gettysburg after repeated assaults against the 20th Maine. Hood was wounded early in the contest and was attacking under protest (He wanted to swing further around the Union flank but was over ruled).

Considered the 'fire brigade" of the Rebel Army (Similar to the classic-elite Waffen SS division of WWII), Hood's Division was transferred to the Western Theatre to set things right. At the Battle of Chickamauga, Hood's division broke the Federal line at the Brotherton Cabin, which led to the defeat of General William Rosecrans's Union army.

In succeeding battles, the division was worn down by attrition and succumbed to overwhelming Union forces in later battles. Hood's career faced a similary demise, as he was promoted to higher levels with little successes in battle during the waning months of the war. The 3 regiments from Texas of Hood's Division assumed a distinction for being fierce and brave regiments.

My second pic is men of the First Virginia Regiment - on many hard fought fields they gained the name "Bloody First". At Gettysburg, they made the assault on Cemetery Ridge with Kemper's Brigade of Pickett's Division.

On the union side, i would vote for the 20th Maine Regiment, for their day on Little Round Top (near a small cross roads in southern Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863) attacking with little or no ammunition. Their 'fixed bayonet' charge earned Col. Chamberlain a Cong. Medal of Honor.

Answer 2

The soldier's were the same. What made the difference were the leaders. The Union Army of the Potomac was VERY unlucky in that its early leaders were either mediocre or just plain bad! This gave the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Robert E. Lee an incredible expectation of victory before the battle would even begin. The Confederate's expectation of victory and the Union Army's expectation of defeat and lower morale was a powerful handicap even to Gen. Grant when he came east to take command in 1864.
As far as 'Elite' units I would include:

UNION

1. 20th Mass. Regt. Only really had one day to show what they were worth but that day they may have saved the Union.

2. 1st Minnesota Regt. Charged a Confederate Division singlehanded and almost no one remembers them.

3. The Iron Brigade. Wisconsin and Michigan Regt.'s that were they equal to anyone.

4. Gen. Wilder's 'Lightning Brigade' of the Union Army of the Tennessee. Mounted on horses but trained to fight as infantry and armed with the best repeating rifle in existance, they were a VERY rude surprise to any Confederate unit that ran into them.

Confederate

1. Any South Carolinian Regt. OK, I'm from S.C., but still I would rate Kershaw's Brigade and Gregg's Brigade as exceptional. Kershaw's for the incredible attack at Gettysburg which is not known about much, and then their defense of what they had captured against repeated attacks from the Union 2nd Corps.

2. Clebourne's Division in the West. So outstanding they were allowed to keep their beloved 'Bonnie-Blue Flags' when the rest of Army switched to the more common battle flags.

3. A. P. Hill's Division up to 1863 when he was made a Corps commander. Outstanding as a Division Commander but not that good as a Corps Commander.

4. But the truely, the no questions asked favorite for 'ELITE' status was Hood's 'Texas Brigade'. Lee ordered them to attack straight from a force march and said, "Texan's always move them!" Meaning the enemy.

Answer 3

Stuart's Cavalry, Jackson's Corps, Nathan Bedford Forest's Cavalry, Wheeler's Cavalry, and Mosby's Rangers were the best Civil War Confederate troops.

Best Union Troops- The Irish Brigade, The Iron Brigade, and the U.S. Regular troops under the command of George Sykes at First Bull Run.

Answer 4

Nathan Bedford Forrest's calvary or Stonewall Jackson's corps

Answer 5

i wouldnt say that anyone was better than the other, but the yankees were definitely faster in taking the south.