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I'm presently reading These Honored Dead by Thomas Desjardin. In Chapter 1, he writes that after Meade became the first Union commander to defeat Lee in battle, he was chastised by Lincoln for not following up by destroying the ANV. Meade offered his resignation, which was refused.
Lee, on the other hand, took responsibility for the Confederate defeat and offered his resignation, which was also refused.
Meade was soon overshadowed by Grant while Lee became one of the best military commanders in American history.
Desjardin writes that "In history, the general who won, lost, and the general who lost, won."
Any thoughts?
__________________ F. S. Powers
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
Meade was soon overshadowed by Grant while Lee became one of the best military commanders in American history.
Maybe best known. "Best" is highly questionable.
Quote:
Desjardin writes that "In history, the general who won, lost, and the general who lost, won."
Vague. Lost what? Won what?
Meade lost by being overshadowed by Grant? Meade was a first-class commander. Lincoln wanted a bit more than that and raised Grant to the top job. Looked at from a different angle, Lincoln did Meade a favor by releasing him from a crushing responsibility that I don't believe he was capable of handling.
And what did Lee win? He had built his reputation pre-Gettysburg. He's lucky to have kept it afterwards. He was no better General at Petersburg than he had been at Gettysburg -- and "best" is highly debatable. I will allow "great," but not "greatest."
By the way, read the book. A minor work to be highly recommended for beginning students of the WBTS.
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
Could it have been reputations? Immortality in history?
"Best" is based on the individual writing the book.
__________________ F. S. Powers
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
__________________ 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
Perhaps the best General of all time is one who wins a war without bloodshed?
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Meade never got the credit he deserved for Gettysburg; Lincoln expected too much. Meade had no real chance of catching Lee, in an unguarded moment, on his retreat to Virginia.
Thomas never got the credit he deserved at Nashville for the crushing defeat of Hood's army.
Wilson never got the credit he deserved for capturing Selma, Alabama and Georgia, near the end of the war.
Sherman never got the credit for catching the Confederate leadership flatfooted, attacking through Georgia, severing the Confederate lifeline to supply depots in Alabama and South Carolina, to Lee's army in Virginia.
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