Thomas in command of the Army Of The Potomac

[Ter61]

What if General George Thomas had been given command of the Army Of The Potomac? How would he have done against Lee?

[OpnDownfall]

Well, we know that his nerves were steady. Was a professional soldier,a good organizer. An organization man,who knew his own mind. Was proficient on the offensive and excellent on the defensive. Confident in his own abilities as a soldier AND as a commander of fighting men.
IMO, his only real flaws ( if they can be called such) was his tendency to be a little too orthodox in his generalship and perhaps, a little too meticulous in planning and preparing for a campaign (could have been a disadvantage in a revolutionary war of tactics and technology, but being on the side with the bigger battalions, it didn't matter in the end)
IMO, he is the only Civil War General who can stand in comparison with both Grant And Lee.

[samgrant]

He might have set up at Pipe Creek and waited.

[richard]

This is a very intresting question. Both men Southerners, both were West Point men. One fought for his state and the other fought for his country.

For what it is worth, I think that Thomas could have been a very large thorn in the side of the confederate army early in the war. He may not have stalled but taken Richmond before Lee became commander of the ANV. Thomas had the need to know. His development of the field telegraph wagon and his method of sending couriers with field orders is one of his important points.

He may have seemed slow but he was actually careful. He would not be rushed into something he was not ready for. His record speaks for him. Given the chance, He could have made a major difference in the early part of the war.

[ole]

A bit hard to decide, here. Thomas was a match for Lee, but Lee was audacious and quick acting. Suspect Thomas would have figured that out and found a way to neutralize Lee and bring his own advantages into powerful combinations. Lincoln, however, would have long since torn out his hair.
Ole

[larry_cockerham]

I suspect the key to the Lee - Thomas match, might have been the presence or lack thereof of Thomas Stonewall Jackson. Jackson would have kept Thomas on his toes and forced him to dance to the music to stay in step. As for Thomas, having read much about him in recent years in my study of the AOT, I believe him to have been a very competent professional soldier and a fair human in his dealings with both his role in Tennessee and the aftermath of the war. It was Thomas who did much to spread the facts about Forrest during the period when they were trying to give Forrest more negative press than he was due.

[oneplez]

"It was Thomas who did much to spread the facts about Forrest during the period when they were trying to give Forrest more negative press than he was due."


Can you expand on this? I've read a lot on Thomas but don't recall this.

Thanks,

Don

[oneplez]

Originally Posted by richard

He may have seemed slow but he was actually careful. He would not be rushed into something he was not ready for. His record speaks for him. Given the chance, He could have made a major difference in the early part of the war.

I think you are exactly correct! Thomas was never slow, that was a canard cooked up by Grant and Sherman to denigrate the man.


Don

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by oneplez

"It was Thomas who did much to spread the facts about Forrest during the period when they were trying to give Forrest more negative press than he was due."


Can you expand on this? I've read a lot on Thomas but don't recall this.

Thanks,

Don

Sir, I was afraid somebody would eventually read one of my posts and ask that question! I'm afraid this is partly opinion on my part. From memory, this bold statement comes from a couple of sources. First was Thomas' report of the Tennessee campaign in which he compliments the work of the rear guard under Forrest and Walthall (Forrest received a third star for the effort). The second is an account of what must have been a congressional review? conducted by Thomas in which he interviewed Forrest. The write-up by Thomas was very favorable of Forrest's conduct as a soldier both at Ft. Pillow and his relationship with the klan. Those, as you know, were Forrest's less strong press subjects. If or when I can find this account of the interview again, I'll certainly post it, though I'm not delirious, believe it or not. Maybe someone can help here with Forrest's after the war congressional investigation? Can you imagine the thoughts in Forrest's head going through the door to Thomas' office. Those two had spent three long years cussing each other with Forrest usually working free (although he left two brothers and a lot of blood on the field). This time he was to look his antagonist in the eye.

[larry_cockerham]

Can any of you fellows cook crow? I juggled my generals when writing earlier about Thomas helping Forrest, though he was cordial. General George H. Thomas died of a stroke at his headquarters Pacific District in 1870. The congressional hearings that 'helped' Forrest were held in 1871 by none other than William Tecumseh Sherman who also had some memory of Forrest's actions in battle. My mistake (surprise). Thanks, Don for once again straightening my tiny brain. I'm a fine example of an amateur at best.