Face Off Stuart, Forrest, & Sheridan who?

5fish · #1 02-23-2008, 10:10 AM

It is Face off Time!

Who was the better Cavalry man:

Stuart the true persona of a cavalier, he change the way cavalry was use in warfare along with amazing feats daring.

Forrest the true persona of a highway man, he was a pirate and raider at heart but did accomplish a few feat of daring.

Sheridan the little man, he was not a pure cavalry man but he brought union cavalry to dominance on the battlefield.

gary · #2 02-23-2008, 12:38 PM

I'm not sure how Stuart changed the role of cavalry in warfare. Picket duty, skirmish, screening and reconnaisance has always been the role of cavalry. Perhaps even more dramatic than anything Jeb Stuart did, was Eylau during the Napoleonic war where Murat's cavalry broke the Russian battle line. Raiding the enemy was nothing novel. Remember Tarleton and his British Legion did a lot of that in the Carolinas. The Federal cavalry Stuart fought was not well organized or used during the first two years of the war. Stuart fought well in command of Jackson's Corps after Jackson was injured.

Sheridan was also an able leader and like Stuart, proved flexible and was a star ascendant. He demonstrated that the Federal cavalry could conduct lengthy raids (OK, Grierson did it first) behind Confederate lines. He also whipped Early in the Valley and today would be known as the Comeback Kid. Sheridan demonstrated his ability to lead a very large independent command and a knack for teaching crows how to carry provisions when traveling through the Valley.

Forrest is amazing in that unlike Stuart or Sheridan, he was untutored in the ways of war. He was a natural fighter who proved capable of independent command yet able to subordinate himself to another (unless that other was half a man). Forrest could be defeated (and he was once), but his potential for higher command was only hinted at during the war. I'd put my money on Forrest.

5fish · #3 02-23-2008, 01:45 PM

Gary,

Maybe the way the US. army used cavalry, until he came along the army just used them mostly for guarding supply lines. You read Mexican-American war the cavalry mostly doing rear guard stuff. It the engineers that are doing all the scouting just ask Lee.

gary · #4 02-23-2008, 02:32 PM

How come Custer's classmate, Judson Killcavalry isn't included as one of the south's best (ally)? He was pretty good at wiping the Federal horse.

Dred · #5 02-23-2008, 03:20 PM

I went with Sheridan. I've always liked this guy. He did what no other union commander could do, at a time when it proved most crucial. Sealing the valley at that time was probably the biggest accomplishment in the eastern theater up to that time. It left Early with nowhere to hide, cut off valuable resources or Lee's army, and left him with limited options on where to run to once he left the Richmond/Petersburg line. He also proved a competent leader who obviously had the faith of his troops in his pocket. The fact that he could take a fiasco like Cedar Creek and turn it into a Union victory just by showing up on the field speaks volumes as to his affect on his troops morale.

rivrrat · #6 02-23-2008, 05:04 PM

General Jo Shelby leader of the other Iron Brigade.

johan_steele · #7 02-23-2008, 05:22 PM

Wilson should be considered as well.

larry_cockerham · #8 02-23-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johan_steele

Wilson should be considered as well.

Gen., Sir, Wilson became a fine cavalry leader and managed to capture Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia after the AOT had 'left'. James Harrison Wilson had a good teacher, a man he, too, much admired for his tenacity, ***** and general fighting spirit. By the time Wilson was able to defeat Forrest at Selma, the fight in the AOT was on it's way to North Carolina. Wilson gets points for political savy, organization and the will to keep trying. I suspect he lacked Forrest's instincts for rapid decisions, but an excellent officer and leader of men none the less. Wilson was a prime example of a professional soldier as his record shows.

larry_cockerham · #9 02-23-2008, 06:01 PM

Anyone care to wager on the spelling of the word *****? (s p u n k ), didn't seem offensive to me at the time. I've even thought about it and can't come up with strong evidence? [I love the little censor, he's got *****!] I guess that assumes he's not a girl.

5fish · #10 02-23-2008, 09:43 PM

[quote=larry_cockerham;80490]Anyone care to wager on the spelling of the word *****? (s p u n k ), didn't seem offensive to me at the time. I've even thought about it and can't come up with strong evidence? [I love the little censor, he's got *****!] I guess that assumes he's not a girl.[/quot]

I must LOL!