Commanding general

[atlantis]

Should Lee have been given the commanding General post in 1864 instead of Bragg with the ANV being placed under command of someone recommended by Lee. Lee commanded respect was knowledgeable and had a good working relationship with Davis.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

If Lee took up the role of 'General-in-Chief', based at Richmond, he would have been responsible for devising Confederate military strategy. But doubt Lee would have been willing to take on this role in '64, if it meant him leaving his field command of the AoNV, unless he became incapacitated. However, if he did take on this role, thought Davis would have given him carte blanche in 'conducting the military operations of the Confederacy' based on his pre-existing good working relationship with Lee (and Lee knew how to deal with Davis).

Perhaps the more interesting part of the question posed in the OP is, say if Lee became incapacitated for field command in '64, who he would have recommended as his replacement to lead the AoNV at this time (remembering his presumed likely nominee, Longstreet, was grievously wounded on May 6, and would take months to recover).

Given Lee's known observance of the rules and regulations, especially relating to the chain of command, this may not have been an easy selection. Apart from Longstreet, his other permanent corps commanders at the time were Ewell and A. P. Hill. But Ewell was feeble and on the way out and Hill's fluctuating health made him unreliable. And there did not appear to be any other capable senior generals available that he could have pulled from other theaters.

So thought Lee's recommendation for army leadership might have been a dark-horse nominee from the levels of divisional command in the AoNV (after appointing him to permanent L-G rank) - maybe Richard Anderson.

There were very limited, if any, real options here for Lee. It would have been a difficult choice for him in these circumstances.

 

[RedRover]

The US Army synopsized the Confederal senior generalship as follows...

Lt. Col. Charles Marshall of General Lee's staff observed of General Lee's 1862 appointment...

Col. Walter H. Taylor of Lee's staff observed that Lee's appointment to the rank of General in Chief, as defined by Congress, was too late to make much impact on the situation. Taylor notes he did not perceive it likely that General Lee would have been imminently successful in the role in any case.

 

[NFB22]

Perhaps the more interesting part of the question posed in the OP is, say if Lee became incapacitated for field command in '64, who he would have recommended as his replacement to lead the AoNV at this time (remembering his presumed likely nominee, Longstreet, was grievously wounded on May 6, and would take months to recover).

Given Lee's known observance of the rules and regulations, especially relating to the chain of command, this may not have been an easy selection. Apart from Longstreet, his other permanent corps commanders at the time were Ewell and A. P. Hill. But Ewell was feeble and on the way out and Hill's fluctuating health made him unreliable. And there did not appear to be any other capable senior generals available that he could have pulled from other theaters.

So thought Lee's recommendation for army leadership might have been a dark-horse nominee from the levels of divisional command in the AoNV (after appointing him to permanent L-G rank) - maybe Richard Anderson.

There were very limited, if any, real options here for Lee. It would have been a difficult choice for him in these circumstances.

From reading a few different biographies about P.G.T. Beauregard, it seems to me that Lee held him in pretty high regard. Beauregard and Lee's relationship went as far back as Mexico although Beauregard was bitter that Lee received more praise than him during that war. Beauregard also held the rank befitting of such a command although Lee wasn't a fan of some Beauregard's habits.

The larger problem there was Beauregard's strained relationships with Davis and other generals, Bragg in particular.

 

[JeffBrooks]

Beauregard would have been the obvious choice. If I recall correctly, when Lee was incapacitated by illness at the North Anna River line, one of his staff members advised him that he had "better send for Beauregard" to take command of the AoNV.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

about P.G.T. Beauregard, it seems to me that Lee held him in pretty high regard.

Thought Lee might also have held William Hardee in high regard for the role of army command. Recall reading that Lee had suggested on Jul. 12 Hardee as a possible successor to replace Johnston as commander of the AoT. Personally thought 'Old Reliable' was eminently suitable/capable for the permanent role of army command by '64, but he didn't want this responsibility (at least in the western theater). As a western theater commander, he may not have fitted well into the command culture within the AoNV and he was unfamiliar with the operating evironment for fighting in VA. So even if willing maybe he may not have made a good choice, after all, for such a high leadership role in '64,

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Beauregard would have been the obvious choice. If I recall correctly, when Lee was incapacitated by illness at the North Anna River line, one of his staff members advised him that he had "better send for Beauregard" to take command of the AoNV.

Did Beauregard have a track record of success in the role of army field command? Thought he was a competent senior engineering officer with a proven capacity for organizing and conducting coastal defenses. (Was not aware that Lee ever rated Beauregard highly for army field command).