Lee's Masterpiece?

[ben_ross]

Seven Day's was no doubt a well planned operation, yet the exectuion was poor. So thats why I stayed with 2nd Manassas and Chancellorsville.

[max]

Tommy thanks for the information. I knew from the Gods and Generals movie, that Hill and some other officer asked if they had fixed their problems with Jackson, but that was all they touched on. Being a movie, I didn't know if there really had been a problem or if it was just something stuck in the movie. One thing for sure I need to expand my collection of books.

Max

[wt_jimbos]

2nd Manassas was a great victory, but it was Jacksons subbon fight under his own command and Longstreet insubordination that truely one the day.

As for chancellorsville, I feel it was far to costly, and maybe a more total victory could have been made with Longstreets men up. And I cant remember were I heard the quote, but someone once said the only thing Hooker did wrong was recross rappahannock after he had form his new line. Because after the break out of fredricksburg had been stopped and sedgwick and gibbons had recrossed the rappahannock the AoNV was very warn out and low on everything, and Lee still wanted to attack Hooker new position, which was well entrenched, with many fresh corp, and both flanks anchored on the river. The result would have been a disaster.

And as for fredricksburg, Lee had it all fall in his lap.

I find Antietam to be an amazing victory.

[illreb]

James,
As much as I admire Lee, I would have to say that Antietam had a lot more to do with McClellan's poor use of a larger force then Lee performance.

[wt_jimbos]

True Keith,
but i have read that Lee was always able to uncannily provide re-enforcements when a line was be about brake. Despite that I guess if u look at the numbers engaged and the disco-ordination of the union forces it's not that amazing.

Antietum was indeed terribly mishandled by Little Mac. But to be fair, Lee did put up one hell of a fight considering the union forces knew exactly what was going on. As to Lee uncannily providing re-enforcements. At Antietum that was A.P. Hill. His forced 17 mile march was pretty incredible and when he got there, unlike many, many generals (I'm looking at you Mr Longstreet) arriving to a fight, he slammed into the fight without a seconds hesitation. The Light Division was for my money, consistantly the hardest hitting, hardest fighting in the entire war. Having them blind side you can put wee bit of a damper on an attack. Of course, that's just my two rebel pennies worth.


YMOS
tommy

[illreb]

With all do respect Tommy, had the A.O.P. been commanded by almost anyone other then McClellen at Antietem, the A.N.V. would have been in dire staits.Had larger parts of this Army been used in cordnated attacks. Even Robert E. Lee( given the smaller number of troops he had at Sharpsburg) would have been hard pressed to stop the huge force.The arrival of A.P.Hill's Corp would have had little effect on the outcome.

I would guess or think of Fredericksburg. Because you have a slopping hill going up to Malvern Heights with a little stream running in the middle of it. Beyond that you have the town itself and the Rappahannock River. All of those create "hazards" for the Union forces. With Burnside waiting for the pontoons to arrive and Hancock being impatient, among other things, I would think Fredericksburg is a major victory for the Confederates.

Time and patience was the key for Lee at Fredericksburg.

Keith,
I never said any differently. Just that Lee put up a fight considering what he was up against. But I'm not sure about anyone other than Little Mac being in charge would have automatically won. There were a couple of equally or even more so, incompetent generals that gained command of the union army. They often had higher casualty rates with equally dismal results at any rate. Burnsides springs to mind. McDowell, Pope, and Hooker aren’t much better. My only point though was considering the union knew exactly what Lee was planning and basically ambushed him, Lee did a great job. And had A.P. Hill not arrived.....even Little Mac would have most likely succeeded. I only mentioned A.P. Hill because James had mentioned Lee’s uncanny ability to provide reenforcements just when a line was about to break. But I agree that it would take a fairly incompetent general to lose with such advantages. Numbers, ammo, location, and the complete awareness of what your enemy is about to do. But who knows.

YMOS
tommy

[illreb]

Tommy,
Yes, I agree but even the worst of the lot you have spoken of need only use the large army at his disposal (something McClellen hadn't the nerve to do)to be a major problem for Lee at Antietem .