General Alexander P. Stewart.

[major bill]

We hear a fair amount about other Confederate Corps commanders in the Western Theater, but we hear little of Alexander P. Stewart. So was Alexander P. Stewart a good general? I have not heard anything particular negative about him nor have I heard anything particular positive about him. He seemed to have done a fair at the Battle of Peachtree Creek and the Confederate failure at Peachtree Creek often fall on Hardee and Hood.

 

[Gavrilo Sartorys]

Hi, from my point of view, Stewart belongs to the category of good-to-average generals, as for Edward Johnson and Robert E. Rodes. These officers were actually reliable and competent, whereas sometimes they might just mislead their units because of excessive agressiveness or, at the contrary, for being too cautious. Few occasions to prove their valor, bringing efficiency and cohesion to their units.

Stewart graduated from USMA in 1842 along a bunch of famous generals, such as James Longstreet, D.H. Hill or even William S. Rosecrans, who commanded the Union Army of the Cumberland. Stewart had a fair-good reputation among his graduated peers, and he had the confidence of his superiors. I don't have much more to say about him but a list of some of the command he held through war years :
- Stewart's Division, from spring 1863 to spring 1864
- Third Corps, Army of Tennessee, summer 1864 to winter 1864/65
- remnants of the Army of Tennessee, spring 1865

 

[Gavrilo Sartorys]

Compared to other Corps Commander in the Western Theater, Stewart can be placed at the top of the list, with Hardee, Breckinridge and Kirby Smith. Cheatham may also have been one of the best in the West, sharing similar tactical skills and flaws with Stewart. Hood wasn't as brilliant as he was at the division level, and he wasn't reliable. Both Bragg and D.H. Hill were promising Corps Commander but they didn't have time to show enough qualities at that level, only misleading and distrust. Polk couldn't be trusted by any of his commanders and he wasn't suited for a top-subordinate position, he might have done better on an independant command. Pemberton, being born in the North, should have stayed at a lower command-level, because of the lack of trust of his men.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

From everything I've read about him he seems like he should have been promoted sooner. Not some unsung military genius, but more competent than a number of others in the AOT. Certainly better than Polk.

I wonder if his background as a math & physics teacher (kind of surprising he didn't end up in artillery in that regard) or being a Whig held him back early in the war?

Then again, it was not for a lack of fighting to show his worth. He was a brigade or division commander at Shiloh, Stones River, Hoover's Gap (Tullahoma), Chickamauga (where he was wounded on the 19th), Chattanooga, and the Atlanta Campaign.

Has anyone written a biography of Stewart? If not, he's certainly a general who warrants one.

 

[Carronade]

From everything I've read about him he seems like he should have been promoted sooner. Not some unsung military genius, but more competent than a number of others in the AOT. Certainly better than Polk.

I wonder if his background as a math & physics teacher (kind of surprising he didn't end up in artillery in that regard) or being a Whig held him back early in the war?

Then again, it was not for a lack of fighting to show his worth. He was a brigade or division commander at Shiloh, Stones River, Hoover's Gap (Tullahoma), Chickamauga (where he was wounded on the 19th), Chattanooga, and the Atlanta Campaign.

Has anyone written a biography of Stewart? If not, he's certainly a general who warrants one.

Soldier of Tennessee by Sam Davis Elliott. Also gives very good descriptions of the battles.

My girlfriend's family lives near Murfreesboro, and her nephew's kids went to Stewart High School. One time when we were visiting, her brother (neither a Tennessee native nor a Civil War buff) was wondering if that meant Jeb Stuart, so I told the gang about Alexander.

I usually mention Stewart when those "who else could have commanded the AofT?" discussions come up.

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Soldier of Tennessee by Sam Davis Elliott. Also gives very good descriptions of the battles.

My girlfriend's family lives near Murfreesboro, and her nephew's kids went to Stewart High School. One time when we were visiting, her brother (neither a Tennessee native nor a Civil War buff) was wondering if that meant Jeb Stuart, so I told the gang about Alexander.

I just researched and found that book on Amazon. It appeared to have good reviews. Might have to add this one to the list.

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Here's the cover:

 

[major bill]

Soldier of Tennessee by Sam Davis Elliott.

I had not heard of this book and am glad that General Alexander P. Stewart has a book about him. I every war there will be great generals and poor generals, however, most generals are in between great and poor. I am not insulting him but it appears the Stewart was one of these. He appear to have reasonable skills and have been reliable.

 

[jackt62]

I read the book. My overall impression I recall is that, as noted by the other posters, he was a better than average division and corps commander. He was not as flamboyant or outspoken as other western commanders such as Polk or Cheatham, so maybe that's one reason why his historical reputation has not been as high as it should be.

 

[danny]

I had not heard of this book and am glad that General Alexander P. Stewart has a book about him. I every war there will be great generals and poor generals, however, most generals are in between great and poor. I am not insulting him but it appears the Stewart was one of these. He appear to have reasonable skills and have been reliable.

Small world. My oldest daughter and family live on Signal Mountain overlooking Chattanooga.

Sam Davis Elliott lives 3 doors down from them.

 

[James N.]

Compared to other Corps Commander in the Western Theater, Stewart can be placed at the top of the list, with Hardee, Breckinridge and Kirby Smith. Cheatham may also have been one of the best in the West, sharing similar tactical skills and flaws with Stewart. Hood wasn't as brilliant as he was at the division level, and he wasn't reliable. Both Bragg and D.H. Hill were promising Corps Commander but they didn't have time to show enough qualities at that level, only misleading and distrust. Polk couldn't be trusted by any of his commanders and he wasn't suited for a top-subordinate position, he might have done better on an independant command. Pemberton, being born in the North, should have stayed at a lower command-level, because of the lack of trust of his men.

Unfortunately, Bluff Ben also had an unfavorable reputation for liking his liquor a bit too much - somewhat like his opponent Grant - something I don't believe Stewart was similarly accused of.