Most missed General?

[major bill]

Which top 3 to 5 General,s deaths from each side, impacted the Union and Confederacy the most? I have a few suggestions. but will let others go first.

 

[shermans_march]

Confederate
-Jackson
-Jeb Stuart
- Albert Sydney Johnston

Union
- Reynolds
- McPherson
- Sedgwick

 

[NedBaldwin]

Confederate
-Jackson
-Jeb Stuart
- Albert Sydney Johnston

Union
- Reynolds
- McPherson
- Sedgwick

While I think highly of McPherson and Sedgwick, their deaths came so late in the war, I wonder how much of an impact there was.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Was reading a little about Gen. Phil Kearny recently where it was speculated that he would have become one of the Union's top generals, had he lived.

Does anybody agree?

 

[Bruce Vail]

While I think highly of McPherson and Sedgwick, their deaths came so late in the war, I wonder how much of an impact there was.

The same could be said of Stuart on the Confederate side, no?

 

[shermans_march]

Sedgwick was the highest ranking Union general killed during the Civil War, while McPherson was the second highest ranking.

Sherman was devastated by the loss of Sedgwick and Grant was shocked by the death of McPherson. If it affected those top 2 generals it must have had shockwaves that reverberated.

 

[Jimklag]

Which top 3 to 5 General,s deaths from each side, impacted the Union and Confederacy the most? I have a few suggestions. but will let others go first.

Confederate
A. S. Johnston
Jackson
Dorsey Pender

Union
John Buford
Phil Kearney
John Reynolds

 

[shermans_march]

Was reading a little about Gen. Phil Kearny recently where it was speculated that he would have become one of the Union's top generals, had he lived.

Does anybody agree?

I would agree. There were rumors that Lincoln was going to replace McClellan with Kearny. Kearny could have been the man for the job. I love some of his quotes.

In response to the order to retreat after the Peninsula Campaign Kearny responded, "I Philip Kearny, an old soldier, enter my solemn protest against this order for retreat. We ought instead of retreating should follow up the enemy and take Richmond. And in full view of all responsible for such declaration, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason."

Once when kearny led his men he shouted, "Don't worry, men, they'll all be firing at me!"

Shortly before his death when warned to be cautious when inspecting a gap in the Union line he said, "the Rebel bullet that can kill me has not yet been molded."

 

[major bill]

Confederate
A. S. Johnston
Jackson
Dorsey Pender

Union
John Buford
Phil Kearney
John Reynolds

I do think that the war in the western theater would have been differenr if Johnston had lived.

 

[NedBaldwin]

The same could be said of Stuart on the Confederate side, no?

Yes

 

[bankerpapaw]

I do think that the war in the western theater would have been differenr if Johnston had lived.

Would Johnston have led the Confederate armies instead of Lee, had he lived?

 

[NedBaldwin]

US Generals that I think would have risen the most in stature if they had lived pasted 1862:
Nathaniel Lyons
Charles Smith
Jesse Reno

Others with similar potential:
Isaac Stevens
Phil Kearny
Ormsby Mitchell
Isreal Richardson

 

[Jimklag]

I do think that the war in the western theater would have been differenr if Johnston had lived.

And Pender was one of the few non-Virginians to have a shot at high command. I didn't include Ramseur and Cleburne because their deaths came so late. Same with McPherson on the Union side.

 

[Jimklag]

Would Johnston have led the Confederate armies instead of Lee, had he lived?

If Jeff Davis had his way, yes. He thought Johnston was all that and a slice of bread.

 

[Irishtom29]

US Generals that I think would have risen the most in stature if they had lived pasted 1862:
Nathaniel Lyons
Charles Smith
Jesse Reno

I was wondering of someone would mention these guys rather than the usual suspects. Grant thought the world of Smith, that tells us something.

As for Sedgwick, I think Wright did very well with the 6th Corps, I think Sedgwick was probably no great loss militarily.

 

[captaindrew]

A S Johnston's death came so early in the war did he have enough of a track record to surely show what his potential may or may not have been? I'm not so sure. Going by their records and time of their deaths when they still could have made a difference I would have to say Jackson and Reynolds would by far be at the top of each side's list.

 

[Billy Yank]

Was reading a little about Gen. Phil Kearny recently where it was speculated that he would have become one of the Union's top generals, had he lived.

Does anybody agree?

I definitely agree with you, Kearny exited the ACW way too early. He was of immense skill & experience and was absolutely fearless.

 

[shermans_march]

I do think that the war in the western theater would have been differenr if Johnston had lived.

Quoted from the article,
"Johnston loss was a damaging blow to Confederate morale, particularly for the president, who held Johnston in immense personal and professional esteem. After the war, Davis wrote, "When Sidney Johnston fell, it was the turning point of our fate; for we had no other hand to take up his work in the West."

https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/albert-sidney-johnston

 

[diane]

I think some of the best generals were lost before 62, before anyone could really determine their value, and then were overshadowed by the later generals who won the war. For later years, Stuart's loss was an immeasurable one.

 

[jackt62]

Confederate:
A.S. Johnston
Stonewall Jackson
W. Dorsey Pender

Union:
Nathaniel Lyon
John Buford
James McPherson