Favorite Civil War General?

Question

My favorite Civil War general is Robert E. Lee. He combined daring (Chancellorsville), brilliance (second Manassas) and personal courage (Spotsylvania). He did have his lapses in judgement (Pickett's Charge), but altogether was a genius. Who's your favorite? Why?

If you gave Lee Grant's resources, he could have won a lot quicker.

What would have happened if Jackson and Stuart hadn't been killed?

No Sherman or Sheridan fans? They were great too!

How about Custer? A Major General in charge of 10 000 men by 23.

Nobody mentioned James K Longstreet (Lee's Old Warhorse/ Left Hand). What's up with you folks?

And so many people answered, but nobody gave me a star!

Answer 1

Has to be Robert E. Lee. His strategies and field tactics are both still taught in military academies today, both here and abroad. He was a genuine scholar, a true gentleman, and the best personification of the 'noble warrior' in American history...with the possible exception of George Washington.

(As to Pickett's Charge, you know that Lee didn't realize that the union center had been reinforced. Given the results of the previous days' fighting, it was a competent, though dangerous, maneuver...that still almost succeeded!)

A close runner up might be Stonewall Jackson, even with his eccentricities he was nothing short of brilliant. he could read a situation and react to it...correctly...faster than an NFL coach on meth.

Answer 2

General Lee was probably one of the greatest generals of all time. Because someone has a lapse in judgement and makes mistakes, it does not make them any less of a leader. It is how they learn from the mistakes and press on. Which he was good at doing. I did not believe in the ideals of the south and neither did Lee. In fact he was chosen to run the Army of the North, but turned it down, because he could not turn his sword against "his Virginia." Obviously I am a big Civil War fan. If you haven't seen Gettysburg or Gods and Generals, you should. I heard they are making a final movie as a sequel to the two.

Answer 3

I'll go with Lee too, he was the best military mind in the war. He certainly had the best record of brilliant victories, despite losing in the end. Much of what we know about Pickett's Charge comes from when Longstreet was running for Office in Louisiana many years later in 1888. He was confronted by people about his record in the war, and he told the story about his insubordination charge from Lee and his disagreement over the strategy. Both Pickett and Lee were dead, so we had to take his word for those events.

Answer 4

I didn't care for George Custer's Indian policies but he was the most flamboyant, dashing and daring Cavalry General the North had. He was at First Bull Run and received, as a present from General Sheridan, the table that the surrender was signed on.He was one of the youngest generals , promoted to brevet Brigadier General three days before Gettysburg. He lead many cavalry charges from the front. You should read about his Civil War exploits.

Answer 5

Mine is JB Hood, of Longstreet's Corps. His Texas regiments were the firebrigade of the confederacy. While I admire RE Lee's strategic brilliance, he was lucky to have T Jackson, Longstreet, JEB Stuart and others under his command, and his blunder at sending 12,000 Virginians over 1 1/2 miles of open ground against entrenched infantry and massed artillery is inexcusable. Without TJ, Gen. Lee was exposed as a poor tactical commander, that and his small HQ staff

Without TJ, Gen. Lee was exposed as a poor tactical commander, that and his small HQ staff

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.

Answer 6

I like Stonewall Jackson. He was probably the only one of Lee's generals who could take a broad directive or strategy and perform it the way Lee wanted it, even if some of the goals or intent was unstated.

He dressed like a wreck, was secretive about orders to his subordinates and believed in a well organized and run unit.

As with most generals, he had a few snafus but he won several early battles and was pretty much responsible for the north not winning the war in 6 weeks like almost everyone predicted.

Answer 7

No "favorite" wars or generals but:

Even though north of the Mason Dixon one may find respect for the true courage of John B. Gordon, "the evangel of peace" and Robert E. Lee, both having admitted that this futile slaughter had come to and end.

Sorry: No star. You weren't there: It's easy to dramatize this darkest point of American History.

Answer 8

Robert E. Lee also, not only because he was a genius, but also seemed like a good guy. I know he was fighting for the South, but he seemed to care much more for the land and his home than what would happen to slavery. Also, Ambrose Burnside, just for his bumbling preformance and facial hair.

http://www.nndb.com/people/587/000028503/ambrose-burnside-70.jpg

Answer 9

I like general Lee as well, he never made a move unless it was strategic. He did make mistakes and had lapses in judgment but i think he was one of the greatest leaders in American History.

Answer 10

Nathan Bedford Forest is considered, by many scholars (even Shelby Foote), to be the genius or greatest general that the American Civil War produced.
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