Harsh judgment on CSA Gen. Ripley

[USS ALASKA]

CHARLESTON'S FORGOTTEN GENERAL: ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY By JENNIFER MADELINE ZOEBELEIN

{⋆★⋆} BG - Ripley, Roswell S. | Biographic Profiles - We Will Remember

Roswell Sabine Ripley :CSA1stNat: Born: March 14, 1823 Birth Place: Worthington, Ohio Father: Christopher Ripley 1781 – 1851 (Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York) Mother: Julia Calkins 1794 – 1876 (Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York) Wife: Alicia Middleton 1824...

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HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[JohnnyReb421745]

in regards to Ripley's performance at Mechanicsville, Lee's confusing orders, AP Hill's impatience (much like Bristoe Station in 1863) and Jackson's no show, contributed much to the Confederate failure that day. I'm not sure one could lay blame on Ripley or any of the other Confederate brigades in what turned out to be a near massacre.

Hoping that Bob Krick Jr addresses this in his upcoming study of Gaines's Mill seeing that it is a 2vol work and should leave enough room for a detailed analysis of June 26.

 

[Bruce Vail]

In fairness to Ripley, I don't fault him for Antietam. He was wounded so early on that he can't be faulted for the slaughter of his brigade. Personally, I think D.H. Hill bears a lot of blame for the piecemeal engagement of his men in support of Jackson.

Now, Ripley bears a lot of blame for South Mountain. His actions there were incompetent at best and can't really be excused.

Ryan

Yeah, I don't think Ripley deserves blame for the unsuccessful attacks and heavy losses at Antietam. Hill was on the field at the time and he could see as well as anyone what the situation was. Hill was directing his division personally and, besides, Ripley's regiment was being commanded by Col. Doles much of the time (while Ripley was in the rear being treated for his wound). Fact is, Hill was a pretty bloody-minded commander and didn't seem to care much if his regiments took heavy casualties as long as Hill was seen by his superiors to be an aggressive officer who did as he was asked by the senior command. Hill had shown precisely the same attitude at Ellerson's Mill, Malvern Hill and South Mountain.

Ripley may have been a mediocre brigade commander, or worse, but Hill certainly bears some responsibility for the repeated failures and extraordinary casualties suffered by his division.