Greatest Generals of the American Civil War

[napoleon526]

Originally posted by pawpaw
i don't think chamberlain was ever a general--- i know he was a colonel in a maine regiment but didn't he get shot?( i stand corrected, i saw were he was promoted to general)

Joshua L. Chamberlain was promoted to Brigadier General after Gettysburg. He ended the war as a brevet Major General, and was the officer choosen to accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox.

 

[pawpaw]

thats why i edited my post

 

[napoleon526]

Just clarifying it for you.

 

[Speedo]

Originally posted by Richard III
At the risk of getting edited by mods, I will continue my crusade to point out that while the Union fought to preserve the Union, the South very clearly seceded to preserve slavery; that this was the only real issue of dispute between the south and the federal system, and the fact that slavery was the issue was made clear both by southern leaders and in the confederate constitution at the time.

I think they were mainly fighting to preserve their way of life. And yes, that included slavery. However, some of the states (such as Virginia) seceded because they didn't believe that the rebellion should be put down through an invasion. You have to understand also how loyalties were different during that period. Most people were loyal to their state first, then the union. Thus why the south got men such as Lee and Jackson.

It doesn't make me agree with their decision any more, but theres a lot more to it than simply slavery.

 

[Xen]

Originally posted by Tweedledum


Actually, the word "hooker" in that context existed well before Fighting Joe - it came from an area of New York City frequented by them...

by who? the hooker clan, or the prostitutes

 

[MarineCorps]

I always have and always will think that McClellen was a joke, he had sveral chances to attack but failed to do so. Joshua L. Chamberlain should be on that list (I'm from Maine) . Jeb stuart was pretty good so I voted for him. I can not belive Picketts on the list. Why? Does Picketts Charge ring any bells? I know thats judging him for 1 thing but others have had their repution judged on 1 event and came out for the better.

 

[pawpaw]

pucketts charge? charging straight into death mite be brave but a great general it does not make

 

[MarineCorps]

I said: I can NOT belive he IS on the list. in other words I'm agaisnt him being on the list.

 

[pawpaw]

my bad, i'm doing two things at once

 

[MarineCorps]

I don't mind at all, after all I am getting two new posts because of you.

 

[onejayhawk]

I am not surprised to see Buford getting most of the love. He was clearly the best infighter of the war. Does anyone know why he never commanded more men? Personality?

A note about McClellan. He did prepare his men exceptionally well. He was even a good fighting General if he was forced into action. One wonder what could have been done if he had had mentor, like Longstreet had Lee. As it was, Lee almost was pursuaded to lead the Federal forces. If there is one thing about this war that strikes me, that is it, because McClellan would have been such a brilliant second in command.

I wouldnt consider Meade for this honor, but he did make the most pivotal decision of the war IMO. His decision to pull back to the high ground south of Gettysburg, and dig in for a long fight wasnt genius, but McClellan wouldnt have done it and Hooker was a broken man by then, I doubt he would have either. Of course Stonewall Jackson would have had small forces investing them before the fighting started, but that is another thread.

Originally posted by MarineCorps
I don't mind at all, after all I am getting two new posts because of you.

When you get as amny posts as I have...you look on CurtSibling in disbelief.

J

 

[Benderino]

Originally posted by MarineCorps
I always have and always will think that McClellen was a joke, he had sveral chances to attack but failed to do so. I can not belive Picketts on the list. Why? Does Picketts Charge ring any bells? I know thats judging him for 1 thing but others have had their repution judged on 1 event and came out for the better.

Pickett's on there for the same reason McClellen is, if that helps .

Chamberlain was damn good, but I hadn't realized that he was a general. Now that I know, I regret not putting him on.

McClellen was good at training, and he was good during the Peninsular Campaign, in the sense that he basically won all the battles, but retreated anyway. If he had had enough sense to stay still, and not care so much about "his boys", he might've ended the rebellion there. Then of course, he won at Antietam, but failed to follow up on his victory, which was very very costly. He just wasn't aggressive enough, quite the opposite, really.

 

[MarineCorps]

Originally posted by Benderino



Pickett's on there for the same reason McClellen is, if that helps .

Chamberlain was damn good, but I hadn't realized that he was a general. Now that I know, I regret not putting him on.

.

. To tell you the truth I didn't realize Chamberlain had made it to general before this post

 

[The Art of War]

I thought Custer was made a general AFTER the war..?

He was just a colonel under...McClellan, wasn't it? I can't remember..

 

[Unregister]

I was gonna say...no "Stonewall" Jackson? i think hes #1/2 on my list...

 

[Benderino]

Originally posted by The Art of War
I thought Custer was made a general AFTER the war..?

He was just a colonel under...McClellan, wasn't it? I can't remember..

I don't think so, but I may be wrong. I am pretty sure that he was a general of some kind.

@Unregister, I didn't want to put in the "big ones": Lee, Grant, Sherman, Jackson, because I knew they would be picked the most, especially Lee. I wanted to see what others felt on the other, lesser known, generals.

 

[pawpaw]

Originally posted by The Art of War
I thought Custer was made a general AFTER the war..
he was a brevet major general, most regulars got "promotions" that didn't count in the regular army, thats why custer went back to colonel after the war

 

[The Art of War]

well, i know of one incidence that he was ordered to stay with his commanding general (McLellan, i want to say...maybe Pope..), but he road off into battle. He was a Colonel at this time...I'm thinking it was early 1862 or so...

 

[Shadylookin]

Well i would have liked to serve under Hooker. We were told by our history teacher that he brought them women. I have no reason not to believe him since i think he was old enough to have fought in it , but if you can disprove him i'd gladly read

 

[Benderino]

I think I've heard that as well. However, he doesn't seem to have too many votes now does he? I wonder why this

Oh, right, Chancellorsville!