Good points, Chuck. Southern generals tended to be pretty uppity about rank and standing. Davis's dust up with Joe Johnston and Beauregard about who ranked whom early in the war started the rankle that destroyed the relationships between them. Davis tended to be a by the book guy, and this experience with his generals very early on may have served to hinder what flexibility he may have possessed. He certainly was very slow in moving deserving and proven leaders into important commands. The obvious example is Forrest, another is the extended tenure of Bragg. Now Lincoln was much more agile, not feeling bound by any mores which might hinder his ability to win the war. He plucked lower ranking figures from hither and yon who had proven themselves deserving. It didn't always work out satisfactorily, but it never impaired his ability to act for what he believed was the best.
But if Davis had tapped Cleburne to command, the men of the Army of Tennessee knew his reputation, he fought at thier side, and would gladly have accepted him, as I believe would have the generals. That of course is before 'Let's arm the slaves' proposition, which torpedoed any promotion from Richmond, and may have turned some generals from serving under him, but not all, nor the important ones.
Neil- Thanks. Trust Reggae lyricists to tell us all we need to know.
Reggae lyrics..way too cool. One of my favourite genres of music. One love, mon.
Calicoboy
__________________
My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
Reggae lyrics..way too cool. One of my favourite genres of music. One love, mon.
Calicoboy
One love. One heart. Let's get together and feel all right. -Bob Marley
Yea mon. With you Calicoboy!!
__________________ 'It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag'
Hey Guys,
I liked the point made about Jefferson Davis possibly assuming command himself.His prowess as a military commander has always beeen a real question mark in my mind?I would think that the moral of the fighting men would skyrocket with the President leading them.Plus I assume Davis would have made sure that the army of Tennessee he led would be be supplied better.Leaving Bragg in command was to me a stupid stupid move.Not that football relates but when the assistant coaches and players hate the head coach ,then you can bet the players won't play as hard and the coaches won't perform to their best either.That's just human nature.I don't think Clebourne was nearly as heralded then as he is today.Hood was a good commander following orders but he was woefully inadequate to lead an army.He was a man though by God, and as brave as they come.The generals were definitely jealous and concerned with their own reputation.Their post war efforts to exalt themselves proves that.I don't think Joe Johnston was as pathetic as he appeared and while he generally didn't waste men he was far to fond of the retreat.To me he tried to be fancied himself a defensive general and he helped the Confederate cause little or none.It seemed like evryone in the Southern military thought more of Beuregard than Davis did.Beuregard may have been an unlikable fellow but he couldn't have been worse than Bragg,Hood, or Johnston.Davis seemed to let his personal feelings get in the way of what was in the best interest of the Confederate cause.
The problems the CSA had with the western theatre were partially of its own making by giving Bragg the command in the first place and allowing the backbiting and intrigue to fester out west instead of nipping it in the bud. Whats worse is Davis brought Bragg back to Richmond where he could do more harm, instead of sticking him in a backwater post and bringing in Johnston for AOT command. Additionally replacing Hood with Cleburne Polk with DH Hill would have been ideal.
Respectfully,
Matt
Ed, It has always been my opinion that Davis wanted to command, not be the President of the Confederacy and I think he would have been much better in this type position.
As for this scenario that you bring up, one of Davis' biggest failings, in my opinion, was his loyalty to his friends, which also gave him glaring blind spots to their abilities that would continue to haunt his presidency for the length of it.
To overlook the opinions of such superior military minds as Forrest, D.H. Hill, Longstreet, Hardee and Buckner was fool hardy at best. I think he should have removed Bragg, friend or no, and replaced him immediately with Forrest and let the chips fall where they may. I think time would have borne out that it was the correct thing to do.
Personally I have never thought that the "man and the hour have met" as the saying goes about Davis. I believe he belonged in the military and I think that is what he always envisioned for himself.
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
Thea: I mostly agree with your post on Davis. A couple of exceptions, however: 1. Davis may have wanted very much to run the war as General-in-Chief, but there is no evidence that he would have been any better in that role than he was as president (for which I don't fault him all that much because the ground rules he had to follow would likely have reduced Lincoln to tears). Would his grasp of the situation as General have better than his grasp as Commander-in-Chief? 2. Replacement of Bragg with Forrest is equally iffy. Forrest was superb in the role he played. That he could have adequately commanded the Army of Tennessee is highly questionable. Perhaps Hardee, Cleburne (however, not a West Pointer), D.H. Hill ... (It's not hard to come up with anyone but Bragg. The hard part is which?) Regards, Ole (Sorry for the formatting -- can't make this work like it did yesterday.
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I so wish he would had put Nathan Bedford Forrest in command of the army of the Tennesse, imagine the heck he could have done to the yankees with 60,000-65,000 troops!! I would pity the yankee invader.
Anyone but Bragg. He had only and most important the backing of "His Excellancy" Mr. Davis. There was not another Major Commander "under" his command that had his confidence. Even after a conference concerning his ability to "Serve" Davis left him in command. Polk was then transfered , D.H.Hill was also, And above all Forrest left with a personal threat to "ever cross my path again". After which he lost Inpregnable Chattanooga. Once a sodlier was asked if he new the way to the rear by Gen. Bragg to which he answered " Yes Sir I been with you for two years".One wonders??
Chattanooga was Bragg's to take and he could have had it handily if he'd gone right on in. The siege mentality prevailed, and he lost his opportunity, and the war.
I think longstreet was the best choice to command the AOT , but D.H. Hill could have done the work.Polk should have been replace far earlier in the war.Not the worse corp commander , but he loose too much opportunity.
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