who were the top 5 confederate generals in the civil war?

Answer 1

When in rebellion, your objective is not so much as to defeat the enemy as to get them tired of the war and they quit. The Americans did it to the British, the North Vietnamese did it to the Americans and the Afghans did it to the Soviets. Because that is how rebellions are generally won, I am looking at the South's Generals through that perspective.

Here is my ranking.


1. Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson - His nickname says it all. He was a tremendous defensive leader. He was usually outnumbered but his troops were never outfought.

2. Robert E. Lee - Even though he was Jackson's boss, he is number two on my list because of his one big flaw and one big mistake. His flaw was he was too much of a gentleman to properly lead. There were times when instead of given orders, he gave strong suggestions. Generals are supposed to give orders.
His mistake was attacking at Gettysburg instead of falling back and letting the Union troops come to him. That being said, most historians believed the Civil War went on so long because he was such a great General. A lesser General would have lost the war much sooner.

3. James Longstreet - He too was a superb defensive General. He tried to get Lee to fall back to defensive positions at Gettyburg, but Lee refused. He was blamed by many for the defeat, but modern historians view him as being a top-notch General.

4. Nathan Bedford Forrest - I disregard his work after the War, we are talking of Civil War actions. He was an aggressive leader who knew when to go "all in".
Senator Daniel has said, "what genius was in that wonderful man! He felt the field as Blind Tom touches the keys of the piano. 'War means killing," he said, " and the way to kill is to get there first with the most men."

5. James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart - One of the best cavalrymen in history. He was prone to occasional flights of fancy where he would not be where he was needed, but that was rare. The North feared his troops. General Lee said of him "He never brought me a false report." He was General Lee's eyes and he was very good at his job.

Some of these men may not have done as well in the Union army, as the Union was fighting an offensive war. But for the South, each man was exceptional.

Answer 2

Top Confederate Generals

Answer 3

Best Confederate Generals

Answer 4

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RE:
who were the top 5 confederate generals in the civil war?

Answer 5

The issue gets messy since Dictator, er ah, President Jefferson Davis handled strategy and though he never took the field his mostly bone headed & wrong decisions were the law. General Robert E Lee was one of histories great generals, Nathan Forrest and Braxton Bragg were equally excellent but rarely consulted, General 'Stonewall' Jackson was the best field General, the Generals most expected to actually manage the overall war were Albert Sydney Johnston and Joseph E Johnston.

Must reiterreate - - - all Civil War histories fail to list Jefferson Davis as a General but he was Commander in Chief.


Peace...

Oh not among the top five but Wade Hampton III and John Bell Hood were quite gifted as was J E B Stuart...

Answer 6

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Union generals: U.S. Grant William T. Sherman George McClellan (Ran against Lincoln in 1864) George G. Meade (Gettysburg general) Confederate generals: Robert E. Lee Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson James Longstreet James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart Nathan Bedford Forest (also a founder of the KKK)

Answer 7

Some of the top Confederate commanders:

General Robert E. Lee
General Stonewall Jackson
Nathan Bedford Forrest
General Braxton Bragg
General George Pickett

Answer 8

Robert E Lee
Stonewall Jackson
PG Beauregard
AP Hill
Jeb Stuart
Joseph Johnston
James Longstreet
Jubal Early
Braxton Bragg
George Pickett

Answer 9

They are as follows: Robert E Lee, Thomas J (Stonewall) Jackson, General Longstreet, General Bragg and General Stuart.

Answer 10

You all are wrong you don't even list Fightin Joe Wheeler also known as Little Joe even Sherman said he was the best general in the south when it came to battle, That says a lot.