Matter of Preference

[Christopher Morris]

I've been thinking lately about the many division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. There were certainly several who stood out, but I wish to know which one of these three commanders you would pick leading your division. Who do you think was the better of the three?

Major General Richard Anderson:
This general served initially as a brigade commander in Florida, but after recovering from his wound, he was transferred to Virginia, where he took the command over a division under James Longstreet, under whom he would serve for many months to come. He fought bravely at Sharpsburg before being wounded in the "Bloody Lane". His division was mostly unused at Fredricksburg, but his men were very active at Chancellorsville, where he led his men against the main flanking force of Hooker, fighting with "Stonewall" Jackson and fellow division commander McLaws ti keep the Federals at bay. His men then turned to face Sedwick, who had crossed over Fredricksburg and managed to check his advance. His final major engagement as a divisional commander before being promoted to lead the I and IV Corps was at Gettysburg, where his performance was not necessarily its finest.

Major General Richard Ewell:
Ewell served, like Anderson, as a brigade commander, assuming the command of a brigade of infantry at the First Battle of Mannasas, but he saw little action. He was then promoted to Major General and sent into the Shenandoah Valley to support "Stonewall" Jackson in keeping the Federals tied up in the area. Ewell led his division with great distinction in the Valley Campaign, winning battles at Front Royal, Port Republic, Cross Keys, and Winchester. During the Peninsula Campaign, his division fought yet again with distinction at Gaines Mill, but lightly at Malvern Hill. After once again winning a victory at Cedar Mountain, Ewell was wounded during the Northern Virginia Campaign, ending his career as a divisional commander. His recovery saw him promoted as corps commander of Jackson's Corps, but no more divisional command. Lee had never served closely with Ewell, but the men of the II Corps seemed more than confident in Ewell ti take charge and eventually promoted him ahead of A.P. Hill to Lieutenant General, considering Ewell a "solid fighter".

Major General Ambrose Hill:
Hill's history of divisional command began just before the Seven Days Battle, taking charge of one of the largest and least experienced divisions during the fight. Despite this, his men fought valiantly, fighting in the thick of battle at Gaines Mill and Glendale. Hill also participated at Cedar Mountain with Richard Ewell under Jackson, with whom his relationship was rather hostile, unlike Ewell who had a fondness of Jackson. Hill, however, was around to see the main fighting at the Second Battle of Mannasas, holding back repeated assaults against imposing odds. His men were instrumental at Antietam, effectively saving Lee as he arrived in the nick of time to hold the flank. Hill's performance, however, lacked at Fredricksburg, where he allowed a gap within his defense. This gap provides the hole for Union forces to pour in, leading to the eventual mortal wounding of one of his brigade commanders. Hill's final action as divisional commander came at Chancellorsville, where he surged forth with Jackson against the XI Corps, sending them back for almost two miles. After the battle, his was promoted to lead the III Corps, junior to both Longstreet and Ewell.

So those are your three choices. Which would you pick to lead a division in your own Confederate Army? And why?

 

[Ole Miss]

Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and North Mississippi!
I like A P Hill simply because he was at the pinnacle of his abilities as a division commander and there were none better in my opinion.
Regards
David

 

[rpkennedy]

I would put Hill and Ewell as 1 and 1A. Hill was generally excellent with a minor slip at Fredericksburg while Ewell was very good under Jackson but missed out on some significant campaigns due to his injury. Anderson was very good but his lapse at Gettysburg is a distinct black mark on his record.

Ryan

 

[diane]

I'd vote for Hill. His miss at Fredericksburg was not his only mistake - he made bigger ones! - and he had good company missing the hole. Jeb Stuart saw it but thought, like Hill, the terrain was difficult enough to prevent the enemy using it. But when it came down to it, Hill saved Lee's bacon more than once, and his Light Division was one of Lee's most dependable. He was aggressive, too, which Lee liked.

 

[Saruman]

I've been thinking lately about the many division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. There were certainly several who stood out, but I wish to know which one of these three commanders you would pick leading your division. Who do you think was the better of the three?

View attachment 260293
Major General Richard Anderson:
This general served initially as a brigade commander in Florida, but after recovering from his wound, he was transferred to Virginia, where he took the command over a division under James Longstreet, under whom he would serve for many months to come. He fought bravely at Sharpsburg before being wounded in the "Bloody Lane". His division was mostly unused at Fredricksburg, but his men were very active at Chancellorsville, where he led his men against the main flanking force of Hooker, fighting with "Stonewall" Jackson and fellow division commander McLaws ti keep the Federals at bay. His men then turned to face Sedwick, who had crossed over Fredricksburg and managed to check his advance. His final major engagement as a divisional commander before being promoted to lead the I and IV Corps was at Gettysburg, where his performance was not necessarily its finest.

View attachment 260294
Major General Richard Ewell:
Ewell served, like Anderson, as a brigade commander, assuming the command of a brigade of infantry at the First Battle of Mannasas, but he saw little action. He was then promoted to Major General and sent into the Shenandoah Valley to support "Stonewall" Jackson in keeping the Federals tied up in the area. Ewell led his division with great distinction in the Valley Campaign, winning battles at Front Royal, Port Republic, Cross Keys, and Winchester. During the Peninsula Campaign, his division fought yet again with distinction at Gaines Mill, but lightly at Malvern Hill. After once again winning a victory at Cedar Mountain, Ewell was wounded during the Northern Virginia Campaign, ending his career as a divisional commander. His recovery saw him promoted as corps commander of Jackson's Corps, but no more divisional command. Lee had never served closely with Ewell, but the men of the II Corps seemed more than confident in Ewell ti take charge and eventually promoted him ahead of A.P. Hill to Lieutenant General, considering Ewell a "solid fighter".

View attachment 260295
Major General Ambrose Hill:
Hill's history of divisional command began just before the Seven Days Battle, taking charge of one of the largest and least experienced divisions during the fight. Despite this, his men fought valiantly, fighting in the thick of battle at Gaines Mill and Glendale. Hill also participated at Cedar Mountain with Richard Ewell under Jackson, with whom his relationship was rather hostile, unlike Ewell who had a fondness of Jackson. Hill, however, was around to see the main fighting at the Second Battle of Mannasas, holding back repeated assaults against imposing odds. His men were instrumental at Antietam, effectively saving Lee as he arrived in the nick of time to hold the flank. Hill's performance, however, lacked at Fredricksburg, where he allowed a gap within his defense. This gap provides the hole for Union forces to pour in, leading to the eventual mortal wounding of one of his brigade commanders. Hill's final action as divisional commander came at Chancellorsville, where he surged forth with Jackson against the XI Corps, sending them back for almost two miles. After the battle, his was promoted to lead the III Corps, junior to both Longstreet and Ewell.

So those are your three choices. Which would you pick to lead a division in your own Confederate Army? And why?

I asked a similar question a while ago, and Hill won the poll:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/lees-best-corps-commander.117831/#post-1200945

 

[Christopher Morris]

I asked a similar question a while ago, and Hill won the poll:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/lees-best-corps-commander.117831/#post-1200945

Well, I understand that the men weren't exactly the best corps commanders, but I was wondering how they compared at their prime, which in my opinion, was when they were divisional commanders.