Lee's best corps commander?

[Bruce Vail]

That is actually a myth. He wore the red shirt once during the Seven Days and a legend was born.

Ryan

Really? Shoot, that disappoints me. I may stop reading CWT because so many of the cherished myths keep getting exploded....

 

[1stMN]

I happen to be personally attached to John Gordon. Though his tenure was brief, his Civil War career showed what a self-made general could do.

 

[James N.]

Of course he's not on the list - and I'm undeniably prejudiced! - but since the corps system was adopted around this time of year in 1862, what had formerly been called Jackson's Command officially became the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia under - who else? - Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, I believe I'd have to go with him.

Edit: Sorry, I see I overlooked the very first post qualifying after Jackson and Longstreet.

 

[GELongstreet]

By the way, what's with the three cavalry corps commanders and Charles Field (as an acting corps commander)?

 

[James N.]

Considering the qualification, I decided to go with Old Jube - thanks largely to Gordon I used to think him just a crotchety old crank who was trounced in the Shenandoah by Phil Sheridan, but lately have been convinced he did the best there with what limited resources he had available. Interestingly, especially in light of my affinity for Jackson, I've been re-reading H. K. Douglas' I Rode With Stonewall and in it he says Jackson himself recommended sometime in 1862 that Lee send Early to the Valley to do essentially what he did there in 1864.

 

[rpkennedy]

Considering the qualification, I decided to go with Old Jube - thanks largely to Gordon I used to think him just a crotchety old crank who was trounced in the Shenandoah by Phil Sheridan, but lately have been convinced he did the best there with what limited resources he had available. Interestingly, especially in light of my affinity for Jackson, I've been re-reading H. K. Douglas' I Rode With Stonewall and in it he says Jackson himself recommended sometime in 1862 that Lee send Early to the Valley to do essentially what he did there in 1864.

Don't you mean Kyd Douglas' Stonewall Rodes With Me?

Ryan

 

[James N.]

Really? Shoot, that disappoints me. I may stop reading CWT because so many of the cherished myths keep getting exploded....

Remember that in magazine articles and other short things like internet posts (including ones here I've been guilty of I find!) writers like to characterize people, places, and things so tend to seize on supposed traits like Stonewall Jackson's legendary but now-discredited preference for lemons!

 

[dlavin]

I voted Hill, but considered Early second. Nothing wrong with Gordon, but he didn't command a corps long, and it was barely a corps at that.

 

[BillO]

Hill? Really?

 

[ivanj05]

What is Hill's standout moment as a corps commander? I can't think of one.