Lincoln: The lying, theiving, cut-throat, socialistic yankee

[30th_il]

Many of Lincoln's decisions regarding the commanding generals had much to do with their seniority and popularity both with the soldiers and public. There was definite egos and jealousies to contend with among many of the officers and they had to be balanced very finely. Lil' Mac was brought back because of these issues (especially the popularity with the soldiers), Licoln simply ran out of qualified candidates that had any experience commanding an entire army. Many a general could do well at a brigade or division level but didn't have the capability to take charge of an enire corp or army; a good example is Hooker or on the confederate side Hood comes to mind. If Grant hadn't somehow risen to his capabilities (and he nearly wasn't allowed to command if Halleck had his ways...there's that petty jealousy again) I wonder who Lincoln would have...or rather could have opted for. Makes for a good "What if...."

[ole]

No physically fit commander, North or South, had ever commanded anything as large as a brigade before the war, let alone an army. All had on the job training and, during the conflict, were selected out. The capable ones rose to the to the level of their incompetence (some exceeded it).
Ole

[yankeewoman]

I find it interesting that so many marvel at the problems which Lincoln had in finding the perfect military leader.

Jefferson Davis had the same problems. It wasn't until January 1865 that he appointed Lee to head his armies. Perhaps his motto was "try, try again"?

[Johnny Rube]

A number of the commanders available to Lincoln in the east had strong political connections that made for a rather difficult situation. General Meade was fairly competent, fought well at Gettysburg. His big sin there was apparently his failure to chase Lee out of Pennsylvania and destroy his army. Meade's statements that his own army had been exhausted after three days of hard fighting at Gettysburg probably were valid, and if Lincoln hadn't been at the end of his patience with generals who wouldn't or couldn't fight, he most likely would not have gotten so annoyed with Meade. Still, if I remember correctly, it was Meade's political connections that kept Lincoln from relieving him of his command.

But up to General Meade, Lincoln's problems with his generals created a nightmare situation for him. I personally don't buy it that McClellan loved his troops so much he couldn't bear to send them into battle. The man, in my opinion, was nothing more than a well-organized, arrogant coward whose contempt for his Commander in Chief was/is legendary.

Grant always was Lincoln's best bet, but if you study Grant's battles in the west you can easily see that he learned as he went along...learned from his mistakes. At the beginning of the war, Grant hadn't reached his full potential and his strongest points were his bullheaded stubborness, his tenacity, his fearlessness, and his clear-headed approach to the war. He and Lee were well matched, although their methods were different. Once Lincoln recognized Grant's abilities and put him in charge,
Lee had already seen his best days. The South had lost Jackson and Albert Sidney Johnston and was soon to lose A.P. Hill.

By 1865 the positions of Lincoln and Davis were very nearly reversed. Lincoln was now utilizing the talents of not only Grant, but also William T. Sherman and Phil Sheridan. At one point, Davis had to make a decision between Beauregard (whom he loathed) and Joe Johnston (whom he mistrusted) to replace Bragg. Lee was the about only strong leader the South had left, and he was dug in at Petersburg with a starving army only half the size it had been, nearly surrounded by the mighty, well-fed, well-supplied Army of the Potomac under a leader whose primary claim to fame was his willingness to wage war and indeed his determination to destroy Lee's army and win that war for the Union.

When Grant took over as commander of the Army of the Potomac, troops, aware of his successes in the West, still doubted his ability to stand up to "Bobby Lee." But as William C. Davis has written, and history has proven, "Legends can't beat Legions."