Civil War History - General DiscussionFor Discussions on Civil War Era Personalities, Politics, Issues, Campaigns, Battles, and more. Serious Civil War Discussions Only Please! All other posts will be deleted.
Why is Gen. George Meade always ignored? He was one of the better union generals, Gen. Grant kept him as the commander of the AoP till the end of the war.
He was the victor at the battle of Gettysburg. I must admit it was due more to Gen. Lee's desperation then his military skill; but a win is a win.
I would have to disagree that J.L. Chamberlain was the most important general of the war aside from Grant or Sherman. He really didn't do alot. We all know of his role in the fight to defend of LRT at Gettysburg, but other than that, he didn't do much. He spent most of 1864 in a hospital or recovering in Maine from a wound he took at Petersburg, a wound he wasn't supposed to survive. That was why he received his promotion. It was supposed to be a posthumous promotion. He wasn't a great tactician. He isn't even what I would call a great inspirational leader. Much of what he wrote after the war suffers from the same blight that most memoirs do: it was written to greatly imbelish his acts.
If I were to chose a general who was, aside from Grant and Sherman, most important, I would have to chose Rufus Ingalls. Without Ingalls in the position of Quartermaster General, the Union armies would have been in a mire of logistics problems. He kept the armies fed and along with Herman Haupt, he kept them moving. My vote goes to Ingalls.
__________________ "The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
I object! He was probably more important than Grant and Sherman.
ole
__________________ 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
__________________ "The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
1) At the Battle of Gettysburg, he did not take the high ground of Cemetary ridge and Culp hill. You can argue it was Longstreet's childish behavior or Stuart's vanity that lost the Battle of Getty'sburg; but the battle was lost on the first day when Gen. Ewell ceded the high ground the union forces.
At present, I am actually re-reading Foote's volumes (picking up on more detail this time of course). With respect to Ewell at Gettysburg he [Foote] writes: Ewell was "to carry the hill occupied by the enemy, if he found it practicable" - so Lee paraphrased the instructions afterwards in his final report - "but to avoid a general engagement until the arrival of the other divisions of the army." {emphasis supplied]
It seems the order is not only discretionary, but contradictory. Is it reasonable for Ewell to think that making a push for the hill would lead to a general engagement? What else would it lead to?
I won't disagree, but he wasn't wounded in combat and he didn't win the CMH.
Ahh, but neither did Grant or Sherman. Neither were they wounded or killed in combat. Being wounded is no prove of courage. And the Congressional Medal of Honor was not the medal that it is today. Today, it takes acts of conspicuous gallantry to earn it. Now, I am not saying that the men who earned it in the Civil War were not brave or undeserving of the medal that they earned. It was just awarded in a different manner and greater numbers. With every war, the number of Medals decreased and the acts to win them have been of more danger to the recipient. Also, the recognition has changed as well, if I remember. Today, the recipient is deserving of a salute from any member of the armed forces, even if he is a private and the other is a four star general. Their children are given a slot to West Point if they want to take it.
One just can't determine importance by if a person was wounded in combat or earned a medal.
__________________ "The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
A Sacred Trust
Gettysburg – Little Round Top – July 2, 1863
by Ron Lessner
I would've thought one of you Union Blue boys would've mentioned Brigadier General (breveted Major General) Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Although lacking in formal military training he more'n made up for it in courage, tenacity, esprit-de-corps and e'lan. Medal of Honor winner for his actions on Little Round Top, designated to receive the first flag of surrender at Appomatax Court House and honored to lead the Army of the Republic in the victory parade in Washington, D.C.
I'd say he has to rank right up there on top.
Col. William C. Oates was in the process of kicking Chamberlain's butt when the 15th AL ran out of bullets.
__________________
Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Col. William C. Oates was in the process of kicking Chamberlain's butt when the 15th AL ran out of bullets.
If I remember right, Chamberlain's men had ran out of bullets as well, it's what led to his units famous bayonet charge that broke the conferate attack.
If I remember right, Chamberlain's men had ran out of bullets as well, it's what led to his units famous bayonet charge that broke the conferate attack.
Taken at face falue, it makes a nice novel and movie. The thing is, Chamberlain got public attention (all of which was unsolicited--not). That does not a general make. Idolatry and appreciation makes a general, but with regard to the original question, not remotely close to qualifying.
ole
__________________ 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
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Why?? 
Linear Mode
